Churches Need Women Who Follow The Bible (A Response To Relevant Magazine)13 min read

Why This Is Important

     The topic of women in church leadership is a reflection of a culture that has gone astray and is biblically illiterate, wanting to do away with the authority structure that God has instituted, and seeking to blur the clear limits set by God regarding the relationship that should exist between men and women in the church and in the home. In other words, this is a much broader issue than simply women preaching; this is about disrupting the functional hierarchy of Christ and His bride (the Church), and that of man and his wife (the family). 

     The picture of Christ and the Church is perhaps the best example of what the relationship between men and women should be: that of a sacrificial man loving his wife; a man tasked with cherishing, protecting, teaching, and leading his bride until she is glorified by Christ at His second coming. But women advocates today seem to be saying to this: "we don't need that kind of man; we got this ourselves, and we'll lead ourselves and others while we're at it!" But this is a dangerous and false notion, for Christ is the one that saves the Church, not the other way around! 

     You may now be asking, "but what does Christ and the Church have anything to do with this topic?" I'm glad you asked. You see, God made it so that Jesus—a man—has authority over His bride, the Church (Ephesians 1:22, 5:23. Colossians 1:18). But He also made it so that a man has authority over his wife (Genesis 3:16. 1 Corinthians 11:3). And...He also made it so that men have authority in the church over the flock (1 Timothy 3:1). In every analogy between a man and a woman, God has made it so that the man has spiritual authority over the woman—not because the man is better, but because this is what best describes Christ's relation to His bride, the Church. That's why this issue is so important: it reflects Christ Himself.

Interpretive Missteps

     A common thread that I see in any article, audio, or video I listen to with false teachings is the pervasiveness of faulty interpretations and applications. People are so easily swayed by false teachers because these teachers either really know their Bibles and choose to distort it, or they really have no idea what they are talking about—and listeners simply take their word for it without conducting research for themselves. Correct and methodical biblical interpretation and application is crucial to discerning false teachings.

     It is often the case that false teachers use verses out of context to make their points, or blatantly twist the Scriptures to say what they want it to say. They also take the obscure or unclear verses and develop doctrines out of those verses instead of relying on the clear verses that teach the doctrine. And lastly, they take descriptive passages (those that only describe something) and turn them into prescriptive passages (those that command something), or vice-versa [to learn how to discern false teachings, read our article "How To Read And Listen With Discernment"]. This, I fear, is what has happened with this issue. Hear me out...

Relevant Magazine's Arguments Made For Women To Assume Leadership Roles

     There are many arguments made for the idea that God wants women to lead, teach, and preach in the church as pastors, elders, etc. Relevant Magazine (RM) made a list of five, but I'll list a few more after those. Each point will be analyzed and then refuted. Put on your thinking caps!

1.) Women Were Foundational To The Spreading Of Jesus' Message

     It is true that women were important to the spreading of Jesus' resurrection and message. But what does that have to do with women being leaders, teachers, and/or preachers in the church? Women today can just as well evangelize and teach others about Jesus without having authority in the church over men, which the Bible prohibits (1 Timothy 2:12). But it is interesting to note that all of the apostles were men—not a coincidence. If Jesus had wanted women to be apostles, He would have made that clear, don't you think?

     Oh, but the writer claims that there were women apostles! It is asserted that Paul called Junia (a woman) an apostle. The verse used for support is Romans 16:7, which says, "Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." The key phrase is "who are outstanding among the apostles," and the Greek construction betrays RM's false teaching. What this verse is saying is that Andronicus and Junias were noted among/by the other apostles. The ESV words it well: "They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me." This is not saying that Andronicus and Junias were themselves apostles.

     The writer of RM's article mentions the house churches of Nympha and Chloe, but how do we know if those women taught in those churches, what if they only hosted the meetings? This is an argument from silence, but so is affirming that they taught and had authority over the congregants, and the Bible does not say this. The instance where Priscilla taught Apollos is also referenced, but it should be noted that she was next to her husband, and there is a huge difference between temporarily teaching a new believer on a one-on-one basis and teaching a mixed congregation with the authority of a pastor, elder, or leader.

2.) Women Are Gifted For Ministry In The Church

     The author of RM's article states that women are given gifts by the Holy Spirit in order to serve in the church, and this is true. Women are given various gifts by the Spirit to edify the body of believers, but not once is it mentioned that they use their gifts in a way that is inconsistent with what the rest of the Bible demonstrates: that men are to be in positions of leadership and authority. The article's writer fails to mention that God places limits on how certain gifts are to be used by women (for example, women are to teach other women in Titus 2:4-5, not men, 1 Timothy 2:12).

3.) Women Bear God's Image, Too

     The obvious point that women are bearers of God's image is true. But again, what does that have anything to do with the authority structure that God put in place? Men and women are equal in essence (they're both human—just like Jesus and the Father are God), but not in function and authority (the woman submits to the man—just like the Son submits to the Father). This is best seen in Genesis, where man was made first, and where Paul hearkens back to in making his point that women should not teach or have authority over men, which renders moot the contention that Paul was only teaching this because of cultural norms at the time of his writings (1 Timothy 2:12-14).

     The writer tries to make the leap that since God uses "female-specific imagery when relating to His people" to show His nurturing care for them, that both genders should be represented in church leadership. If that isn't semantic and reasoning gymnastics, I don't know what is. What the article's writer fails to acknowledge is that in all of these instances where God uses this kind of imagery, He does so by using similes and analogies—meaning, God does not directly refer to Himself in the feminine gender! The entire Bible makes use of male-gender pronouns when referring to God.

