I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
1 Timothy 2:12-14
Because it’s my passion to see Christian women become holy, passionate, obedient disciples of Jesus Christ, I’ve dealt with this passage a lot and done a lot of research on it. Scripture is crystal clear that women are not to instruct men in the Scriptures in the church in the capacity of pastor or teacher, nor are they to hold authority over men in other positions in the church. (I’ve outlined Scripture’s case for this here if you’d like to do some further study.) And, unfortunately, there are many women in the church who are disobeying this Scripture (I used to be one of them)– some out of rebellion, and some out of ignorance. But until recently, I –and every other piece of information I’ve studied on the subject– have dealt with the issue of women stepping outside their God-ordained role in the church strictly as a women’s issue.
A few days ago, a friend of mine asked for my opinion on a Q&A video produced by a well known pastor. The pastor was asked, “Is it a sin for men to listen to women speakers [female Christian conference speakers, pastors, teachers, etc.]?”
And that’s when it hit me. I’d never heard this question addressed, or even asked, before. First Timothy 2:12ff is always dealt with from the perspective of women and towards women – that this is a women’s sin issue.
But to treat this role rebellion strictly as the sin of women is to pour gasoline on the fire. If it’s a singularly women’s problem, then it naturally falls on women with a right understanding of God’s Word on the issue to deal with it, right? And if these women are the ones who have to confront and deal with this sin, even at the local church level, they’re being placed smack dab in the misappropriated role they’re trying to fight because they’re being asked to do the job of elders and pastors whose responsibility it is to maintain order and discipline in the church.
In other words, when it’s time to deal with the sin of role busting, don’t send a woman in to do a man’s job.
When it’s time to deal with the sin of role busting, don’t send a woman in to do a man’s job.
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The fact that there’s even a need for an article like this, never mind that a woman is writing it, is indicative of the pervasiveness of the problem. Why do we so rarely hear pastors or other Christian men exhorting men in the church to stand on God’s Word, properly fill out their own role in the church, and also deal with the problem of female disobedience to this Scripture? Why are Christian men becoming accomplices to women’s sin by seeking out female pastors and teachers to be their spiritual leaders? I believe there are three reasons:
The fact that there’s even a need for an article like this, never mind that a woman is writing it, is indicative of the pervasiveness of the problem.
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1.
Adam 3.0
Give Genesis 3–the story of the Fall–a read through the lenses of 1 Timothy 2:12. See any similarities between what happened in the Garden and what’s happening in the church?
The man is off somewhere, not fulfilling his role of spiritual guardian, leader, and protector, leaving the woman alone and vulnerable to Satan’s attack. Satan tempts the woman to sin and she succumbs. The woman then entices the man to sin, and instead of standing on God’s Word, refusing to sin, and correcting her, he actually joins her in her sin. And when God calls the man to account for this whole scenario, what does the man do? He blames the woman.
Was Eve responsible for her decision to sin? Of course. That’s why we even have 1 Timothy 2:12-14 in the Bible. But God gave the man the authority and God held the man ultimately responsible. That’s why we see passages like Romans 5:12-14 (and others) attributing the sin in the Garden to Adam rather than Eve.
While there are many faithful pastors and Christian men out there diligently laboring to be godly teachers and leaders in the church–and praise God for those men!–there is a large and increasing number of men in our churches, both pastors and laymen, who are failing to fulfill the role God has called men to in the church. Pastors who will only preach what tickles people’s ears. Men who sit in the pews refusing to teach or serve or lead or even attend faithfully.
As it was in the Garden, these Christian men are nowhere to be found as Satan creeps into the church and attacks women with this temptation. And, as God called out then, could He be calling out now, “ืึธืึธื, – Adam- Man, where are you“?
As God called out then, could He be calling out now, “ืึธืึธื, – Adam- Man, where are you”?
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2.
Men are lazy.
I know that sounds harsh, but before all the brothers get their boxers in a bunch, please hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying that all men are lazy or that women are never lazy or that men are lazy in every aspect of their lives. What I’m saying is that, in this particular instance of women stepping outside God’s role for them in the church, too many men are sitting back with the attitude that, hey, if somebody else is willing to do the work why not let her? Instead, women (not to mention boys and younger men) should be seeing men in the church step up and say, “I’ll study hard so I’ll be equipped to teach that class.” “I’ll preach the sermon, not my wife.” “I’ll be willing to shoulder the load God has given me instead of pushing it off on a woman.”
Women (not to mention boys and younger men) need to see men in the church step up and say, “I’ll be willing to shoulder the load God has given me instead of pushing it off on a woman.”.
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3.
Men are afraid of women.
