07-Ministering Women
07 MINISTERING WOMEN Text: “Go tell my disciples that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”
These words spoken to women by the risen Christ constitute the divine commission to womankind to do definite Christian service. The “Fear not” with which this command was introduced was not spoken to allay physical fear. Literally “Last at the cross and first at the tomb,” these women had shown a bravery which puts to shame the Master’s own disciples who left him and fled. Their characteristic feminine loyalty knew no fear except the fear that they might be too late to perform the last loving service to the dead body of their Lord. They had followed Jesus out of Galilee, ministering unto him; they had stood beholding from afar when he was crucified, drawing nearer as the curious crowd melted away; they had watched the favorite Joseph as he placed the body in his own tomb; they had bought the spices before the sixth-day’s sun should set, and then had “rested according to the commandment.” The Sabbath being past they came with their final offering, late, but they trusted not too late, for love’s anointing. But when they got there the tomb was empty, and instead of finding the dead body of Jesus, the living Christ met them in the way, and sent them back with this triumphant message. It is impossible for the mind to imagine or the heart to conceive a happier privilege at that dark hour than that of carrying to the despairing disciples this message of Easter hope. And this happy privilege came to these women as a natural reward of their unfailing love and devotion. Worship put them in the way of service, and what they supposed should have been the last rite for the crucified, gave them the opportunity to carry the first message of the risen Christ.
Since the Church has received its interpretation of the Christ largely through the masculine mind, the place of women in the founding of Christianity perhaps has not been fully appreciated. Not that there have been studied omissions or deliberately false exposition, but it is possible, for instance, that Paul’s logic, clear and convincing, has overshadowed to some degree the more subtle and poetic elements in the human relationships of Jesus, best mediated through the instinctive mind of woman. No woman wrote a Gospel of Jesus. But neither is it recorded that a woman ever spoke evil of him. Many men criticised, sought to condemn, and blasphemed the Master, but never a woman. Many women were associated with him in a way that reveals some of the finest adaptations of the divine Being to human needs. The saved Samaritan woman brought a village to the feet of her Savior, and the redeemed Magdalene followed her Master unfalteringly to the sad and tragic death on Calvary, and on through to the resurrection victory. Conspicuous among Paul’s helpers in the gospel were certain noble women. The name of Priscilla is always mentioned in connection with that of her faithful husband, and usually her name stands, first. Others who readily come to mind are Dorcas, “full of good works and almsdeeds;” Phoebe, “a servant of the church;” and Lydia, “one that worshipped God,” and who became a disciple of Jesus. The first European convert to Christianity was a woman, Lydia, in whose home it seems quite certain the first church on that Continent was organized. The Philippian church was noted for its spirit of generosity, and we are not surprised when we consider the character of this generous spirited seller of purple, this Godfearing, Sabbath-keeping Gentile woman, who gave her heart and life to the Master, and to ministry in His name. She had forsaken the polytheistic faith of paganism for belief in one God, as taught in the purer religion of the Jews.
Still open-minded and without prejudice, she accepts through Paul’s preaching the true and warmer faith of Christianity. In this Sabbath afternoon prayer meeting at which only women were present (until searched out by the apostle and his companions who on this first Sabbath in the strange city were looking for a place of prayer) the first church in Europe was born.
Oriental ideas in regard to women, and the natural conservatism of the East, added of course to woman’s natural modesty and the less conspicuous place always sought by the gentler sex, have served to keep the women of the early church in the background. As pagan elements entered the church the pagan attitude toward women dominated Christianity, and women were forced farther into the background of Christian history. Again, as the Roman Hierarchy developed, and church propaganda became a matter of politics, it required masculine minds to manipulate kingdoms, to apply the inquisition, and to work the more than questionable financial schemes of the church. Women, as well as the finer type of men, were alienated from the church, or found a place only in the nunnery or cloister with no social outlook, and.with no opportunity for Christian service in the modern sense. As the spirit and principles of the Reformation rose and spread, one by one these pagan elements began to disappear and medieval prejudices to melt away. Reforms move slowly, however, and even today there are places where the principles of Christian freedom have not penetrated, and churches that hold a neopagan view of women as related to a militant and aggressive Christianity. The last generation has seen greater progress along this line than has any other in the history of the Christian church. Those denominations that are governed by strict ecclesiastical laws, most of which were formulated in a more conservative age, are today modifying these freedom-restricting rules so as to give larger liberty to the women of the church in ecclesiastical matters.
