Lesson 1.35: The Role Of Women

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LESSON 1.35: THE ROLE OF WOMEN

Loved ones, how times have changed! Once there was a time when society expected a woman to be a faithful wife and a good mother. Once there was a time when infidelity was cause for disgrace. Women were expected to be virgins at marriage, and women who lived with a man out of wedlock were labeled and shunned. How far from reality these standards and expectations are in the world today!

The Lord's church is one of Satan's favorite targets concerning the woman's role in the home, the church, and society. The devil is doing whatever he can to cause division and disharmony between men and women... between husbands and wives. What are we going to do about it? Will we sit with folded hands, saying nothing for fear of the ridicule we will surely receive if we speak up? Will we adjust our own lives to "fit in" and blend with society? Sadly, many so-called Christians do just that.

Just "setting a good example" alone is NOT enough. Men and women must have the stamina and courage to stand up and be counted - counted as being for God and for the role He has given both sexes to fulfill.

As we read of "new truth" as expounded by some, it is though the devil were saying to the woman, "Has God really said you cannot be elders and preachers? Do you think God still wants you to follow an old, outdated commandment in today's progressive world - to actually be in subjection to your husbands? Surely you are intelligent and educated enough in this enlightened age to know better than that! Why, every real scholar knows a woman can do anything a man can do! Why should a female be restricted from leadership positions in worship when she has so much ability? How can you consider wasting your talents by remaining in your old-fashioned, traditional role from the dark ages? If you just listen to me, I will make you wise and liberated."

Yes, Satan wants women to believe that! He is attempting to cause women to question God and His way. Beloved sister in Christ, we plead with you; do not let Satan have his way with you as he did with Eve. Instead, God's woman should praise the Lord for His wonderful word and His unchangeable plan.

THE BOOK (the Bible) is the only book that will keep us from altering God's word and His plan for both men and women. It is the only book to follow to understand our God-given roles. Those roles date back to the beginning of time and will last until the end of time!

Women must NOT allow Satan to deceive them as he did Eve in the Garden of Eden. All women must recommit themselves to their God-given roles revealed in the Bible. They are valuable ones - precious and fulfilling. May all believers cherish the wisdom of God, His love for His human creation, and the spiritual blessings He gives to all who genuinely love and obey Him (Ephesians 1:3).

The Bible says, "Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). "And Jehovah God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18).

"And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And the man (Adam) said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2:21-23).

The divine portrait of woman, as painted on the biblical canvas, is remarkable indeed. The Genesis narrative distinctly lends itself to the impression that Eve, as the culmination of the creative week, was a climactic jewel in Jehovah's handiwork.

The Bible says, "that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 11:3). This graduation of authority rests on the original constitution of creation and the fall of Eve into sin.

As we have seen above, the Bible says the woman was made as a "help meet" for man—NOT the reverse (Genesis 2:18). Paul wrote: "8 For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (1 Corinthians 11:8-9). And again, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve" (1 Timothy 2:13).

As to the woman's role in the fall, she believed Satan's lie that she might become as God, and hence, was "beguiled" (Genesis 3:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3) or "deceived" (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam, laboring under no such deception (1 Timothy 2:14), merely sinned due to his weakness for the woman (Genesis 3:12). Accordingly, woman's subjection was increased after her fall (Genesis 3:16).

These facts do NOT suggest that woman is inferior to man, but they do mean (to those who respect the testimony of Scripture) that she is subordinate in rank to man. It ought to be emphasized that as Christ's subjection to the Father involved no deprivation of dignity (Philippians 2:5-11), so there is none in woman's subjection to man.

Inspiration clearly stresses the mutual dependence of men and women in Christ. Paul says, "11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God" (1 Corinthians 11:11-12). Neither is complete without the other.

In the matter of salvation, both stand on equal footing before God. Paul says concerning those who have obeyed the gospel: "28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:28-29). Paul's teaching certainly is in harmony with Peter's, which makes it clear that men and women are "heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Peter 3:7).

This, however, is NOT a call to abolish all earthly relationships. Rather, it puts these relationships in the perspective of salvation history. All who are in Christ have the same status before God; but they do NOT necessarily have the same function.