Not afraid of them physically, but afraid of the ones who will make a scene, cause strife, split churches, get pastors fired, and generally make life hell on earth for anyone who dares to put his foot down firmly on the Word of God and say, “You’re in disobedience. You need to repent and step down.” I know these women (and, of course, there are men who do this, too). I have had plenty of them come after me, and, having a husband who’s been in ministry for over 20 years, I’ve seen plenty of them attack pastors, staff, deacons, etc., and I don’t blame men for feeling scared. But Jesus has called men to defend His Bride from all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and feeling scared doesn’t excuse them from doing what’s right and biblical. Would that godly men would look to the courage Jesus exhibited on His way to the cross. That they would look at Peter, Paul, James, and the other apostles as their example of valor, as these forebears in the faith chose flogging, hardship, jail, and martyrdom over compromising the Word of God.
Would that godly men would look to the courage Jesus exhibited at the cross. That they would look at Peter, Paul, James, and the other apostles who chose flogging, hardship, jail, and martyrdom over compromising the Word of God.
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Churches don’t need pastors who are afraid to rock the boat, even if that’s what the church seems to want. Churches need a man who will stand for Christ and His Word, no matter the cost to him personally or vocationally. A pastor can’t call his people to do that in their own lives if he isn’t willing to do it in his, knowing that the God who was strong enough to save him out of the pit of Hell is strong enough to find him another job and provide for his family if it comes to that. We need pastors who are faithful to preach and carry out the Word in season and out of season, trusting Almighty God to have their backs.
Churches don’t need pastors who are afraid to rock the boat, even if that’s what the church seems to want.
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God has given women a phenomenal, and much needed, role in the church. He has given men a different, yet equally phenomenal and much needed role in the church. For the local church to function in a healthy way, both men and women have to fill out our own roles correctly. And women can’t and shouldn’t have to do the job of godly men in addition to our own.
Women can’t and shouldn’t have to do the job of godly men in addition to our own.
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Some might regard my tone here as stringent. Peter, Paul and the other apostles probably raised some eyebrows when they used a stringent tone, too. But when a house is burning down, the fireman doesn’t tiptoe in, hand you flowers, and politely request that you, pretty please, come with him. And that’s where we are in the church. The house is burning down around us. And, in the end, this article is not meant to be a castigation of pastors or other Christian men, but an impassioned plea from a church lady who wants to see her sisters make it out alive.
Help us. Please. Despite what some professing Christian women might say, we, and the body of Christ, desperately need our brothers to be the heroic men of God that they have the right, the calling, and the responsibility to be.
Women, and the body of Christ, desperately need our brothers to be the heroic men of God that they have the right, the calling, and the responsibility to be.
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We are on the same page. eyes wide open! Problem is, very very few men have the life experiences to see how weak the church and churchmen are. They have pretty much been sheltered in their social club. I haven’t…
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Sad, but true, Russ. :0(
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Thank you for commenting on what I’ve lived with for years. Both myself and many women at my church deal with this daily. Our homes are ravaged and our church is bland and ineffective. I chaff at the bit over the destruction everywhere I look due to men who are off sucking their thumbs while hiding behind a skirt.
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It’s definitely frustrating. We ladies can be a big help by praying for our pastors, churches, and our brothers in Christ, by offering them encouragement and support when they step up to lead, and by refusing to take on positions or jobs that God has reserved for men. There are a lot of godly men out there, it’s just hard to see them sometimes :0)
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Are we also forgetting the fact that the Bible also made reference to some women being called by God to lead as well? I understand what he bible says, but I know of churches who have women as elders in, but they’re main jobs were to lead the women of the church, like the book of Titus 2 tells them to do so. And in those churches, the women deal only with the women of the churches in prayer, counseling and teaching. So are you saying that this is wrong, for these women to be elders?
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Yes and no.
First, let me clarify that this article is only in reference to women violating Scripture by holding offices Scripture relegates to men, or who instruct or hold authority over men in the church. It is not saying that women cannot properly lead other women (ala Titus 2) or children, or fill any number of other positions which do not put them in authority over men or cause them to instruct men.
I’ve never really heard of a female holding the office of elder who only had authority over women, so I’m not sure what that’s all about. It doesn’t fit the biblical definition or description of elder. It’s kind of like saying my next door neighbor is a dentist, but he only works on dogs’ teeth. That really doesn’t fit the definition or descriptirion of a dentist. So if there’s a church out there that has an office of elder for a woman that puts her in authority only over women, the church is violating Scripture by creating an unbiblical office.
So, I guess my answer would be, it is a violation of Scripture for a woman to hold the office of elder because the Titus 1, 1 Timothy 2:12-14, and 1 Timothy 3 passages are clear that this office is reserved for men. However, it is fine for women to be in authoritative positions (teaching, leading, etc.) over other women and children or to serve in non-authoritative roles.
