Dr. E. G. Sherman, Jr
July 8, 2017 at 10:45 AM
The Historic Involvement of Women in Christianity
The Historic Involvement of Women
in Christianity.
“ And she ( Anna ) coming in that instance gave thanks
likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them
that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” ( Lk. 2:38 )
Although Christianity is one of the World’s Great
Religions, it was not the first to be established. It was
promised by Jesus, although he referred to the movement
as a church. Following his resurrection, Jesus gave the
Great Commission to the eleven – remember that Judas
had committed and his replacement had not be selected.
( Matt. 28:28-30 ). A casual reading of the Commission
might lead to the conclusion that women would have no
role to play in the development of the church. The
sermon for this Annual Mission Anniversary has been
planned to partially broach this issue. It was entitled,
“The Historic Involvement of Women in Christianity”.
P. 2
It will include the following three dimensions, namely:
the emerging church after the Day of Pentecost, selective
women in the early church movement and the roles of
women in implementing the contemporary church.
As noted in the textual anchor, it was a woman,
having seen the babe ( Jesus ) who would later announce
the building of his church, spoke “of him to all them that
looked for redemption in Jerusalem”. Approximately, thirty
three years later, that babe ( Jesus ) would utter, “upon this
rock I will build my church…” and the promise was fulfilled
on the Day of Pentecost.
Against that textual background, attention will
now be focused on the first dimension of the sermon which
is – the emerging church. Although Jesus spoke of his
church before the crucifixion, its advent would not occur
p. 3
until the following events had transpired: The Great
Commission was given ( Matt. 28:28-30 ), The Holy Spirit
was promised ( Acts 1:8 ) The Pentecostal Experience had
occurred ( Acts 2:1-12 ) and Peter’ sermon was preached
that led to 3,000 converts were baptized.
It is obvious that the experience of baptism was
not just a new experience for Acts 2: 42 asserts that
(…they continued steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of the bread, and prayer.”
The new status of being a convert engendered changes
in attitudes and actions of the individuals. The Bible
documents the emergence of fear and wonders done by the
apostles, but the believers clung together; they later sold
their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need. ( 43-45 ).
P. 4
To even attempt a synopsis of the experiences of the
early church is beyond the scope of this sermon. Hence the
emphasis will be directed to the second parameter of the
sermon which is – the role of women in the early church
movement.
A perusal of the New Testament clearly shows that the
early church was masculine controlled; the Books were
written by men, the authorized leaders were men ( bishops,
elders, pastors, and deacons – to reference a few titles.
During that era, however, there were some women involved
in the early church cited herein are two with the husband
and one was non married. In chronological order, there were
Sapphira, the wife of Ananias, who conspired with her
husband to lie about the financial contribution to the early
church; they both fell dead, first the man and later the
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woman. The next husband and wife team consisted of
Priscilla and Aquila. She assisted her husband in the
early church teaching. Thirdly, there was a business
woman, Lydia – apparently unmarried – who became a
convert, prepared meals for Paul and Silas, and
encouraged them to remain at her house for a while.
While this synopsis is no means exhaustive, it does
illustrate the preponderance of men in control of the early
church during its infancy.
It must be noted that both of these occurrences transpired
before the day of Pentecost, yet they would be an integral
part the forthcoming church. Nonetheless, the fact remains
that the early church was masculine focused, both the
writers and preachers. There were some roles for women
as prophetesses, but not as pastors. This assertion is likely
p. 6
to instill doubt, invoke criticism, and breed rejection but
even the definition of Prophetess supports the assertion
that prophetess is non pastoral.
The sermon’s focus will leave this controversial topic
and move to the final consideration which is – some roles of
women in implementing the church’s existence. It was
to women ( Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ) that an
angel instructed them to “go quickly, and tell his disciples
that he is risen from the dead…and they departed quickly
…and did run to bring his disciples word”. ( Matt. 28: 7-8 .)
That episode has several implications, two of which are:
it showed that women were involved in the pre-church
period before the Day of Pentecost and, secondly, their
assignment could be viewed as one of being a missionary –
not pastor because it carried no instruction to teach and
p. 7
baptized converts. As noted earlier, the New Testament
writers were men, their official positions were male
designated and the founding of churches were done
by men. It is of interest that the most prolific of the
apostles, Paul, was against women involvement in
church affairs. He even taught that women should be
seen but not hear in church. Additionally, he obligated
women to ask their husbands about church related
topics. Well ladies without taking a position on the
Pauline theology regarding women just take comfort
in the fact that he never married.
Taking a giant leap across Centuries from the early
biblical era to the 18th Century in America. It was the
leadership of slave women who largely populated the
underground churches, supporters of the underground
p. 8
railroad were religious women, and it was white missionary
women who started Sunday Schools in slave settings; they
skillfully taught the Bible as knowledge but also an
opportunity for slave children to learn to read and write.
Quickly moving to the 20th Century, the continuation and
progress of the church has been sustained more by the
efforts of women than men. Additionally, the women are
more regular in attendance, more consistent in financial
support, more likely to perform voluntary services, and
more prone to display emotional responses to the
sermons than are men.
In closing, this sermon has been a brief overview of
the historic involvement of women in Christianity. It
disclosed an historic pattern of discrimination even
in the writing of the Bible. Despite the views of Paul,
p. 9
the women have been an often unrecognized source for
the continuance of Christianity. Lastly, words of
appreciation are extended to our General Mission here
at our church. Amen.
