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Before we try to understand the spiritual law
concerning women preachers, it is important that we first lay
the ground work, by understanding the spiritual principle that
supports it and upon which this law is built. The spiritual principle
is this: Man is the head over woman. Let us look at some scriptures
that teach this concept:
From the teachings of the Apostle Paul in I Cor.
11:1-3:
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Now
I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and
keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want
you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of
woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
It is a law that was established from the beginning:(Gen.
1:16): To the woman He said: "...............Your desire
shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
This law that was established in the beginning,
still applies today:
(Eph. 5:22-24) 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands,
as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also
Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let
the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
(Col.3:18) Wives, submit to your own husbands,
as is fitting in the Lord.
(I Peter 3: 1-6) 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive
to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word,
they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3
Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair,
wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4 rather let it be
the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty
of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight
of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women
who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to
their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord,
whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with
any terror.
The spiritual principle then that we are establishing
is that the man is head over woman. It is important that we understand
her position of submissiveness, before we study the role she plays
in the church.
Her position of submissiveness will help us to
understand her role in the New Testament church:
A. Woman is to learn in silence with all submission.
I Tim.2:11
B. Woman is not permitted to teach or to have
authority over a man I Tim.2:12, I Cor.14:34
C. Woman is to be in silence I Tim. 2:12, I Cor.
14:34
D. It is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
I Cor.14:35
The scripture tells us why:
A. Because Adam was formed first, then Eve. I
Tim. 2:13
B. Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived
fell into transgression I Tim.2:14
C. It is a law in the Church just as it was the
law from the beginning. I Cor.14:34
We see in I Cor. 14:34 that learning in silence
and not teaching over man is directly connected to the fact that
woman is in a position of submissiveness under man. Some try to
say that this teaching was just Paul's opinion. Yet the Apostle
Paul adds an exclamation point to the discussion in case someone
wants to argue the matter. In verse I Cor. 14:37 he writes: "If
anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the
Lord.
I Cor.14:35 says "And if they want to learn
something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is
shameful for women to speak [deliver a didactic discourse; teach;
preach; speak with authority] in church." In the context,
this command was given to the wives of the prophets. It however
reiterates the submissive roll that applies to all women in the
phrase: "for it is shameful for women to speak in church."
Some responsibilities given specifically to men
only:
A. (2:8) Men are to lead prayer when men and women
are present. The word "men" in the Greek (the original
language) means "the male"
B. (2:12) Men are to teach when men and women
are present (in the churches
I Cor.14:34).
C. (2:1-2) A bishop must be a man.
D. (2:12) A deacon must be a man. This masculine
position of serving others may carry with it responsibilities
that require recruiting the help of other males. A woman could
not be in that position because it would contradict her position
of submissiveness. (Acts 6:1-5)
The responsibility given to women:
A. (3:15 ) "Nevertheless she will be save
in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness
with self control." The word "childbearing" means
"training, teaching, nurturing children". This is a
major role although not done in the limelight, but mainly behind
the closed doors of her home. She is responsible for training
children to become Christians, preachers, teachers, bishops, deacons,
mothers, fathers, good citizens etc.... God in His wisdom and
mercy knew that this one major responsibility would be enough
for one person to handle well, especially since her salvation
and the future of the church rests in how well she does this job.
B. A woman can be a bishop's wife. (3:2)
C. A woman can be a deacon's wife. (3:11,12)
D. An older woman is commanded to teach the younger
women her role (Titus 2:3-5) A woman may teach young children,
male or female.
E. She is to do good works, lodge strangers, wash
saints feet, relieve the afflicted, follow every good work. However
these are secondary and not to take away from her primary role
of caring from her children.
F. Woman carries out a vital role when she serves
the church, as we see in the Romans 16:1-2 "I commend to
you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the
saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you,
for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also."
Obviously from the context, this is not position of authority
over a man, but one of service: "she has been a helper".
In the context, we find other women who were helpers:
Priscilla, who along with her husband, lay down their necks for
the Apostle Paul. They helped all the churches of the Gentiles.
The church met in their home.
The Apostle Paul said that Mary bestowed much
labour on them.
Today woman are helpers in many ways: Women
are called upon to prepare meals for the sick and bereaved, to
show hospitality to visiting preachers and teachers, to clean
the church building, to prepare the Lord Supper etc....
She may accompany her husband to teach the gospel
privately: Acts 18:26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained
to him the way of God more accurately. Note: "They took him
aside" Priscilla was not a part of a public discourse in
the church. Whatever her part in "explaining to him the way
of God more accurately," it would not contradict the carefully
spelled out teachings that she is not to usurp authority over
man.
I have accompanied my own husband on many home
Bible studies. He always does the teaching and I sit and listen
quietly. Sometimes he might forget where a verse is and I help
him find it and tell him when I find it or I might speak up and
say, "What about this verse, knowing that later he would
wish he had remembered to use it" But even those comments
should be very limited because it creates confusion when two people
are trying to talk at once. Also when a male teacher is present,
he should always do the teaching and not a woman.
The humble position of submissiveness assigned
to the Christian woman, allows her to become qualified to be exalted
by the Father. For the scripture says:
(Matthew 23:11) But he who is greatest among you
shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Some women may despise the role given to us, but
I am thankful for my role of nurturing, serving, and helping.
The Lord has blessed me by giving me loved ones and the church
in my life. It is a privilege to give back in service.