North American Church Planting Foundation

In the contemporary evangelical Church, the role of women is a constant topic of discussion and disagreement.  Much of the differing opinions on this matter have stemmed not from a careful study and exegesis of Scripture, as it should be, but from a biased understanding influenced by a secular society where gender “equality” is of utmost importance.  Many try to isolate this doctrinal issue as one with no bearing implication upon the life of the gospel within the local church.  But, the truth is that this issue has more far-reaching implications than many realize. Much of the evangelical church is losing, and some denominations have already lost, the meaning and understanding of biblical manhood and womanhood.  Consequently, it is not surprising to see marriages, families and ministries in dismay.  Many men and woman at home and in the church, no longer complement one another but rather are in competition with one another. 

It is my strong belief that although God has given both men and women spiritual gifts for the edification of the church and the home, he has also laid down guidelines in his Word on how to properly use those gifts within the context of their roles as men and women.  Further, It is also my strong belief that the Bible clearly teaches that men are called to be the spiritual leaders not only in their homes but also in the church and that women are called to voluntarily yield to that leadership.  Disregarding the pattern God has established in Scripture is to assume that somehow we know better than the Creator of life.

Therefore the questions are: According to the Word of God are women allowed to be pastors?  Are they allowed to preach to the congregation?  Are they allowed to exercise spiritual authority over the men of the church?  The answer is no to all these questions and the following is a biblical defense. 

Creation

Some will argue that the apparent inequality between men and women is due to the fall and it is easily seen how one can arrive at that conclusion.  History has shown that men have lorded their masculinity over women and have treated them as inferior.  But, this is a corruption of God’s design.  Scripture teaches that men and women are equally valuable but God has given them distinct roles.  Prior to the fall we discover that God’s plan was that Adam would have headship in his relationship with Eve.  God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” It was sin that broke the harmonious relationship between them.  When the serpent in Genesis 3 deceived Eve, she violated the headship God had given Adam.  As a result, there is much gender confusion in society, home and the church.  God has a perfect plan for men and women and that plan needs to be restored. 

Apostolic Teaching

In Ephesians 5:21-32 the Apostle Paul explains that a godly marriage reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church.  This is later echoed in Colossians 3:18-19.  It is a relationship of submission and love.  In verse 22, women are instructed to “submit to their own husbands as onto the Lord.” Verse 23 tells us why? “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church.” Also, in verse 25, the instruction for husbands is to love their wives just as Christ loved the church.  Those that argue that a wife is under no obligation to submit to her husband, as far as having authority over her, revert back to verse 21, which states that both wives and husbands are to submit to one another.  They argue against male headship and that mutual submission negates any authority given to the husband over the wife.  Both must equally submit to one another.  The problem with that argument is first, verses 22-33 is a detailed explanation of what was previously stated in verse 21.  Secondly, the context of the passage is the relationship between Christ and the Church in which case there is no mutual submissiveness as pertaining to authority.  Christ is the authority and the Church submits.  The church never exercises authority over Christ.  The church willingly and joyfully submits to Christ in everything as Christ lavishes his love upon her.  Scripture calls upon wives to do the same.  This is consistent with the headship/helper distinctions already previously argued. This is not necessarily an easy task but nevertheless it is God’s command.

Further, the headship/helper distinction is also clearly taught in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 2, where Paul writes concerning overseers.  He instructs that an overseer or a pastor must be the husband of one wife and that as head of his home he is to manage it well. (1 Tim. 3:1-5, Titus 6)  These verses are consistent with the headship/helper teaching throughout Scripture.

There are those who agree with this interpretation but claim that it is only applicable within the context of marriage and claim that it is not applicable within the context of the church.  Contrary to that belief, the bible teaches otherwise.  The Apostle Paul clearly instructs in 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 11 that the creation order constitutes distinctions and restrictions regarding women in the church.

“I do not permit women to teach or exercise authority over a man; rather she is to remain quiet.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”  (1 Tim. 2:13-24)

“For a man ought to not cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.  For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.  Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” (1 Cor. 11:7-9)

This means that these restrictions cannot be discounted based on the cultural stigma upon women when Paul wrote his letters.  Paul’s basis for his instructions is rooted in God’s created design for men and women.  Therefore, if we agree that God has ordained men to be the head and leader of the home based on God’s creative order then we must also be consistent and conclude that there are certain restriction upon the role of women in the church based on the same reasoning.

As it is evident, it is God’s perfect design that men should be the spiritual leaders and that the women would joyfully submit to that leadership both the home and the church.  This by no means is demeaning to women.  It is simply God’s perfect plan and when understood and embraced by both men and women, God is glorified and true fulfillment is found.

Question: What are the restrictions for women within the local church?

Answer:  Any ministry position within the church that would interrupt the responsibility of male leadership and headship including that of their husband if married.

