Strife Behind The Pulpit: : An Examination of Women in Ministry Part 4: The Home, Church, and Life

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness… 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, Eve.

1 Timothy 2:12-13
In the days we live in, the word submission has many people taking up arms. This one word is responsible for many failed relationships, shattered homes, and hurting people. I realize that there are many differing viewpoints on a woman’s place in the home, church and life. I feel that It is vital to note the standing of women before Christianity. Before Jesus came along women had no rights, no freedoms, they were treated almost as cattle. Women were either the property of their Father or husband. They were not counted in the census and you were considered cursed if you had no male child. Remember the synagogue prayer in which the man who prays thanks God that he has not made him a Gentile, a slave or a woman.


Jesus made a fundamental shift to these practices. He started a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in public. The Jewish oral law was quite explicit: "He who talks with a woman [in public] brings evil upon himself." Another prominent teaching in Jesus' day taught, "One is not so much as to greet a woman." So it is understandable why his disciples were concerned to find him talking to a woman in public. Yet put yourself in the shoes of this woman, imagine what she must have thought for the Messiah to reach out to her and offer her living water for her thirsty soul?


Among Jesus' closest friends were Mary, Martha and Lazarus, who entertained him at their home. "Martha assumed the traditional female role of preparing a meal for Jesus, her guest, while her sister Mary did what only men would do, namely, learn from Jesus' teachings. Mary was the cultural deviant, but so was Jesus, because he violated the Jewish law of his day. Let us also not forget Mary Magdalene the prostitute whom he spared from the hands of the Pharisees. He even went as far as to compare them to her, can you imagine the thoughts and emotions experienced by her and the Pharisees.


Then when Paul and Peter came on the scene they brought about more fundamental changes.  Paul challenged the idea of superiority and further promoted spiritual equality. It is his writings, contrary to what some might say give the most freedom to women. Paul went from being the ruthless Pharisee Saul to the tenderhearted fearless leader of the early church. It is noteworthy that Paul acknowledged more women than any other biblical author. He also worked side by side with countless women in ministry.
A common thread that runs through the writings of Paul, Peter, John and the other Early Church authors was the idea that we are “all one in Christ Jesus”. As Paul wrote,

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,is there male and female,you are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:28)

The law created divisions and differences not just between people but between all aspects of life. Jesus did not come to divide, but to unite. In Christ all the common divisions of race, gender, and socio-economic barriers are removed. We viewed as spiritual equals in regard to redemption.


This is not to say that upon conversion our race, gender, political, and socio-economic status changed. Rather it means that these things are no longer of any value nor do they hinder our access to a spiritual relation ship with God through Jesus. These divisions arose because of the law, but God in mercy has proclaimed that all men are on the same spiritual level, in order that he might have mercy on all mankind (Romans 11:25-32).


So what does this all mean for the church and home life? If we are all “one in Christ” what does that look like? There are tree prominent views held by many in church today.

• Egalitarian (Feministic): There is no innate distinction between the roles of men and women in the home or church. Women can be pastors and men can be stay-at-home dads so that their wives can pursue their careers.
• Hierarchical (Chauvinistic): Women are not only commanded to follow male leadership, but are not given a voice with male leaders, as women are often chauvinistically kept under thumb as the polar opposite of egalitarian feminism.
•  Complementation (Moderate): Men and women are partners in every area of life and ministry together. Though equal, men and women have complementary and distinct gender roles so that men are to lovingly lead and head their homes like Jesus, and only men can be pastors in the church.

When God created women from Adam’s rib He said this, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him,” Gen. 2:18. The phrase “help meet” literally means “one who completes, one who helps, one who compliments.” Thus, while men and women are spiritual equals in the eyes of God, He does expect them to fulfill different roles within the family and within the church.


When God created the female, she was designed to be a completer, Gen. 2:18-25. Together with her husband, they became one flesh, or a complete person. Eve was created to furnish that which was lacking in Adam. Adam filled out what was lacking in Eve. Men and women still fill those vital roles to some degree today.It is God’s sovereign design for the man to be the pastor, provider, and protector of the family. In first Peter God laid out his model for the family wives are to submit to their husbands in all things as to the lord… and husband must love their wives as Christ.. This paints a picture of the man leading his family as Christ leads him. The husband is not a step above his family he is a step ahead. The idea of submission here has nothing to do with value, rather it has everything to do with place in line. Life is like a conga line, like follow the leader. We submit ourselves to each other and follow them as they follow Christ.


We all have equally important places in the order of the Kingdom of God. We are many members apart of the same body. It is vital for us to not quarrel about our place in line and humble ourselves and submit to those around us. If you desire a place of leadership in the church than take up the rear. For the most effective leaders always lead from the rear. Husbands lead by setting an example for their families. When women serve in the church their godly example sets a course for everyone to follow.


There are no divisions in the church only roles and assignments that God has given to certain people because it is through this model of submission and service that He has chosen to be the vehicle to reveal the blueprint of His relationship to humanity. To put men in a place of more responsibility does not take away from the value of women; rater it allows greater freedom for them. It is through the service and godly submission of the women the the men are won over without a word ever being spoken. The idea that women are to be silent in the church is meant to convey this idea of true leadership is done when no one is watching. We are all one in Christ. Are we willing to be one in service?