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WOMEN PREACHERS

I think that the Bible clearly teaches that women are not allowed to be pastors/elders in the church. They can preach, they just can't do it in the church, where they'd be teaching or having authority over men (I believe it's 1 Timothy 2.11-1 that speaks to this).

But despite all that, one of my favorite preachers, with some of the best things to say, was Catherine Booth, the wife of General Wm. Booth of Salvation Army fame. He was quite a soldier, but I think she put him to shame.

The following is an edited excerpt from one of her writings--FIERY!!

A SAD STATE
Catherine Booth
Edited by Buddy Balagia

The service rendered to the King in these days is mostly of a milk-and-watery type, and the effort of most of its teachers is intended to make things comfortable. "Peace, peace," is the cry, when there is no peace. As one of the bishops said, "We hear a great deal about Church defense; we ought to be hearing about Church aggression."

When these modern Christians do fight, it is over opinions and ceremonies, inside their own walls, instead of with the enemy outside. They are more valiant in defending some ceremony of the Church, than in defending the cross of Christ.

Jesus Christ did not call us to fight each other, but He called us to fight the enemy. He bade us take captive souls of men, and not merely to change their opinions. Get a man's heart right, and his opinions will follow. But you may be tinkering at his intellect till his death, and he will not be nearer heaven, but perchance nearer hell, than if he had been let alone.

Further, most Christians, as a rule, do not see any NEED for the fight. They hide under some false notions of God’s sovereignty. They have made my heart ache when I have been trying to arouse them to do something for the kingdom. They say, "God is sovereign, and He will accomplish His purposes by and by;" and they sit comfortably and let things drift.

Look at the godlessness, the injustice, the blasphemy, and the debauchery everywhere! Do you ever look at the condition of things close to your churches? If only half of professing Christians had followed in their Master's steps for twelve months, such things would have been utterly impossible!

I repeat, Jesus Christ has ordained that His people are to stem these torrents of moral and social pollution; to face the slaves of sin, open their eyes, and bring them to His feet. All the legislation, education, or provision of housing won't touch the moral cancer; nothing will do it until Christians do their Master's bidding.

But I say, they do not see any need for it, and they try to quiet us who do. You have to argue, and drive, and show them damnation before you can get a bit of service of any sort of them. They have no heart for the fight. They do not feel these things.

You see it depicted on the faces of Christians if bankruptcy stares them in the face; you soon know when a child is sick, or in danger. But these same men and women can walk about the walls and see the desolations of Zion without any of these marks of distress or apprehension.

They manifest more anger against us who urge them to fight, than they will against the enemy. They want to be quiet and comfortable, and to have their religion in a snug, back-parlour fashion. Fight?! They hate fighting! Being mocked, and spit upon, and kicked, and perchance killed for Christ?! They would think you were mad.
When anyone really attempts to obey Jesus Christ, they cry, "Mad! Mad! Away with such a fellow; he is not fit to live." What a laughing-stock to hell such professed Christians are.

The devil says, "Let them alone. Let them go to their churches, let them have their creeds and ceremonies, let them sing their sweet hymns, and amuse themselves with their entertainment and their Bible classes; do not disturb them whatever you do, they are amongst my most successful allies."

Viva Cristo Rey!