1.  They cannot hold the office of Elder

1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 restrict the office of elder exclusively to men.  Elders are to be husbands of one wife and as head of the home they are to manage there homes well. (1Tim. 3:2-4; Titus 1:6).  Further, Paul would have never permitted a woman to usurp the office of elders knowing that the elder has the authority over the church and has the responsibility of exercising the authority of preaching to the gathered congregation; to rebuke and exhort with all authority (Titus 2:15).  This would have violated the headship/helper relationship.  Also, every time the three interchangeable words for the same office, elder, bishop and pastor are found they are always in the masculine form

2.  They cannot teach or exercise authority over men

Paul restricts women from preaching or teaching to men.  This he explicitly instructs in 1 Timothy 2. He explains that women who profess godliness are to externally adorn themselves in such a way that it reflects their inner adornment of a quiet, submissiveness spirit that would never challenge male headship in the church including that of her husband’s.  This is also evident in 1 Corinthians 14:33-35.  Both these passages instruct that women are to remain quiet.  Some have definitely misinterpreted the word “quiet” by literally meaning that women cannot say a word in church.  What Paul is referring to, is that women are to remain quiet in the areas of preaching or teaching when men are present, which is every time the church is gathered because preaching is by nature authoritative.  It is a medium by which a pastor gives instruction, exhortation, rebuke and correction.  Allowing women to preach in this manner would be without question violating male headship in the church.

Response to Possible Old Testament Objections

Women Prophetesses and Leaders 

It is the consistent teaching throughout the Old Testament that God has called upon men to lead the home and his people.  God made a covenant with Abraham, not Sarah (Genesis 12-21) and when speaking of the foundation of Israel it was always Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24, Exodus 3:6, Matthew 22:32), not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel. God chose Moses to lead his people out of Egyptian bondage. He chose Aaron to be the first high priest and every high priest thereafter was a man as well.  Male leadership is the constant pattern found in the Old Testament and throughout Scripture.

This is not to say that God never used some righteous women to accomplish his will.  In Scripture there are mentioned prophetesses such as Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22) and Deborah (Judges 4,5) that God used to prophesy a word from the Lord to a person or a group of people but this prophetic ministry is never found to be in a public forum nor is it ever found to be discounting male leadership.

In the case of Deborah, many insist that her ministry is sufficient evidence to allow authoritative spiritual leadership be given to women in the church.  If we carefully study this example we discover that Deborah’s ministry was different from that of her male counterparts.  Most of the other judges mentioned were public figures called by God to be warrior leaders that would lead the Israelites into battle and consequent victory.  Deborah’s ministry was one that was more in a private setting.  In Judges 4:5 she is found to be consistently sitting under a palm tree while people would privately come to her for judgment.  And, even when it was time for battle, unlike previous judges, she called upon a man named Barak and reminded him what the Lord had commanded (4:6).  Deborah’s actions demonstrate that she understood that God has called upon men to publicly lead.  It is also evident that at the time of Deborah’s ministry there was a serious lack of male leadership.  Judges 5:7-8 reveals that among forty thousand there were no willing warriors, shields or spears to be found.  This is confirmed by Barak’s reply to Deborah in chapter 4:8, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me I will not go.”  Deborah clearly realized that this was neither right nor natural, and she told Barak it would result in shame upon his name, “And she said, I will surely go with you.  Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman (4:9).

Response to Possible New Testament Objections

The Example of Jesus

Some attempt to make the argument that since women played an important role in Jesus’ ministry therefore he would affirm female leadership in the church.  It is without question that Jesus valued and loved the women whom he either served or was served by but when Jesus picked twelve people to continue the work he would start, he only chose men.  Even, when Judas was to be replaced only men were considered.  Later on when the risen Christ sovereignly decides to call an Apostle to take the gospel to the Gentiles he finds the man Saul.  Every Apostle was a man.  That is not by accident but by design.  If God had wanted a female Apostle he would have called one.  He did not.

Galatians 3:28

Others cling to Galatians 3:28 which states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  They argue that since there is no more male or female, women are allowed to minister in any capacity within the church.  Not only does this verse get misinterpreted in order to justify women pastors and preachers, it also used to justify homosexual pastors and preachers as well.

The truth is that this verse when studied in the light of its context we discover that it has nothing to do with service within the church.  The context of the passage is that the Apostle Paul is in the middle of fighting some heretics who are distorting the gospel.  They were adding works of the law, mainly circumcision, to the simplicity of faith alone, in Christ alone.  They were claiming that you first needed to be a Jew before you can fully be claimed as a Christian.  Paul’s point was that it doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, if you have put faith alone in the finished work of Christ you are justified before God.

Women prophetesses and Leaders

In the New Testament there is also some named prophetesses.  There are the four daughters of Philip in Acts 21 and Anna in Luke 2.  Like the prophetesses already previously mentioned in the Old Testament these were women whom God gifted to speak a prophetic utterance but again this was always in a private setting and never under an authoritative leadership role. 

There were also other women in the early church that worked along side Paul and helped in his church planting endeavors but these examples are not sufficient evidence to justify public spiritual leadership upon a church by a women to the likeness of an elder.

Conclusion

I have frequently heard the comment, “women have had to step it up in the church and lead in areas where men have not.”  We are thankful for these women who have led when men have not been willing to lead but that is precisely the problem, especially in Miami’s church culture.  We have looked away from the Word of God in this area and have not been giving the church instruction on what biblical manhood and womanhood looks like nor have we modeled it for them.  On the contrary, we have assisted in the confusion by justifying women to usurp positions that are outside of their God given duties.  As a result, we are breeding men and women who do not know what God expects of them.  It is no surprise that the divorce rate in the church is no different than in society and that society has a bigger influence on our children when it comes to manhood and womanhood.  We must change.  We desperately need women to be Titus 2 women who will teach the younger women and model for them biblical womanhood. We also need men who will lead the way and fulfill their ordained role as leaders in the home and the church and therefore model it for the next generation. 

A vision of church planting, leadership development, discipleship and service is no vision if not seen within the context of biblical manhood and womanhood.