Women Are To Rule The Home

The New Testament authorizes woman a domain of authority within the home. Younger widows are advised to marry, bear children, and "guide (rule) the house" (1 Timothy 5:14). To rule the house as the wife and mother in the home means to manage the household affairs.

This is the domain and province of woman, in which no man can compete with her. Its greatness and its importance should ever be held up as woman's divinely intended sphere, in which all her womanly qualities and gifts find full play and happiest gratification.

This does NOT indicate, of course, that woman's authority in the home equals the man's. By divine design, (as we have seen above) man is to be the "head" of woman—in society, in the church, and in the home. Yet, he should lovingly allow her the freedom to exercise authority in the management of domestic matters, for God has ordained it. She in turn is to be willingly in subjection to him (Ephesians 5:22-24).

Under the law of Christ, both male and female are equally obligated to the marriage ordinance; neither husband nor wife should depart from the other. But should an unbelieving spouse leave the believer, the faithful Christian is not bound (as a slave) to follow the deserter (1 Corinthians 7:10-15). In the case of marital infidelity, both are granted the equal privilege of divorce and remarriage (cf. Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:11-12).

Women's Role In The Church

Every significant movement within society will eventually, to some degree, make itself felt in the church. The phenomenon of "women's liberation" is no exception. As the saying goes, "From Adam's rib to Women's Lib, you've come a long way, baby." Indeed, some have gone a considerable distance from the word of God!

There are those in the church who are clamoring that women must throw off the yoke of male domination and claim their rightful place in the body of Christ. Some are suggesting that women can be elders, preachers, and leaders in public worship.

First, it should hardly be necessary to labor over the point that no woman is authorized to serve as an elder, the Bible being so obvious on the matter. The elder is to be the "husband [Greek, aner—a male as opposed to a woman; of one wife" (Titus 1:5-6; 1 Timothy 3:2). The "elder women" (presbuteras) of 1 Timothy 5:2 (cf. Titus 2:3) are simply older women in contrast to the younger (neoterous), and NOT church leaders.

Secondly, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 says: "33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 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. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

It is certain that 1 Corinthians 14 lends no support to the notion of women preachers. Such are NOT sanctioned anywhere in the Scriptures. Titus 2:15 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is the key for the proper understanding of 1 Corinthians 14. The New Testament does NOT authorize a female (public preaching) ministry; but rather positively prohibits such. Titus, a young preacher, was told to "speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority" (Titus 2:15). Yet, a woman is NOT allowed "to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Timothy 2:12). Therefore, God does NOT authorize women to be public preachers over men.

Finally, the New Testament makes it clear that the men are to lead the acts of worship in assemblies of mixed sexes. In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul instructs that "the men [andras—accusative plural of aner, males only] pray every where." Now, woman may certainly pray (1 Corinthians 11:5), however, there is a sense in which only males may pray in every place. Obviously, it is the leading of prayers in mixed groups that is confined to the man.

The ministers of public prayer must be the men of the congregation, NOT the women. The same principle, of course, would also apply to other acts of public worship. In the four major contexts where Paul discusses male-female relationships (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:33-35; Ephesians 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 2:8-15), the principle of subjection, as well as its application to specific situations, are grounded upon historical facts of Old Testament history, and NOT upon culture.

It is regrettable that such major attention must be given to the negative side of this issue, but such appears to be necessary in view of prevalent error currently being propagated.

The New Testament abounds with examples of godly women who, consistent with their assigned roles, served their Master with dignity and honor. Yes, women whose names will still be mentioned with admiration long after the modern-day feminists are gone and forgotten!

Women may evangelize and instruct men in the right situation. "24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:24-26).

Women may instruct other women and children. "3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:3-5).

Women may encourage spiritual growth and Christian love as they also promote unity. "1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3; cf. Mark 14:3-9).

Women may be benevolent. "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did" (Acts 9:36).

Conclusion

God's women make a vital contribution to the kingdom of Christ on earth. Whether they are continuing steadfastly in prayer (Acts 1:14), showing hospitality (Acts 12:12; 16:14; 1 Timothy 5:10), teaching the word in harmony with divine authority (Acts 18:26; Titus 2:3-4), being good wives (Proverbs 31:10ff), rearing godly children (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15), or accomplishing various other commendable tasks, let us "rise up and call them blessed." And may their name be Legion!