The Place and Function of Women in the Church (Part 2)
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
In our previous message we introduced the subject of the place and function of women in the Church. Then we shared about the mystery of the oneness that exists (or should exist) between a Christian husband and wife. In this message we want to share with you the implications of that oneness, part of my wife, Linda's personal testimony, and start looking in more detail at the scriptures which speak of the place and function of women in the Church.
Implications of Oneness
Man's arithmetic says that one plus one equals two. We believe that a part of Satan's master plan is to get married couples, even Christian married couples, to see themselves as two separate people. The husband has his job, his car, his interests, and frequently his bank account; the wife has her job, her car, her interests, and her bank account. Before a man and a woman get married they try to determine if they have common interests. That is a fleshly approach to marriage, based on selfishness. Everything in the American culture is designed to emphasize the fact that husband and wife are two, not one. The husband has his vote and the wife has her vote. Frequently, the husband and wife vote differently and, in effect, cancel out each other's vote.
The women's lib movement has pushed women to be equal with men in the workplace and basically described marriage as bondage. The traditional, complementary sexual roles were seen as restricting a woman's freedom rather than enhancing her well-being. Women wanted to be "equal" with men and illicit sex has become much more explicit. Women allowed the ideology of the movement to override the emotional, vulnerable side of themselves that brought out a man's wish to protect, comfort, honor, and love them. More and more women have left the home and sought after a successful career. That, of course, has had devastating effects on the children. In Christian circles, the husband has his ministry and the wife has her ministry. In church meetings, the husband speaks and the wife speaks. Some women even keep their own last name after marriage. All of that is contrary to the oneness that God intended for husband and wife. An "independent" spirit within a woman today in the United States is looked upon as something to be desired and looked upon with pride. In reality, that independent spirit has been generated by the enemy.
In 1983 my wife and I toured Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark for two weeks. We stayed on the economy, in the homes of the local people. We were impressed that very few homes had anything except single beds. The husband has his bed and the wife has her bed. We also noted the many women who almost looked like men ... short hair, women's pants and shoes. We also saw an unusual number of men were limping. At the last State of the Union address, I was struck by the number of female Congress persons who are female but who had a masculine look and demeanor about them. Today we see an increasing number of transgenders. Some men want to be women; a much larger number of women want to be men. Who is content to be what God made them to be?
Although man's arithmetic says that one plus one equals two, God's arithmetic says that one plus one equals one! But, you may say, what about single people? In older times, and even in some cultures today, a family stayed together. A man was responsible for his family, including all children, until they were married. Furthermore, we as Christians are strangers and pilgrims on earth who seek another country (Hebrews 11:13-14). We are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). We have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). Do we have a vote in His kingdom?
It is important to remember that the New Testament teachings actually were very liberating to the women of New Testament days. What women lived under up to that point in time was far more restrictive. If ever there was a picture of the fully "liberated woman" it is that drawn for us in Proverbs, Chapter 31:10-31. It is obvious that this woman is given a great deal of latitude and responsibility by her husband, but it is also clear that the central base of her operations is the home. This is the primary sphere which God has appointed for the woman. The home and its related responsibilities are even the central thrust of the ministry of the woman who is more mature and perhaps gifted to teach. Titus 2:4-5 says the older women are to teach the younger women to be good wives and mothers, and housekeepers. It is a sad thing when young girls are raised in Christian homes which teach them, by example, to disdain the womanly arts of food preparation, sewing, and rearing children. There is a desperate need for this kind of ministry today as many young mothers did not have the opportunity to observe their mothers being housewives, because they were out working to support the family.
Women played a large part in the ministry of our Lord. Some of His closest friends and faithful followers were women (Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 23:49, 55). They were the last to leave our Lord's cross and the first to see Him resurrected (Luke 23:55; 24:1-10). Women followed Jesus as He traveled about and supported Him and His disciples (Luke 8:1-3). If we think that the role of women was primarily or preferably in the kitchen, we need to be reminded that Jesus commended Mary for sitting at His feet, while Martha was obsessed with preparing the meal (Luke 10:38-42).
