“Mum, can women be pastors?”
“In the Lutheran Church right now, no.”
Even though i was driving and couldn’t see her, I could hear so many emotions in my 8 year old daughter’s voice. She couldn’t understand why. Never before in her life had she been told that she couldn’t do something based on her gender. She was hurt. I asked her why she was asking, and she shared that she wants to be a pastor. My 8 year old daughter, full of love for Jesus, could see herself preaching, witnessing and ministering. Why can’t she entertain that thought as much as imagining becoming a police officer, a vet or an astronaut?
I am reminded of two pieces of scripture that reveal to us of our task as Christians. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV) What exactly does the The Word say we are to do? “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20).
My daughter understood that Jesus wants her life to be one of baptising, teaching and growing disciples. Jesus never restricted The Great Commission to males only. What a wonderful thing it is that a young child can see themselves participating in a life of pastoral ministry. Whether or not she still has this dream in a month’s time is irrelevant. Her heart is open to God’s calling on her life, and it is not my job to shut that down.
I told my daughter that by the time she’s an adult, women will be allowed to be pastors. She was happy and excited.
