Forty years ago there was no serious
thought of women being appointed to be elders and deacons in the
Lord's church. With the birth of the Feminist Movement,
conceived in the "civil rights" legislation under the influence
of radical humanism among political activists, came the demand
for women's "equal rights" and power in every area of life. It
was inevitable that this movement would invade the home, school
and church, with painful social, economic and political
punishment for any opposition. The militant voice of the
National Organization of Women is demanding that women be
elevated to equal rank with men in every area of life, including
the church. Out of this influence comes the demand for
leadership roles for women in churches of Christ.
This feminist movement is riding the high
wave of liberal political influence and crying for the abolition of "the
yoke of male domination" in religion and allow women to claim their
rightful role of authority in churches. This organization promotes and
supports abortion; it also supports lesbian and homosexual activity and
has ridiculed traditional family relationships and the role of
mother-hood.
The innovations in denominationalism will
eventually be embraced in some form by some churches of church, and some
of these have included women preachers and church leaders for several
years. Now some churches of Christ are trying to imitate the practice.
They reject those passages that speak of the woman being in subjection
to man as the prejudice of Jewish religious leaders against women, such
as the apostle Paul.
The news media and religious journals report
the growing conflict in various religious denominations over women
taking positions of authority in their churches. When the Scriptures are
abandoned as the complete and only standard of authority, it is
expected, among other things, that the women "rights" in the oversight
of the church will be zealously promoted.
Promotion of Women
Into The Oversight of the Church
Some women have demanded and received
permission to attend the "business meetings" of the men in the absence
of elders. They first wanted to attend to listen and be informed. Then
they began to participate by asking and answering questions and to
present their points of view. They soon occupied roles of leadership in
these "business meetings" of making decisions. The women who participate
in business meetings violate the woman's role given in 1 Timothy 2:12
just as if she participated in an elders meeting. It is a short step
from this to demand "election" to the eldership and deaconship. These
women do not understand their place in the church or they have no regard
for the word of Christ, and the men who permit this commit sin.
However, some women are as' tie for a voice
in the decision making of the church. In scene churches women already
are attending the business meetings. The New Testament does not
authorize any woman to occupy any post of authority in the local church,
nor is she permitted to do anything "over" the man, whether there are
elders of not. This prohibits any role of oversight.
Several years ago some elders reported their
intention to revise the traditional roles of women in the church. This
change had to be gradual to avoid division in these churches, because
most people know that the Bible does not authorize a leading role for
women in the church. The gradual introduction of women into the public
activity in the church was to use them for making announcements before
beginning worship; this opened the door for further public leading
roles. That is what I have read from reports from some elders. Then if
women can make announcements, they can also be used as ushers, to lead
public prayers, to read Scriptures, to lead singing and to serve the
Lord's supper.
These women will not be content with this
public service, they will want to preach publicly, and to be appointed
elders and deacons with equal authority of oversight with men.
What the Bible Teaches
About the Role of Women in the Church
The word of God is explicit regarding the
role of women in society, the home and the church. "Let your women keep
silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if
they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is
a shame for women to speak in the church" (1 Cor. 14:34-35). "Let
the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence"
(1 Tim. 2:11-12).
There is not a woman on earth who can attain
the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 for
one to be a bishop. "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office
of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless,
the husband of one wife" (I Tim. 3:1-2). She could never be the
"husband of one wife." She could never "rule well his own house, having
his children in subjection with all gravity." She is to be in subjection
to her husband in every thing (Eph. 5:24).
If we abandon the Scriptures regarding
woman's place in the church, it really does not matter what we do after
that. To go beyond the word of God is to sin and leave God (2 John
9).
A woman is required to do everything that a
man does in becoming a Christian (hear, believe, repent, confess Christ,
be baptized). She must do everything a man does in worship to God (pray,
sing, study the word, take Lord's supper, give of her prosperity on
first day). She can scripturally do anything a man can do as a
Christian, except she may not do so "over the man"; to take the
authority of a man. She is to be in subjection (I Tim. 2:11). The head
of woman is man (1 Cor. 11:3); the head of the wife is the
husband, and she is to be in subjection to him in all things (Eph.
5:22-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). Men and women are equal in Christ Jesus
(Gal. 3:28), but they are not equal in their role assignments. Man
did not create this arrangement. God did! Man and woman cannot change it
without incurring the wrath of God.
The Bible reason is: (1) God commanded that
the women keep silence in the churches (1 Cor. 14:23-35); and (2)
women are to learn in silence with all subjection (1 Tim. 2:11).
The reason she is to be in subjection is: "For Adam was first formed,
then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in
the transgression" (1 Tim. 2:13,14). As long as the world stands
those words will be there with the same force as when delivered by the
Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:23, 25; Matt. 24:35).
Christ did not select a woman to be among
the apostles, elders or evangelists in the New Testament church. Women
are not permitted to do the work of an evangelist.
Godly women in New Testament days had an
important role in the work of the Lord, but it was never "over the man"
or in the role of oversight. Dorcas assisted the needy (Acts 9:36).
Priscilla and her husband taught a young preacher more perfectly the
right way (Acts 18:18). Phebe and Mary were commended for their
assistance to Paul in the gospel (Rom. 16:1,6). Paul said, "Help
those women who labored with me in the gospel" (Phil. 4:3).
I have been greatly blessed by godly women
through my life as a preacher, from my grandmother, mother, wife,
daughters, granddaughters and many other faithful women of great
influence. They have taught me and encouraged me in many ways. These
valuable saints are indispensable to the strength and growth of the
local church. But the truth remains, the Lord did not put them in places
of leadership. Women were not to occupy roles of leadership and
over-sight in the church.
