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Ask Pr. Sophie
Abstract: What "could" Jesus do? Pr. Sophie takes on "spurious" biblical argument.
Pr. Sophie Fortresson, our resident expert on all matters of theology, Lutheran etiquette, and social protocol, answers questions submitted by our readers and occasionally simply volunteers advice when no question has been asked. Send your questions to pr_sophie@lutheranconfessions.com.
Dear Pr. Sophie: My husband and I are long-tme members of a Missouri Synod congregation, and even though the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod does not ordain women as pastors, it has been the practice in our congregation for women to participate in worship as lectors and communion assistants. At first, I was not sure this was proper, but now that I have served in both roles, I believe my appreciation of worship has deepened. I take these opportunities very seriously: I read the lessons in advance and pray about them, and I try to be spiritually prepared when asked to assist with Holy Communion. I pray and I think about my relationship to each person that comes forward to receive the Sacrament.
Recently our pastor told me that someone in the congregation had complained that it was "unbiblical" for women to read the lessons or to be involved in distributing the Sacrament. Apparently the "plaintiff" said that Jesus could have chosen women for disciples if that was the right thing to do, but he did not, and so women should not be given leadership roles of any kind in worship.
The pastor, the plaintiff, and I are going to talk about this in a few days, and frankly, I'm not sure how to respond. Can you help me? E.B.M, Napierville, IL
Dear E.B.M.: Thank you so much for sharing your quandary. To be perfectly honest, Pr. Sophie has very little patience with those who would exclude women from the pastoral office, but impatience is not a good strategy for the discussion you will have.
Pr. Sophie believes you should begin with your strongest argument: being a worship leader has strengthened your faith. Pr. Sophie suspects that, notwithstanding the plaintiff, your strengthened faith also makes you a more effective witness for the Gospel in your congregation. It would be good to cite examples of that if you are able.
Your personal witness ought to be persuasive. However, you should be prepared for the plaintiff and possibly your pastor to assert that it is more important that worship be "biblical" than that it be effective.
At this point, before proceeding in the discussion, you should decide how attached you are to your congregation. Pr. Sophie is about to recommend a line of argument that may not be received charitably.
Pr. Sophie believes that it is spurious to prohibit something because Jesus "could have" done it but did not. The Bible really does not say much about what Jesus "could have" done, and this line of argument is usually just a way for contemporary people to smuggle an unacknowledged interpretation into the Bible.
You might ask why the plaintiff is so fixated on the sex of the disciples. After all, Jesus "could have" chosen Gentiles for disciples but he did not, and that might mean that only Jewish people should be allowed to lead Christian worship. Or perhaps Jesus could have chosen disciples with seminary training, but he did not and so it may be that only tax collectors, fishers or "sons of Alphaeus" are fit to be Lutheran pastors.
Pr. Sophie wishes you well and will pray for you.
