SHOULD WOMEN TAKE THE LEAD?
Richard Stevens III
Women leading men in the home and spiritually is an agenda supported and promoted throughout our country. But have they reasoned correctly? Should women take the lead…
In the home? Men and women are equal spiritually in the sight of God, “neither male nor female: for ye are all on in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28), but we are assigned different roles. Women were created as a “help meet,” helper of man (Gen. 2:8). “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor. 11:9). “For Adam was first formed, then Eve” (1 Tim2:13). Nothing inferior is intended, as she is his counterpart and they are to fulfill God’s will together (Gen. 1:26-27). Nevertheless, women were sentenced to child bearing and submission, “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Gen 3:16). Further evidence that God intends for man to take the lead in the home follows: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:… Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Eph 5:22-24; see also Col. 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1,5).
In preaching? Joel foretold of women prophesying (Joel 2:28). Philip had four daughters that prophesied (Accts 21:8-9). The church of Corinth (chapter fourteen) had women that prophesied. Paul stated that women prophesied (1 Cor 11:5), but still made the point a couple of verses prior, “the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man” (1 Cor. 11:3) Even prophesying women (speaking under divine inspiration) were to be submissive to their male counterparts. Paul told the prophesying women in the congregation where men were also present to, “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” (1 Cor 14:34; see v. 35). Silence in this passage is the Greek word sigao which means to hold one’s peace. The prophesying women had to be quiet and let the men do the teaching and preaching (1 Tim. 2:11-12). This is the way God wants it done when and where men and women are present. The Bible referring to creation (1 Tim 2:13-14; 1 Cor. 11:8-9), signifies this arrangement is not cultural, but continuous.
In teaching? Women can teach women and children publicly in assemblies without men, or privately teach anyone (Titus 2:2-3; Acts 18:36). In 2 Timothy 2:2 the Bible says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” The word “men” in this passage is anthropos meaning human beings, male or female. The point is clear, God intends for women to teach others also. But, men are to teach publicly in mixed assemblies of men and women, “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). God intended for spiritual men to lead publicly, as in this immediate context of public prayer, “that men [male- aner] pray” (1 Tim 2:8).
In church leadership? Elders (Acts 14:23), also called bishops (Phil 1:1), shepherds (1 Peter 5:1), pastors (Eph 4:11), presbytery (1 Tim. 4:14), are the Lord’s leaders (Acts 28:17,28; 1 Tim 5:17; Heb 13:17). Women could not qualify for leadership, since individuals must be male, the husband of the one wife (1 Tim 3:1-2; Titus 1:5-6). The same is true of deacons (1 Tim 3:12).
This does not mean women cannot be active in the work of the church. The women of the church must be and can be active. There is plenty of work for everyone to do and we must be about our work. God has given some work for men and some for women. Acts 9:36-43 we are introduced to “Tabitha which is called Dorcas was a women full of good works and alms-deeds which she did.” Another place where women are said to be doing work of the Lord is found in 1 Timothy 5:9. This women is described as, “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodge strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she had diligently followed every good work” (1 Timothy 5:10).
Let us be about our Father’s business and let us stay busy at what we can do and not focus on what we can’t do. The Lord has set the boundaries not man.
Love Keith
