WOMEN IN THE KINGDOM -
"Not For Men Only"
A Sermon by Bishop Dr. Charles C Jones D.D.
SCRIPTURE: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh : and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (both genders) , and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"Acts 2:17; As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.Acts 8:3; "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12;
Introduction
How many of you can remember the period of our national history in which signs were posted in every public place for "whites only?" They were posted in restaurants, stores, restrooms, doctor's offices over water fountains these signs at that time were everywhere. Even when there were jobs being issued it was stipulated or understood that only whites need apply. As African-Americans we felt belittled, insulted and estranged from the rest of America as we approached each of those circumstances. With the distasteful memory of racial segregation clearly in mind, imagine how women must feel when they face the same types of circumstances today in the church. Instead of the signs reading for "whites only" the social order posts an unwritten "for men only" sign in the church. It is even more frustrating for modern women when they come to worship and serve God and find the same signs posted in the church.
Traditionally, men have relegated women to positions of second class citizenship and have allowed them to tread the sacred domain of the masculine world only in supportive roles. In the biblical context, much of the role played by women in the Old Testament has been underplayed. The overwhelming conclusion that one gets from reading the Old Testament is that faith, strength, courage, leadership and rewards are marked "For Men Only."
Over the centuries a great division developed between men and women as women began to assert themselves and reject the stereotypes placed upon them by men. Men claimed that women were gossipy and too talkative. Women claimed that men moved to slow and were indecisive at times. Consider the church that had appointed a man and a woman to co-chair an important church event. The man refused, saying "I'm not going to serve with a woman, if I tell her anything, the whole town will know." Not intimidated, the woman quickly responded: "By the time a man tells me something to do, the whole town will ALREADY know it." Sometimes divisions are deepened as even the smallest of courtesies are suspect. When a young woman boarded the city bus it was obvious that she was a part of the new generation of liberated women. Soon she realized that there were no seats and she stood holding her brief case in hand. An old man rose and said "Here ma'am, you can have my seat." The woman took the gesture as patronizing. She immediately chided the old man. "I realize that you are from a different generation that believes women to be a weaker sex, so you feel obligated to give me your seat. Sir, you don't have to get up!" The old man put on his hat and stood "Well young lady, I got up, but it didn't have anything to do with what you said. You see the bus is at my stop and I gotta go. As for the seat, you can take it or leave it!"
Recognizing that a barrier between men and women would stunt the growth of the church, Jesus began to attack traditional customs. He spoke to women in public and associated with varied women at wells. Paul expanded on Jesus example noting that in Christ there is either male or female. In essence, Jesus began the movement to take down the "For Men Only" signs and replace them with "whosoever will." Men and women throughout the New Testament are encouraged together as equal partners to extents consistent with the commands of God. The phrase "men and women" appears four times in the New Testament, all in the Book of Acts, showing that the first church operated with both men and women believing, suffering and serving side by side.
Exposition
This text focuses on how the relationship of men and women were viewed in the early church.
Women by social custom were second class biblical citizens. In the Old Testament a household followed the lead of the man of the House. Regardless to her individual belief if the father chose to serve an idol god, the woman was obliged to follow. If he chose to serve God, it was perceived as her duty to blindly believe what he believed and change when he changed. Thus, there was no need to indicate how women stood on issues of religious conviction, they would automatically stand with their husbands. If they didn't no one would recognize them anyway. However, as citizens of the kingdom of God both men and women worked side by side, often performing the same duties. Luke, in writing the Book of Acts, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, made certain that it was underscored that women played an equal part with men throughout the early church.
Together In Faith
In Acts 8:12 he noted that when Phillip preached many came forward to accept Christ. Luke took pains to note that those coming forth were not just men, but men AND women. These were not instances where the men, who were heads of their homes, confirmed the allegiance of an entire family to kingdom. This was not probable because the very nature of the church suggested that every person had to speak for themselves. Both men and women came forth by the thousands to demonstrate their faith in God. The same truth was acknowledged in Acts 5:14 when the Apostles preached Christ to great crowds. Afterwards "multitudes" came forth to accept him but Luke again underscored the presence of women: "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." It was not a men only affair.
