You may visit other churches and find women preaching, publicly teaching, or leading committees which frequently include men. This certainly seems fair given our modern, common social norms regarding gender equality. However, is this culture consistent with Scripture? What does God say about this?

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:11-14)

Some Bible believers may shrug off Paul’s command, contending this only represented his opinion or the norms of his 1^st century culture. However, please notice that this command was not rooted in Paul’s culture; rather, the inspired reason sprang from the order established by two universal facts: the creation and the fall of man! The God-defined roles of men and women are therefore transcendent and apply to all of Adam and Eve’s descendants as far as the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin have spread (Genesis 3:16, 20). Furthermore, Paul gave similar instruction to the Corinthian women to not speak out during the assembly:

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 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. (1 Corinthians 14:34-37)

Paul equates these statements to the “commandments of God” which all spiritual people are to “acknowledge” (1 Corinthians 14:37). Likewise, the qualifications of both elders and deacons restrict the offices to that of men (1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9). How can we dismiss these commands without questioning Paul’s apostleship, doubting the inerrancy of Scripture, and rebelling against God, since they proceeded by inspiration from Him and are preserved by Him (1 Peter 1:23-35)? If one is unwilling to trust Paul on these topics, how can he trust what Paul says about heaven, the resurrection, justification, grace, faith, or any other topic without becoming a “judge of the Law” (James 4:11-12)?

Some may ask, “Does the woman’s absence from public leadership reduce her impact?” No, men and women are interdependent (1 Corinthians 11:8-12). Mothers shape generations to come (Acts 16:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:5). Older women are to teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). And, all women can fill a cold void with a warmth, kindness, and love through their tenderness, charity, and good works that cannot otherwise be replaced (Acts 9:36-41; Proverbs 31:10-30).

Would you like to be part of a sanctified people, whose moral, spiritual, and doctrinal beliefs are anchored in the rock of God’s Word? The opinions of men and institutions shift with the changing pressures of our day, but as for us, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Will you build your life on God’s firm foundation with us (Matthew 7:21-29)?