This letter is in reference to Mr. R. Merideth Akers Jr.’s letter in The Alabama Baptist, dated July 13. In it, Mr. Akers expresses his concern about women not being allowed in ministry.
The Bible is clear on this. God has a divine order for all His creation, each subject to the higher power (Rom. 13:1). That order is as follows: 1. Christ, 2. the church, 3. man, 4. woman, 5. children and 6. servants (Eph. 5:22-24, Eph. 6:1-5; Gen. 3:16 and 1 Tim. 2:9-15). This is one of God’s standards. Man does not have the authority to change or deviate from it (Rev. 22:18-19, Rom. 3:4 and Prov. 14:12).
Akers has a double set of standards. On the one hand, he wants to adhere to the Scriptures on qualification for male pastors, which he should do, but on the other hand, he wants to ignore the Scriptures disqualifying women. I repeat, Akers or any other man does not have the authority to lower God’s qualifications standard.
Carlton Sharpless
Atmore, Ala.
Share with others: