Pastor's Newsletter (2.21.23)
Coffee with Pastor is a weekly newsletter from Pastor Painter for the Lincoln Baptist Church
Good Morning,
It has never been the popular thing to stand for what is right against a society that is enveloped with evil. Yet, those who are courageous enough to stand will find reinforcements from their Heavenly Father bringing them fortitude and strength when it is most needed. Are you willing to stand for what is right?
“The Jesus that men want to see is not the Jesus they need to see.” – G. Campbell Morgan
My family and I were able to spend a few days down in Lawrence, Kansas with Pastor Hanks and the Heritage Baptist Church. I was honored to be able to preach in their schools chapel on Tuesday morning, and then to bring the devotional on Tuesday evening at their church's Valentine Banquet.
Thursday night our Soul Winning time was canceled because of the heavy snow that fell Wednesday night into Thursday. We received around eight inches of snow here at the church.
Friday morning we kicked off our first Bible Study group for men. The weather hampered our first meetings attendance but we are expecting more men to be present for our study next week. If any of our men are interested in joining this group on Friday mornings please feel free to let me know.
Praise the Lord we saw three precious souls saved this week. We had great services both on Sunday morning and evening. There were many who were sick or traveling but we still had solid attendance with about 140 folks here on Sunday morning. We had one adult visitor, a lady from the neighborhood that had attended St. James many years ago and came to see what was going on inside the building that now houses our church. I believe we will have many guests with the same intent over the next few weeks.
A great big thank you to Mrs. Miller and Miss Sarah who cleaned out this room that had been temporary storage since we moved into the property. We were able to create a new conference room. This conference room will be used primarily for staff meetings and Bible Study groups.
That is another week in the books for the Lincoln Baptist Church and we are excited to see what the next week will hold. I am praying for you that the Lord would bless you and keep you safe both from harm and temptation. I pray that you will be a good testimony for the Lord. Have a great week!
Pastor Jonathan Painter
Did you hear about the little old lady at church? She refuses to repeat gossip...so you better listen close the first time! 😂😂😂
This is a bonus thought from the Bible Study last Wednesday night. If you missed the Bible Study you can watch it here.
Wednesday night in the Bible study I focussed on the structure of the church. I mentioned that the charge of the church is left to the men. The following article is a bonus thought from the Bible Study last Wednesday evening regarding why we believe that God has intended that men should lead the church. If you missed Wednesday Nights Bible Study you can hear it here.
WHY DON'T WE BELIEVE IN WOMAN PREACHERS?
It is an unpopular belief in our time that a woman does not have God's calling or blessing to lead a church as their pastor. Some would call us chauvinist, and narrow-minded. It has been said that our mindset regarding church leadership is outdated and in need of refreshing to match the society we live in. While some may throw out these accusations I would argue that they are untrue. Yet, as a church we do not conform to the winds of society, we must hold firm roots in the Word of God which is relevant for every generation and time. There are five reasons that we, as a church, do not agree with the installment of woman pastors or preachers.
LEADERSHIP IS COMMISSIONED TO THE MAN
"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." - Genesis 3:16
"Neither was man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." - I Corinthians 11:9-10
God made men and women to fill different roles. This does not make the woman any less valuable than the man. True value is not measured in power, but rather in one's ability to fulfill the role God has given them to fill.
The role of leadership was given to the man, and it is his commission to fill that role in the home as well as in the church.
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP IS COMMISSIONED TO THE MAN
"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church." (I Corinthians 14:34-35)
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection." (I Timothy 2:11)
Not only has the Lord commissioned men to lead in the family, but He has also commissioned they would be the spiritual leaders over the woman. This does not mean that a woman cannot study her Bible and learn and grow in her relationship with the Lord. I also do not believe that it means that the woman cannot have her own beliefs and convictions on doctrine. She can, in a propper manner discuss the Scriptures with her husband at home. I also do not believe that it is wrong for a woman to help the man in teaching children or even other women in the church. I strongly believe that a woman should not be teaching the men in the church in a public forum as women preachers do.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN TO MEET PASTORAL REQUIREMENTS
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" - I Timothy 3:2
"One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;" - I Timothy 3:4
There are two points in which the woman is unable to fulfill the requirements of a Bishop or Pastor. First of all, it is impossible for her to be the man of one wife. Pastors are required to be married, they cannot be divorced, and their marriage must be to a wife. This is impossible for any woman to do.
The second point which cannot be filled by a woman is that the Pastor is to rule his house well. However, since a man is to be the leader of his home, a woman would be out of her role to "ruleth well" in her house. If the woman is ruling in her home than her home is not in order which disqualifies her from being a Pastor.
Society may bulk at this notion but the Scriptures are still true. God created them male and female and to each, He gave a role. It is beyond the bounds of the woman's role to be a Pastor in a biblical New Testament Church. Therefore a church with a woman pastor is not Biblical.
