SEEK 43 – The Church and Women

As I head to the NSW Presbyterian General Assembly tomorrow….I note that this subject again raises its head….

SEEK 43 – The Church and Women

 Question: Is the Church an outdated Patriarchal institution? What does the Bible say about women in the church? What if women were created first? Why is God male?

 Bible Reading: Romans ch.16

Text: “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” (Romans 16:1-2)

It’s funny how the language and ideas of the culture so permeate the Church that sometimes we take their assumptions and assume that they are true. We are told something like ‘the Church is an outdated Patriarchal institution?’ and we either believe it, or try to show that we are not – by using the criteria and assumptions of the culture.

I don’t accept any of the premises in the accusation – it is an accusation rather than a question. The Church of Jesus Christ is never outdated – we follow the one who is the same yesterday, today and forever. We follow the one whose words will never pass away. Our societies will have changing fashions – but we have the unchanging Word. Which is not to say that there have not been individual churches or Christians who have had a misogynistic view of women. There still are. I have come across that in many contexts. But just because some people misuse Scripture to justify their wrong cultural beliefs, that does not mean we should jettison Scripture in order to justify our wrong cultural beliefs.

The Bible clearly teaches that the human race is male and female – and that both are made in the image of God. The fact that Adam was created first does not mean that the man is superior. The fact that Eve was second does not mean a woman is just a spare rib! But one of the consequences of the Fall has been conflict and discordant relationships between the sexes.

The Bible also clearly teaches – and nature/science shows us – that there are differences between men and women. We are equal but different. We complement one another. In different human societies those differences can be expressed in different ways – and sometimes in ways that are sinful and wrong. But to deny the differences is to deny reality and to cause harm.

When Jesus came into the world his purpose was not just to redeem individuals but to break down those things that divide us. He chose 12 male disciples to be his apostles, but he was also happy to have women amongst his followers. As passages like 1 Timothy 3 indicate the early Church followed the pattern of Jesus – and appointed only men as elders. Although they did have women as deacons and women, unusually for the time, fully participated in the church services of worship, and the life of the Church. When we look at the teaching of Paul in Romans 16 note how many women he publicly commends. Phoebe was a deaconess of the Church, Priscilla was a hard worker (note how she is mentioned before her husband); Mary worked very hard as did Tryphena and Tryphosa, Persis and Rufus’s mother, not to forget Julia and Nereus’s sister. There is no hint of inferiority here.

The Bible has plenty to say about the role of women and men in the Church. It is obviously a subject that is of great interest (and confusion) in today’s Church – as we seek to avoid both the cultural bias of previous generations and this one. I can recall announcing that I was going to preach on the role of women in the Church, home and society. The evening I did so one of the elders came to me before the service and said ‘boy, you are in trouble’! Why? ‘The congregation has doubled’. Why was that a bad thing? The whole feminist society from the University had turned up! We actually had a great night as we looked at what the Word of God had to say on the subject. At the end one young woman came up to me and pleaded: “please can you do the same for the men? They really need it’. So, we did.

I would strongly suggest that you read either Claire Smith’s or Kevin DeYoung’s books on the subject. They are extremely helpful.

In terms of the last two parts of your question. God didn’t create the woman first so the question does not really matter – given that we have already been told that men and women are equally in the image of God. And God is not male. Have a look at ASK 11 for the answer to the question ‘which gender is God’?

Consider: If you are female what difference does it make to you to know what the Bible teaches about being a woman? If you are male what difference does it make to you? What do you think are the differences between men and women? And what are the similarities? Can you think of ways that your culture or Church might get it wrong?

Further Reading:

God’s Good Design: What the Bible Really Says About Men and Women – Claire Smith

Men and Women in the Church – Kevin DeYoung

God’s Design for Women – Biblical Womanhood for Today – Sharon James

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise your name that you came to save both men and women. That in you there is ultimately neither male nor female but we are all one. We ask forgiveness when sometimes we have misused the teaching from your word about men and women. Help us to treat one another as brothers and sisters. Give us the courage to challenge abuse when we see it – and grant your grace, love and unity to all the family of God, Amen.

Act with Acts 17 – How to run a church – Elders and Deacons – Acts 6:1-7

SEEK 42 – God, Humanity and the Angels