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.
Guardian of Truth - February 2, 1995
Other Articles
Instrumental Music and the Nature of the New
Covenant
A Factious Man
Is the
Bible Inspired?
Modernism's Assault on
Prophecy
Scarcely A Ripple
Abiding in the Doctrine
The Simple
Power of the Lord's Supper
The
Entrenched Position of Religious Error
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