Pastor Ortiz opens this “Ask the Pastor” segment by addressing a series of listener questions, grounding each answer firmly in Scripture, church history, and pastoral wisdom. The full message can be read in about 3–5 minutes below.

1. Why Only Men Serve as Elders?

• Scriptural Pattern, Not Cultural Relic
  • While 1 Timothy 2:12 (“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man…”) is sometimes explained away as a cultural response to pagan temple practices, Paul roots his instruction much deeper—back to Genesis.
  • In 1 Timothy 2:13–14, Paul points to the creation order: Adam formed first, then Eve; Eve was deceived, not Adam. This “pattern” informs church leadership roles.
• Position vs. Authority
  • A woman’s role in Scripture is one of “support”—just as the Holy Spirit (the Paraclete) comes alongside to aid, so women provide essential support to male leaders without usurping their office.
  • “Support” is not “secondary” any more than the Spirit is secondary; it is complementary and vital.
• Women in Ministry
  • Though women may not serve as elders or pastors, they can and do teach, prophesy, and exercise gifting in many leadership capacities. A wise church (and a wise husband) listens deeply to the insights of godly women.

2. Christ Jesus vs. the Lord Jesus Christ

• Different Emphases in Titles
  • “Christ Jesus” (or “Jesus Christ”) highlights His identity as the promised Messiah—the Deliverer foretold by the prophets. Romans 3:24 emphasizes redemption “that is in Christ Jesus.”
  • “Jesus Christ our Lord” underscores His ongoing authority in our lives—He is not only Savior but Sovereign whom we submit to. Romans 6:23 uses this fuller title to link salvation with submission.
• Practical Takeaway
  • When you see the two titles, note the context: prophecy and deliverance vs. our life under His lordship. The flip of words isn’t accidental but intentional to guide our thinking.

3. Why Was Polygamy Permitted Old Testament?

• Cultural and Practical Considerations
  • There was no explicit Mosaic law forbidding multiple wives; practical needs (more daughters than eligible husbands, hardship of caring for unmarried women) and social customs led wealthy men to take additional wives to provide security for families.
  • Examples: Samuel’s father Elkanah had two wives; Solomon’s many wives reflected human folly, not divine ideal.
• New Testament Clarification
  • Jesus (Matthew 19) reaffirms God’s design as one man, one woman—a standard we uphold today.

4. Paul vs. James on “Justify”

• Different Audiences, Different Issues
  • Paul combats legalism—people trusting in works or ceremonies for acceptance with God. For Paul, “justified” is our standing before God by grace through faith (Romans 5:1).
  • James confronts “easy believism”—the idea that mere profession of faith, without life change, evidences genuine belief. James argues that true faith is shown by deeds (James 2:17).
• No Contradiction, Complementary Truth
  • Paul addresses how we enter right relationship with God; James shows how that relationship bears fruit in our daily lives. Faith unaccompanied by transformation is dead; genuine faith inevitably produces works.

5. Using AI in Church Ministry

• AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
  • Pastor Ortiz freely uses AI (e.g., ChatGPT) to organize his raw sermon notes, research historical or linguistic details, and generate illustrations—saving hours of preparatory work.
  • He draws the line at letting AI write his sermons or replace the Holy Spirit’s guidance: “Study and pray” remain the pastor’s chief responsibilities.
• Guarding Against Laziness and Abuse
  • Just as a power tool can amplify productivity or become dangerous in unskilled hands, AI must be used wisely. Children must be protected from unsupervised online interactions.
  • Never feed personal or sensitive data into AI; misuse can lead to harm, as illustrated by cases of AI-generated videos deceiving vulnerable users.

Closing Prayer
Pastor Ortiz concludes with a prayer, asking God to guide His church in both honoring biblical patterns and wisely leveraging new tools for Kingdom work.