4.) Women Need Women Advocates

     On this point, I'll first ask one question: Should God send us His one and only Daughter to die and be an advocate for women since Jesus apparently isn't enough (since He was a man, after all)? The writer states that "No one knows the needs of women better than women." Really? So Jesus/God doesn't know the needs of women better than they do? This reasoning is flawed and makes absolutely no sense. Jesus is enough and sufficient in both of these questions. If we can agree on that, then here's another crucial question: Doesn't Jesus/God then know the needs of His Church and what's best for His bride better than us?

     If you answered "yes" to that question—which I hope you did—then why is it okay to question that fact when it comes to how God wants His Church organized in terms of leadership? Why do some men and women alike deny the clear instructions of the Bible with regards to this issue? Do they know the needs of the Church better than God Himself? No? Then stop messing with His Word and order. It really is that simple. The Bible's verses regarding women not teaching men or having authority over them are prescriptive—that is, they are commands.

5.) When Women Are Empowered, Society As A Whole Flourishes

     The false premise of this argument is that what works for society also works for the Church. This couldn't be further from the truth. God calls us to not think like the world (Romans 12:2); to be in it but not of it (John 15:19, 17:14-16). The writer states that "women’s equality is necessary for human flourishing," but misses the fact that the Bible already makes it clear that men and women are equal and "fellow heirs" of Christ (1 Peter 3:7)—starting from a false notion of inequality solves nothing.

     The fact that men and women are equal, however, doesn't mean that there can't be a certain order in the function of each gender, especially within the Church, with regards to leading, teaching, and preaching. To illustrate this point, think of some of the ways men and women are not "equal" in terms of their inclinations and abilities: men are generally physically stronger than women; women are generally more naturally nurturing and caring; men can't bear children; women can bear children and bring life into this world. Yet men and women are still equal before God in terms of nature, intelligence, sinful state, eternal standing with Christ, and the love received from Him.

     So again, we are equal in essence, but not in function in the Church, and even in the home; men are to be the spiritual heads and leaders in both—Christ being the ultimate Head.

Other Arguments Made For Women To Assume Leadership Roles

     Relevant Magazine is certainly not the first and only publication to try and twist the Scriptures and lead many astray regarding this issue. Below are a few more arguments that people have made for the idea that women should lead, teach, and preach to mixed congregations, even though God's Word is clear on the subject. Again, each of these cases will be analyzed and then refuted.

Lydia Was A Powerful Woman

     The case is made that Lydia was a powerful woman in the community, who is head of her household, and who cared for Paul and Silas in Acts 16:14-15. The verses say, "A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us." I see a humble woman receiving instruction from Paul, the Apostle. "Her household" doesn't necessarily mean she was the head of the house. But even if that was the case, it could have been because she was a widow.

Phoebe Is Named A Deacon In The Church

     In Romans 16:1, it is said that Phoebe is addressed as a deacon of a church. The text reads, "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae." The Greek word for "servant" is the same word translated as "deacon" in other parts of the Bible. It could well be that Phoebe was a deacon, but the question is, what does that mean? Deacons have been given a position of authority within the church that the Bible nowhere exemplifies. To be a deacon means to be a servant...that's it. There is no authority implicitly found within the word, role, or title of deacon.

     Moreover, among the many qualifications needed to be a deacon, it is interesting to note that the Scripture says, "Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households." It is hard to make the case that women were deacons in light of this verse, since only a man can be the husband of one wife. Either way, leading, teaching, and preaching is not ever listed as a requirement for the qualifications of a deacon or deaconess...so there goes that argument.

There Are Many Other Leaders Who Were Women

     It is often asserted that the Bible is replete with leaders who were women, and this is true. Examples such as Deborah, Miriam, Huldah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Tabitha, Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla highlight God's goodness and serve as examples to all of us (especially women). But this does nothing to help the case that women should serve in a church's core leadership through leading, teaching, and preaching to a mixed congregation, holding authority over men.

     It does not follow that these great examples of holy and godly women signify that women should now lead local churches when God has made it clear that men should comprise the leadership of His Church. These, and other examples seem to be exceptions; and exceptions are exceptions, not the rule. These examples are descriptive stories, not prescriptive commands to the church. Yes, there is much to learn from these great women, but ignoring God's clear commands about having men serve in a church's core leadership is not one of those lessons.

So, How Can Women Lead In The Church?

     My brothers and sisters in Christ, please hear me out. God does want women to lead in the church; He does want women to be an influence and example to others; He does want women to teach others...but within limits. For example, women may teach other women (Titus 2:4-5). Women can be a part of a church's leadership organization so long as they do not teach, lead, or preach to other men (and even young men) because all of these roles imply some sort of authority, and that is what the Bible forbids.

     But I urge you all not to see this as a hindrance to women's service in your church, but rather as a relief that God has placed the burden of spiritually leading His people on men. Therefore, in a sense, women are freer than the male leaders of a church, and they will not be held as accountable to God for the spiritual maturity of their families, friends, and church members. But this is not an excuse for women to leave it all to the men, but to have a heart ready to pray for and help the men lead, including their husbands, if they're married.

Conclusion

     All this to say: seek to follow the Bible, even in the issues with which you disagree—and even if it is countercultural. Remember Peter's words to us: "Some things [are] hard to understand (in Paul's writings), which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men (and women) and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."