Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, recently ordained three women into the pastorate against not only the Scriptures, but against the Southern Baptist Convention’s official statement of faith. During that service, Warren, a Southern Baptist pastor, justified his actions by pointing to Acts 2:17-18.
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
This passage, which has nothing at all to do with the office or the function of a pastor or elder in a local church, Warren used to justify his church’s rebellion against God and his roles for women and men in the Church. By Warren’s logic, the use of this passage to justify women pastors would also justify little kids into the pastorate. It’s simply absurd.