John Waddey(1,046) firstcenturychristian Log in to become a member of John Waddey's Fan Club!
What a sad and dreary world it would be if there were no mothers, wives and daughters to bless our lives and homes. Surely among the most precious gifts of God to man was the gift of woman.
God's Will For Women
To properly address the several false doctrines regarding women, we would do well to review first what the Bible teaches about her role, her privileges and limitations.
In creation "Adam was first formed, then Eve" (I Tim. 2:13). In the fall, "Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression" (I Tim. 2:14). Paul further reasons "For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, for as much as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man".For neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" ( I Cor. 11:7-9).
In the light of the above facts God instructs that "wives, be in subjection unto (their) own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church" (Eph. 5:22-23). Older women are reminded to "train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Tit. 2:4-5). To Timothy, Paul writes, I desire therefore that the younger women (KJV) marry, bear children rule the household.." ( I Tim. 5:14). Thus in the home relation we see woman's role as one of subjection to her husband, gladly accepting the privilege of motherhood and the responsibility for the domestic well- being of her family.
Her position in the church is also spelled out by Paul. "In all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection as also saith the law. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church" ( I Cor. 14:33-35). To Timothy he writes: "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness" (I Tim. 2:11-12). Thus her role in the church is one of subjection and quietness, allowing the men to fill the public roles of elders, preachers and teachers of mixed public assemblies.
False Views About Women's Role in the Church
False teachings are of two general kinds:
a). That which allows what God forbids.
b). That which forbids what God allows.
We shall review a number of these faulty views and examine them in light of the Scriptures.
Some would allow women to preach and teach "over man". In days past this was primarily seen among Pentecostal and Nazarene types of churches. Today however, main-line Protestant churches such as the United Methodist, Episcopalians and Disciples of Christ have opened their pulpits to women.
Arguments for Women Preachers Refuted
Those who allow women to preach, reason that if God calls them to preach, that would authorized them to do so. The problem with this is two fold (a). God does not call anyone to preach in a supernatural way. He called apostles and prophets for the special work and then inspired them to do it, as in Paul's case (Gal. 1:11-16). Today he calls all sinners to Christ through the gospel (II Thess. 2:14) and in that same gospel record he charges us to preach the word (II Tim. 4:1-2). In the same Bible he prohibits women to teach or have authority over a man (I Tim. 2:12). The "call to preach" claimed by women is a figment of their imagination. It is wishful thinking, fulfilling the desire of their hearts. (b). God would not call a woman to do that which he has already expressly forbidden. To do such would make His will contradictory and untrustworthy. It would discredit his immutability, making him as unreliable as man. James assures us that there is no variation with him (Jas. 1:17).
Defenders of women preachers cite (Gal. 3:28) which says that in Christ "there can be no male and female" and conclude that a woman may do anything a man may do. It is a fundamental rule of interpretation that a meaning cannot be attached to a verse that sets it at odds with other plainly spoken teachings of Scripture. Their use of Paul's words in Galatians flies in the face of his message to the Corinthians and Timothy.
To the Corinthians he says:
"Let the women keep silence in the church"
"It is not permitted unto them to speak"
"For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church"
This was the belief and practice "of all the churches of the saints".
The words he wrote were "the commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:33-37).
To Timothy he modifies his prohibition by saying "I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be quietness" (I Tim. 2:12).
The view expressed by those promoting women preachers makes the Word of God confusing, contradictory and unreliable.
Some argue that Paul's prohibition was not God's will at all. Rather, they say he was a bachelor who did not want to see women given equal opportunity to lead the church; that he was confused by the customs and culture of his day. They conclude that we moderns are not bound by Paul's obsolete opinions. This view is immediately discredited by Paul's two-fold affirmation that it was already the practice of all the churches, and that the words he wrote were the commandment of the Lord. Furthermore, if this part of Paul's teaching was his personal (erroneous) opinion, how can we know which parts of his teaching are from God and which parts are opinion? The same could be asked about the entire Bible.
Of course those liberal churches that have joined the "feminist movement" and opened their pulpits, do not see the Scriptures as divinely inspired and authoritative for any matter. We remind them however that the words that Jesus spoke will judge them in the last day (John 12:48).
It is often said that "regulations such as these are simply traditions of the early church and thus not of binding force. The church of every age determines what traditions will be held." While we grant that there are numerous special customs and human traditions that are not matters of salvation, we dispute that whether a woman can teach "over a man" is one of them. Scripture does not treat is as such. There is plain, unequivocal prohibition of the practice. The reasons given have to do with creation and fundamental male/female relationships as ordained by God in every age.
Closely akin to the foregoing discussion is the practice of appointing women as elders or rulers over congregations of disciples. This has been seen in the Disciples of Christ and some Presbyterian bodies. However Paul's instructions relating to the qualifications of elders clearly show the fallacy of this practice, for the bishop must be "the husband of one wife" (I Timothy 3:2)
Also the very word bishop which means overseer would keep a woman from the post, since she is forbidden to have dominion over a man (I Timothy 2:12). The pronouns used in reference to elders always are masculine and elders are to be entreated as fathers (I Tim. 5:1).
Those who would place women in the pulpits of churches or in the office of elder do so in the face of Bible authority and stand condemned thereby. Faithful Christians honor God's law in this and all other matters.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
