If Women Kept Silent

By Tapuai Tatupu Tuamu Vaili

Here is some perspective on women in ordained ministry.

The very first Christian preachers were all women. In all four Gospels, women are the first to learn of Christ’s resurrection when Christ appears to them, and they are the very first people to share this news with others. Regardless of which Gospel you read, women are clearly the first proclaimers of what the Apostle Paul later declares to be simple gospel, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). 

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“If women had kept silent… there wouldn’t be a church!”

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Here are the first gospel proclaimers. From Mark’s Gospel: Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9–10 and John 20:17–18). From Matthew’s Gospel: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:1–10). From Luke’s Gospel: Mary, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and others (Luke 24:9–10). The first time the story of the resurrection is told, it is proclaimed by a woman. If women had kept silent in the church, there wouldn’t be a church!

The Woman and the Living Water

Our church name is Oasis of Living Water Church because of a woman’s testimony (John 4:39). We usually know her as the “Woman at the Well,” but I prefer to think of her as the “Woman Who Abandoned Her Water Jar.” After talking with Jesus, the Living Water, John 4:28 reports that this woman left her jar behind to go tell the people about Jesus. She left behind what she came to the well to do because she found more important work.

Shortly thereafter, the text reports that many Samaritans believed in Christ because of her testimony (4:39), demonstrating she was quite the effective evangelist. Jesus encourages her spiritual pursuits and questions, and then He welcomes those she leads to Him.

United in Christ

In Galatians 3:28, Paul assures these believers that, in Christ, they have been fully united with everyone else who is “in Christ Jesus.” The family of God has no lesser Christians.

Earthly identifiers do not create value distinction between us in our Father’s eyes. Jews do not carry a higher rank than Greeks. Free people do not hold any greater honor than slaves. Men are not superior to women, and women are not superior to men. No race is a “master race,” nor is any ethnicity inferior.

Christ holds the most honored position in the family of God, and all Christians are “in Christ Jesus.” In that way, we are one. We are united.

Since none can be higher and none can be lower, we are equal in the eyes of God. This is a statement about our equal value in the eyes of God, and how we should learn to view each other. Since all Christians are in Christ, all of us are one.

Sources/Further Reading: BibleRef, Nylse Esahc/iBelieve, A Biblical Understanding of Women in Church Leadership

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