Three articles in recent issues have raised many eyebrows. The first announced the ordination of a woman to the office of co-pastor at Eau Claire Baptist Church (Jan. 21). Then letters were written by Mark Krieger and Richard Moore (Feb. 4 and 18, respectively). I feel compelled to “speak the truth in love” concerning the latter.
Certainly, women do have a place of service in the New Testament church. However, the office of pastor is to be filled by men, according to the Scriptures (1 Timothy 2:11-3:2). The passage from Galatians 3:28 does not support the argument for women pastors, nor is it a reference to any leadership positions in the church. This passage states that God does not differentiate between the sexes or ethnic groups concerning salvation – i.e., Christ is an equal opportunity Savior! One of the basic rules of interpreting Scripture is to study a passage in its context. The Baptist Faith and Message states: “The Holy Bible – is, and will remain – the supreme standard by which all – religious opinions should be tried -” (Article I, “The Scriptures”). The priesthood of the believer holds each responsible to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) rather than form our personal opinions about Scripture.
Both the New Testament and Southern Baptists acknowledge the autonomy of the local church. This was the case when Barnabus was sent to Antioch (Acts 11:19-25), at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:6 ff.), and at Galatia (Galatians 2:1-10). The local churches governed themselves with regard to how they ministered the gospel within the parameters of the Word of God.
The autonomy of the local church has become a “trump card,” allowing any given congregation to do as it pleases with little or no accountability to the Scripture. The New Testament concept of autonomy is summed up in The Baptist Faith and Message as it states: “A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers – governed by His laws -” (Article VI). Autonomy in the local church never trumps accountability to the Scriptures!
Although associations had no official authority over the church in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, local churches were held accountable to the Scriptures by the associations through censorship from participation. (See Mark Dever, “Polity,” Nine Marks Ministries, 2001). Where there is a clear violation of Scripture, associations and conventions are responsible to hold churches accountable to the Scriptures to protect the integrity of the body, which was the New Testament pattern. The head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ, might well have an ax to grind with the church today concerning the autonomy of the local church versus accountability to the Scriptures.
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