As we think about the role of women in the church (men, too) we would do well to remember how often Jesus said things like this:
But Jesus called them to him and said, โYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.โ Matthew 20:25-28
We, and the church may prize leadership, position, and recognition, but Jesus prizes servanthood, anonymity, and humility.
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Tremendous post..You’re so right.
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Thanks, Deb! :0)
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Are you preaching to men here? Are you instructing them?
This has been my frustration with this whole issue. I read the Bible a lot and can see so very much deception here in the West but feel like I am not allowed to say anything to the males who are deceived. And there are many, many false teachers who are male.
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Hi Victoria-
I’ve answered your questions here.
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Hi, I stumbled across your blog and would ask you to reconsider the statement above: “The man is off somewhere, not fulfilling his role of spiritual guardian, leader, and protector, leaving the woman alone and vulnerable to Satanโs attack.” in light of Genesis 3:6, which clearly indicates that the man was with the woman. There are several English translations that omit that phrase (‘who was with her’ / ‘ืขึดืึธื’), but it’s there in the Hebrew. Thanks for your time.
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I admit that I am not sure where I stand on things because I listen to female preachers speak the word, and I have read Amy Carmichael’s writings along with Elizabeth Elliot and others to learn something. I currently attend a church where they have a co-pastor husband and wife team. The Associate Pastor is a lady whose classes I have attended. My hope is that I am not committing sin, but I also do not what to ignore teaching or deny opportunities to learn based on gender either. Where is the middle ground?
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Hi Mark- I’m so glad you’re asking these questions. It means you want to know and obey biblical truth, and that is the fruit of someone who’s genuinely born again. Let me see if I can help a bit.
The “middle ground” is in studying, understanding, and obeying Scripture.
Yes, as the article explains, you are committing sin when you sit under women “pastors,” because they are sinning, and you are supporting and encouraging them in their sin by your attendance. I would urge you to repent and immediately stop listening to any woman who calls herself a pastor and/or preaches to, or teaches the Bible to men.
You don’t have a church. Any so-called church with a woman “pastor” or “co-pastor” is not a church. You need to get out of there immediately and find yourself a doctrinally sound church to join and attend. Click here, start by studying the resources under “What to look for in a church,” then scour the church search engines near the top of the page to find a good church in your area. I would recommend starting with the Founders search engine, followed by G3, then The Master’s Seminary, then the rest. Once you find a good church, set up an appointment with your new pastor to ask him any questions you may have.
A couple of other things that I think will help you:
–Read my Rock Your Role series of articles. It will help you understand what the Bible says about the role of women in the church. Start with Jill in the Pulpit and make sure you also read Are Female Bloggers Violating Scripture by โTeachingโ Men? (it will help answer your questions about reading books by female authors).
–Go to the Recommended Bible Teachers tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page and start listening to some of the godly male pastors and teachers listed there. I’d recommend starting with John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, Voddie Baucham, and Gabriel Hughes.
From your comment, it sounds to me like God is convicting you about this issue. I think, in your heart, you know the answers to your questions. Now it’s just an issue of believing and obeying what the Bible says. I’m taking a moment to pray for you about that.
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Thank you for taking time with me in your response.
My heart hurts in three ways. 1) Sin- there was an idea that believers do not compromise but I did because I need a church home; 2) the idea that I have searched for years to find a second home where I am accepted unconditionally, and I thought I found that place. The idea of searching hurts because I struggle with social anxiety. I have always felt like I have to live up to someoneยs else expectations. I wonder if there are other believers who want to obey God but struggle with the same issues. 3) confusion because the things I always thought that women were called to the ministry. There are women who attend seminaries to become preachers and become church leaders. I have a friend whose wife is in seminary while he takes a role in the background. 4) I have listened to both the male preachers along with Leonard Ravenhill and David Wilkerson and Charles Spuregon because these are men of God. I did not think anything about gender. 5) Last point, I promise; I was very close to my mother who taught me how to treat women with respect.
My overall question is- I ask this question because it is culturally confusing and biblically tough at times to see conflicts between the two. Why is the conflict so great? I also notice there is a movement in the faith in the Pentecostal faith where many things happen.
I will continue to study and use the links you gave me, and thank you for praying for me.
Respectfully, Mark A. Johnson
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I know this is overwhelming and difficult, Mark. I’ve had to do overwhelming and difficult things in obeying the Lord, too, so I know what it’s like. But ask God to help and strengthen you for the tasks ahead, and He will. I know it seems hard to believe now, but once you get plugged in to a good, solid church, a lot of these issues you’re facing will no longer be issues, you’ll be taught properly, and you’ll have your questions answered. If you obey Scripture, I promise you, by the authority of God’s Word, that things will be better for you, spiritually. Take the first step. With Christ to strengthen you, you can do it! :0)
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