So, who's in charge?

The writer posed the question because we need to answer the question of who’s in charge in the Church, Men or Women?

In I Timothy 2:11-13 it reads, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission, and I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was created first, then Eve.”

The scripture continues in I Timothy 3:1-7, “If a man desires the office of bishop (or overseer), he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous. One who rules his house well (if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how can he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the snare and condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Also in Titus 1:5-9 Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in Crete and surrounding cities listing their qualifications: if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober minded, just, holy self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

It’s clear from scripture that leadership in the church has been appointed to men by God Almighty. Women in pastoral roles, beings elders, and bishops, apostles, prophetesses is not what the bible proscribes. Although it’s accepted and popular in our contemporary church culture, it’s not biblical. The aforementioned passages regarding bishops, overseers, elders and pastors isn’t antiquated; it didn’t apply to the first century church only, it applies to the church today.

It’s true men and women in Christ are one spiritually. Women aren’t inferior to men essentially (Galatians 3:28), but in church leadership, women are given a less authoritative role. Headship in the church belongs to men. The scripture declares women are to be silent and learn, and be in submission (to their own husbands) (I Timothy 2:11-13). The women’s role in the church is of a supportive nature, not a leadership one.

The role of the older women are to be teachers of good things (Titus 2:3) – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed, vs 4-5.

Unfortunately, the lines have been blurred from what is biblical verses what is pop culture. The humanistic world view has trumped the biblical world view so now the roles are reversed; the church has become feminized as women usurp the role of men in the church which only breeds chaos and disorder. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:40 regarding public worship, “let everything be done decent and in order (emphasis added).”

This error is so common place in the church that we’ve been “hexed or bewitched” to the degree that many believe it’s okay to have women as Pastors which actually is an oxy-moron. Women who claim God called them to the pastorate have either been deceived or have outright lied. God would not call a woman to a position that he clearly forbids in his word. The word of God is being blasphemed (Titus 2:5). This is indeed a serious matter! We can not allow subjective experience to be the determiner of truth and expect the word of God to bow it’s knee to it. We must qualify our experiences in light of holy scripture and bow our knees to the word of God which is objective truth.

No doubt many women are qualified teachers of scripture. Thank God for them! However, women in the public assembly are to remain quiet and learn. Women are allowed to teach women and children, but not men; that’s where the line must be drawn. Women do not have the authority to tell men what to do in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ; that’s a perversion! It’s not chauvinism as some would say, it’s the word of God. A true woman of God recognizes her role in God’s plan as a blessed, and privileged one. I believe equally as important, but with less authority than the man. Remember the head of the woman is the man (I Corinthians 11:3). 

It’s a glorious thing to submit and fall into the role that God designed for men and women.

Shame on the woman for usurping the role of the man. Shame on the man for not taking his rightful place in leadership. Both are culpable. Once the word of God is taught properly in this most critical issue, the transforming power of scripture will penetrate the hearts of his saints, and we’ll willingly submit to it’s truth. We’ll have more joy, and peace in the church; God’s word is honored instead of blasphemed, and things will be done decent and in order.