Belief in Christ is not dependent upon sex or race or any other criterion other than faith. Women and men today who work in the faith share one thing in common. Their faith. It is both men and women that believe. Just like in biblical times, belief is not just a men's thing, it's whosoever will..
Shared Persecution
In Acts 8:3 it is noted that when Saul persecuted the church, he did not just persecute men only.
In this passage it is noted that he was "entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." The fact that women also shared in the persecutions of early believers is significant. One of the advantages of "not counting" in Old Testament times is that men were held responsible for their households and it was men and not women that executed and imprisoned for debts or certain civil offenses. The woman was assumed to be acting on the direction of her husband, placing the blame entirely upon him. When the early church began believers were persecuted, jailed, fed to lions and ostracized. Luke notes that both men and women shared equally in the persecution. Suffering for Christ was not for men only. Bearing the burdens of the cross was not for men only! Women by the thousands were jailed, executed and sold into slavery for their part in building the kingdom of God. Without a doubt, it was a far cry from a private club for men only.
Today when Satan attacks believers, he does not attack men only. He does not have a preference for one sex or the other. Women are persecuted by Satan just as men. In this respect women are equal partners with men as they are persecuted by unbelievers for their faith and Christian lifestyle. Both women and men partners in the faith, even in persecution.
Equals in Dispensation of Spirit
Not only were women visibly among the first believers and first persecuted, but they shared an equal dispensation of the spirit of God. With a few exceptions noted, most instances of God speaking and directing humans to act involved men. While there are a few Deborahs of record the overwhelming majority of those selected were men. When God had a message to give the people, or a service to be performed he found an Abraham, Moses, or Elijah to carry it speak and act through. However, as the New Testament began and a new order unfolded women found themselves equal partners spiritually as well. God started calling women to prophesy, serve as servants (Diakonos in Greek means minister, servant or deacon) and to generally share in the teaching, witnessing and promotion of the kingdom of God. The prophecies of Joel were being realized in a new way for he had announced God's prophesy: "that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." Even in the area of teaching, preaching and serving in the church, it was became obvious that it was no longer "For Men Only!"
Paul finally resolved the questions as to how men and women were to relate to each other in the faith when he wrote in Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
We are one in Jesus, that's the way God sees us. Not men. Not women. Not white. Not Black. But one in Christ Jesus.
Both Men and Women Will Be rewarded
Finally, we must consider that because both men and women have believed the same faith, worshipped the same God and endured the same persecutions, both men and women will share in the rewards of the kingdom.
Both men and women have worked to build the kingdom. Both men and women have worked to help the:
Lost become saved; Saved to become more mature in the faith
Indifferent become involved; Lazy to become laborers
Irresponsible parent responsible; and the disobedient children become obedient
Enemies to become friends; Friends to become brothers and sisters in Christ
Both men and women have worked to help the
Sad to rejoice
Tempted to overcome
Discouraged to be cheered
Skeptics to Believe
Confused to understand
Those who have worked in the vineyard will be rewarded, not based on their sex but on their service. There won't be lines in glory, one reserved for men and another women. When Christ comes in the fullness of his majesty the world will be a different place, void of racial and sexual distinctions.
In that day Isaiah said every mountain shall be low, valleys shall be exalted, crooked places will be made straight, rough places will be made smooth and the glory of the Lord will be revealed and "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:6
I'm glad to know that when the roll is called it won't be just the men but all flesh.
When Moses is called, it won't be without Mariam!
Abraham will be called, but not without Sarah
When Lazarus is called it won't be without Martha
When Boaz is called it won't be without Ruth
When Isaac is called it won't be without Rebecca
Both men and women will be there when the roll is called up yonder
Until the roll is call both men and women must keep telling the story!
Tell them about Jesus!
Jesus who died!
Jesus, who rose from the dead!
Jesus, who calls both men and women to follow him!
Jesus!
Tell them about Jesus!
Even So Come Lord Jesus!
Bishop Dr. Charles C Jones D.D.
