“How can you be a ‘traditionalist’ and be a woman preacher?”

I’ve heard that question since I was eighteen. My interpretation has changed over the years. The first time I heard the question, I interpreted it as a personal attack. Dukes went up and I was coming out swinging. I really didn’t understand why or have a good answer. Back then I wanted to defend myself. I must’ve looked like Lucy from the Peanuts.

Many have asked. Doesn’t the bible say something about this?

I remember standing next to the casket of a lady I loved. She became a surrogate grandmother to me during the early years of my ministry. Her sons and daughters were fundamentalists who worshipped in a small little country church just outside of town. A long line of people came by to pay their respects before the service was about to begin. I was wearing a black clergy robe and we were about to walk into the sanctuary with the funeral procession. One of her daughters was clearly distraught seeing her mother for the last time. 

As she approached the casket she looked at me, straightened up, snapped out of her emotional state and said, “I don’t believe in you.” 

To which I responded, “I don’t always believe in me either.” Her shoulder nearly missed my chin as she wheeled around and huffed into the sanctuary. Afterwards, that same daughter approached me and said, “I don’t believe in you but that was the most Godly service I’ve ever been in. Please forgive me.” We cried together. She was missing her mother. I was wondering what in the world I was doing. Unsure. Confused. Anointed.

Catholic friends discover a mystery.

Great friends of mine were getting married at the Catholic church in town and wanted me to ‘participate’ in their wedding. The bride shared with the priest that her pastor friend would be doing part of the service and the priest agreed. It wasn’t until the wedding rehearsal that I was introduced to the priest as the bride’s ‘pastor friend.’

“Oh no, no, no, no, no, NO!” said the priest with his eyes wide open and a very serious edge to his voice. The father of the bride approached the priest and they spoke privately as they walked away from us and stood near the entrance of the church. The wedding party was murmuring. The bride was furious and the groom was sweating. I secretly enjoyed the whole thing as a Grinch-like grin spread across my face. The priest’s body language told the story. So, he and the father of the bride rejoined us at the front of the church. That aisle must’ve been a long mile for that priest.

The priest approached me and asked, “Which parts of the service do you want to do?” 

To which I responded, “Can I simply assist you, father?” He seemed to relax. “Sure, let’s look at the liturgy.” We worked together so brilliantly. It was absolutely one of the most holy sacred moments of ministry I ever enjoyed. Afterwards, we were all talking while the photographer captured stunning photos of the bride and her wedding party. The groom and the groomsmen were waiting their turn. The priest nudged me and whispered quietly, “It’s all a holy mystery isn’t it?” I smiled and said, “Yes, father, it sure is.” 

Jospeh gives some insight.

I learned a very important truth during thirty years of ministry. My situation is not as important as my interpretation of situation. A lot times we misinterpret experiences through our own emotions and want an intervention from God. Instead of bursting in to rescue us or to save the day, God will often give us a holy insight and a totally different interpretation of the situation. And he won't necessarily change the circumstances—God certainly did not change them for Joseph. But, he will change us in the way we interpret our situation. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8) Sometimes God will test us by putting us into a position to see how we will deal with somebody who hurt us. How we interpret that moment has everything to do with what happens next and how much God can trust us. Often we think we are ready for the next thing or we believe we are healed up from a nasty breakup. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows when we’ve matured and are ready. The test isn’t for him…it is for us. God won’t ask us if we understood everything He told us to do. God will ask about our obedience. I don’t have to know it all or understand it all to be obedient.

Genesis 40 is our focus for Sunday. Read through it. Chapter 40 includes a game-changer episode for Joseph and God did something new in and with him. I believe we have a lot we can learn from Joseph about serving God, leading where God has placed us and becoming the man or woman God needs us to become for his glory and for his kingdom to reign on earth as it does in heaven.  See you Sunday.

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Genesis 40:8 

Pastor Jen