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.