Walking in the Light, August 24, 2008

What About the Women?

     A prevalent question that is often asked today is, “Isn’t the Bible outdated in its views toward women in the church?” The argument is a cultural one. Since women were considered second-class citizens in the first century, the Bible’s teaching on women’s role in the church is no longer valid today. The role of women in our society has changed dramatically over the last 100 years. And, without question, change was desperately needed in many cases. Women certainly deserve to be afforded the same basic rights and opportunities as men in our society. But what about the church? Is it time for the Lord’s church to get with the times and change with the culture?

     In 1 Timothy 2:12-15 Paul writes, “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” Paul was not speaking of the current culture when he gave instructions concerning the woman’s role. He took it back to the beginning. “For it was Adam,” He said, “Who was first created, and then Eve.” From the beginning it was so. There was a divine order. It was not a cultural thing, but a divine plan.

     No one can ignore the importance of women and their role throughout scripture. Miriam, the sister of Aaron, was a prophetess (Exo. 15:20). Judges chapter 4 tells the story of Deborah, the first female judge. We also learn that she was a prophetess (Judges 4:4). Luke chapter 2:36 speaks of the prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. Acts 21:9 tells us that Philip had 4 virgin daughters who were all prophetesses. Some would argue that since God chose to prophesy to women that this indicates that He never intended for them to be excluded from leadership within the church. We must understand that when God delivered a message He spoke to whomever He chose. He spoke to both men and women. But, He chose 12 men to be apostles. He chose 7 men to be deacons. All appointed elders were men. Nowhere in scripture do we find an example of a female minister. Women did prophesy. Women did teach. But this teaching did not violate the scripture’s stance on the woman’s role. The Bible does not forbid a woman to teach. The Bible forbids women to teach in any situation where they would have authority over a man.

     What about Phoebe? Romans 16:1 tells us that she was a deaconess in the church in Cenchrea. The Greek word for deacon or deaconess is the word diakonos, which translates servant. Some have supposed that Phoebe had an official position in the early church as a female deacon. However, diakonos is a common word used throughout the New Testament to refer to servants, or those who minister to another. But if there is any doubt as to whether Phoebe held a leadership position within the church, we need only to refer to 1 Timothy 3:12 where it states, “Deacons must be husbands of only one wife…” Phoebe was not qualified to hold the office of deacon in the church because she was not the husband of but one wife.

     So what about the women? The woman’s role in the church is not simply about cooking meals, sending cards to the sick, planning ladies brunches or cleaning up after a fellowship dinner. The woman’s role is about completeness. Without women, men are not complete. From the very beginning, we learn that man was not sufficient on his own. He needed a helper suitable (Gen. 2:20). He needed woman to complete him. One commentator writes, “The woman was not made out of man’s head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to stand with him and be near his heart.” Anyone who attends a vibrant and dynamic congregation such as ours understands the magnitude of the women and their role, and just how crucial they are to the success of the church. And not just at church. The vast majority of Christianity takes place outside the walls of the church building, and women are certainly no less important in spreading the gospel and bringing others to Christ.

     God’s plan is not meant to suppress women. God’s divine plan is perfect, but it’s only when we know our role and live that role that His plan is carried out perfectly.

Chris McCurley