Has political correctness sneaked into the church? Has the church become a place where women’s rights are being exercised in conflict with the Word of God?
I have recently read over twenty five articles and thumbed through hundreds more. The articles in favor of women in leadership are 96% written by women. The articles opposing women leadership in churches is 88% written by men. So what are we to believe?
Oh no, here we go again, Pastor Barry is stirring things up with the controversial subjects again. Well okay, I do like a good debate, but this time I didn’t start it.
A short while ago a man of whom I have great respect, from our church, came to me and asked what my beliefs were regarding women in leadership of the Church. We had just installed two wonderful and powerful daughters in leadership in our church in positions of Elders and Deacons. My personal position was obvious as I was the one who did the appointing. But it prompted a question in my own mind.
I had sought God’s voice in appointing these leaders and sought to install those who were biblically qualified without regard for gender or any other basis. I believe I heard God’s voice on the matter. But honestly, there weren’t men who were qualified or willing to step into these roles and I desired a church that was more biblically elder led than “Pastor led”. Man or woman wasn’t even in my thoughts.
While this brother in the Lord wasn’t upset or ready to leave the church because we appointed women as leaders, he was more curious about the biblical perspective. It did cause me to take pause and evaluate the scriptural basis and my thoughts regarding women leaders in the church.
After all in 1 Corinthians 14, it says women are to be silent in the church. In Timothy, it says a deacon should be a “man” of one wife. Women are to submit to their husbands.
With all of these scriptures how can a church have a woman who is in authority over a man? Is our church in conflict with what the Bible says about women leadership in the church? Well let’s take a look first at the many women in the Bible who were in leadership.
One of the first women I found is in the Book of Judges. Judges 4 and 5 tells of a great leader Deborah. She was not only a judge, but also a prophet. Deborah held a position in the high court in authority over men.
The second was a woman named Miriam. Miriam led the Israelites as the Worship leader as they crossed the red sea. (Exodus 15:20) and she was also named as a leader of the nation along with Moses and Aaron in Micah 6:4
The third was Huldah, a prophetess. In II Kings 22, King Josiah, seeking restoration and revival for the nation, gathered some of the most trusted prophets. He could have gathered any of the prominent prophets of the time, like Zephaniah or Jeremiah, but he instead chose Huldah to have a leading role as prophetess in the revival and restoration.
The fourth was a fearless leader, one who risked their own life to save the Jewish People. This person wasn’t a man, it was a woman, Ester, a Queen and a ruler over men.
Okay, you may be saying this is old testament stuff that is under the law. After all it is in Corinthians that it talks about women being quiet in church. Well, it was the Jewish “LAW” or custom that said women should not speak in church. Let’s look at some New Testament examples.
In Luke 8, there was a women, while not one of the 12 male disciples of Jesus we know, but a disciple none the less by the name of Mary of Bethany. Sitting at the feet of Jesus, or rabbi, which was an honor normally reserved only for men. Yet in Luke 10:39 we find Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, assuming the posture of a student of the Lord.
John 20:14 speaks of Mary Magdalene (often confused with Mary of Bethany) who was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection. Mary was the one sent with the message of hope. Some scholars argue she was the first apostle, or “sent one.”
Another woman, who was an early leader in the church was Lydia. (Acts 16:40). Lydia offered hospitality to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:14-15. And later believers gathered at her home as a church leader.
Yes, there was a woman who held a title of “Deacon” in the bible. Phoebe. Little is known about her as she is only mentioned in Romans 16. Many scholars believe Phoebe’s role was to take Paul’s letter to the church in Rome where she would have read it to the believers and even answered questions. So clearly, she was not one who was “silent” in church or designed to be.
Priscilla and her husband Aquila of Corinth gave Paul lodging. She was a great teacher (Acts 18:26). I find it interesting that her name is listed before her husbands, which was not common practice, indicating she may have been the head of the household and lead teacher. Although I will admit that is speculation on my part. It is also noteworthy to mention that they were from Corinth. Wasn’t it the book of Corinthians where Paul says the women are to be silent in church?
There are many other examples in the Bible of women in prominent and leadership roles in the church. Romans 16:6-7, Paul sends greetings to the apostles Mary and Junia. 1 Corinthians 1:11, and in Colossians 4:15, Chloe and Nympha were listed as the heads of churches that met in their homes.
Galatians 3:28-29 states: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male nor female, for you are ALL one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Heirs. The implication is that barriers in status are gone. We are all heirs, adopted into the family of Christ. None of us remains as a slave or a subordinate. None of these groups listed holds of place of superiority, leadership, or hierarchy over another in Christ, or the Church.
So what about 1 Corinthians 14? Many denominations have sharp splits over this passage and the role of women in the church. There are many interpretations of this scripture. I will let you decided for yourselves for now, as that is a much longer topic. One I will be touching on next Sunday. I will suffice to say that one passage surely doesn’t override the many examples of women leadership in the Bible.
Joel foretold of a time when God would pour out his Spirit on ALL flesh: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Joel 2:28). On the day of Pentecost, Peter confirmed that the time had come. Any daughter of God has the full rights and privilege to declare His Word, testify to His salvation and prophecy by His Spirit.
It seems clear to me that God allowed in His Word for women to be leaders both in and out of the church. What is my stance on women in leadership in the church? May those appointed by God to be leaders, be the leaders, regardless of race or gender.