Education and the modern spirit of democracy are doing the same thing for those churches which claim a larger freedom in church polity, but which are often tightly bound by tradition and prejudice. Doubtless this change is due chiefly to two things. In the first place, this is a truth-loving generation. People generally believe that truth will make men free. Therefore, there is no desire on the part of honest men and women today to hold to a tradition, however hoary with age, if it is not based upon the eternal and immovable rock of truth.
More and more, therefore, in things of religion, men are going back to the f ountainhead of Christian truth: To the New Testament, to the Gospels, and to the life and teachings of Jesus. As this process goes on, pagan elements are eliminated, and ecclesiastical streaks inherited from a non-spiritual church are being washed out of the white garments of the pure Christian faith of the New Testament. In the second place, this is a practical age.
Men believe in doing things. They like to get things accomplished. This spirit is getting into the churches. As men become increasingly interested in the work of the church and give themselves to Christian service, they discover that they are in a realm where woman has already proven herself proficient. They realize that in most.cases it is the women who have held the faith during the dark nights through which the church has often stumbled, and have pointed men to the hills of Galilee where they have again met the risen Christ. They discover that the Dorcases and the Lydias have been rendering to the community a Christian ministry in the name of the Master and as representatives of his church. Because of the demonstrated devotion and ability of these women, practical-minded laymen recognize the large place which women must take in the church.
Never before has the conviction been so strong and so wide-spread that only the church can save civilization. For its great task it needs the best service of both men and women. All Christians everywhere must find a place of service unhindered by custom or prejudice. A field awaits. every Christian called of God to definite whole-time Christian service. The demands upon the church are so urgent that no one will dare stand in the way of any Christian who feels the call of God to any Kingdom task. The heart of the modern church is right on the matter of the place of women in promoting the interests of the kingdom of righteousness. No lingering hesitance in the application of the principle shall hinder the actual work of the church. My six-year-old daughter said to me some time ago that if she were a man she would be a minister, which statement I accepted of course, as a personal compliment. A little later, one evening as she was preparing for bed, there being no one in the room but us two, she said, “Papa, I like preachers, I like to hear them preach, ’ ’ I made no reply until she came to kiss me good-night. Then I said, “Wilna, you could be a preacher, women sometimes preach.” I said it in earnestness, and with the hope that it might encourage her to let her thoughts continue to run in that direction. With unexpected promptness she naively replied: “I’d rather have a husband who preaches.”
Doubtless in the most favorable atmosphere of Christian liberty, men will continue to outnumber the women in the pulpits of the land. Women will continue by choice to be man’s helpmeet, here as elsewhere. And I wish to pay a tribute to the devoted wives of our pastors whose service, if less conspicuous, is no less important than that of their husbands. To choose to be a minister’s wife, and to faithfully perform the responsibilities of that relationship, is to occupy an exalted position in the Kingdom, as measured by the Master’s standard of service. But there are definite fields also which women may man, and to the edification of the church. They should be encouraged to occupy these needy and waiting fields. The interests of the Kingdom require their service. The church that can use the talents of all its members will prosper, and will best meet the needs of this new day.
One day as I was walking down the street in Louisville with Dr. W. J. McGlothlin, teacher of ministers, he said as we passed a charitable institution maintained by the Roman Catholic church, “One of the immediate duties of the Baptist church is to provide opportunities for her young women, who desire to do so, to give themselves to full-time religious service.” He realized that throughout his beloved Southland, in which his denomination is so important a religious factor, there awaits the direction of the church an almost wholly unused power, in the many consecrated young women who desire places of definite service under the direction of the church. For a number of years Missionary boards have sent to foreign fields women who as teachers or doctors have carried the light of the Gospel to the dark places of the earth. Their fitness for such service has been fully demonstrated. The church does not seem to be fully aware of the numberless opportunities for similar service here in America. Many communities need nothing more than they need consecrated Christian teachers, nurses, physicians, and social workers; to teach the Word of God, to help the people in their fight against ignorance, disease, and godlessness and to render to the whole community a divine ministry in the name of Him who went about doing good.
Perhaps the late Rev. Anna Howard Shaw is the most illustrious example of the successful woman preacher and pastor. For several years she ministered to her conservative Cape Cod congregation. Untangling the snarls in which a provincial population are likely to get mixed up she led the people into a wholesome life of community fellowship and Christian service. Such experiences might well be multiplied throughout the country. The harvest fields are waiting for gleaners as well as reapers, else some of the finest grain will be lost in the hedges and along the byways of life. The world needs to be led to the Savior. Confused and blinded humanity is calling for help. The risen Christ stands in the ways, and speaks in appealing tones to the faithful women, devoted and tender in their ministrations of love. Are there not those who will obey the words of the Master as he calls to them to take the message of hope to his disciples, overshadowed by doubt and fear?
“Go tell my disciples that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”