We must also recall what women did not do to minister when they accompanied our Lord. Our Lord did not choose women to be among the 12 apostles. He did not send women to teach, preach, or heal. When the "great commission" was given in Matthew 28:16-20, it was not given to women, but to the apostles. In brief, women did minister to our Lord and with our Lord, but never in a capacity of leadership or authority such as teaching or preaching doctrine. No one, except the most liberal, would disagree with the fact that it was the practice of the Apostle Paul that women could not take a leadership role in the church meeting. Many, however, would be inclined to say that the reasons for this practice were purely cultural, and therefore not applicable to the church today. With this we must disagree, for Paul does not base his instructions on culture, but upon principles which are related to the purpose of the church and to the teachings of the Old Testament. In 1 Corinthians Paul's teaching is consistent with the "law" (1 Corinthians 14:34). In 1 Timothy the silence of women is established upon the teachings of the early chapters of Genesis (1 Timothy 2:13-14). We will only understand the necessity of women not leading or being in authority in the church when we understand the principle which underlies this practice. That principle is that God has assigned man the responsibility of reflecting or demonstrating the headship of Jesus Christ in marriage and in the church.
The place and function of women in the Church is of utmost and critical importance. Christian women have perhaps the most important ministry in contributing to the spiritual maturity of the Church.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses.
The LORD make the woman [Ruth] that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. Ruth 4:11-12
Rachel and Leah did not build a natural house; neither did they use hammer and nails. They built the house of Israel through their obedience and intercession for their husband. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David, in the natural lineage and ancestry of Jesus.
Linda's personal testimony
No man taught me about my ministry to my husband and I never read any book but the Bible. When we don't know anything about some area, we are very teachable by the Lord. We don't have to unlearn anything.
The Lord began to show me His call upon my husband and that He desired to use me as His primary vessel to bring forth His ministry within my husband. The Lord, over the years, has revealed a number of spiritual truths to me through gardening, which I dearly love. He showed me that I was like a garden hose. The garden hose has to be connected to the water source in order to be used to water plants and shrubs. The Source is the Lord; I was the garden hose; and I was to be used by the Lord to pour forth spiritual water to my husband.
Whatever the Lord would show me, I would pray fervently, intercede, and groan in the spirit that the Lord's purpose for Bob might come forth. I made a conscious decision that my words, manner, and behavior would line up with what the Lord revealed. At church meetings I changed drastically and became quiet in order for Bob to come forth, while praying fervently for him. I was NOT passive. I was very active in my quietness. I did not become quiet because I had no truth to share but because I saw a principle that was MORE important than my sharing some truth. I saw that it was more important for Bob to come into maturity in the Lord than for me to share some truth. I had been allowed to see the help meet ministry of a wife to her husband.
My drastic change caused quite a stir in the local church environment. Others in the church saw that I became very quiet during the formal meetings. Many felt that I was in bondage and/or manipulated by my husband. One out-of-town leader, after hearing rumors, called me "stiff-necked" in the most gentle way he could. However, I never tried to defend myself for I knew what the Lord had made real in my heart ... a higher way.
[One reason why Linda was misunderstood was because of the "oneness ministry" which was yet to be revealed to us, (but which, nevertheless was in operation even though neither of us knew it.) One of the first prophetic words I, Bob, ever received from a mature ministry was that I would be greatly misunderstood. So because I have been greatly misunderstood, so was Linda, for we are one in God's sight! Another reason that Linda was misunderstood MAY have been caused by an over-emphasis of an incorrect interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:26, which was liberally taught that when we come together EVERYONE should have something to say, or in other words everyone is a mouth. That is NOT what Paul is saying in that verse! Every member of the body is NOT a mouth during (or after) the assembly! The man who spoke the hard word about Linda being "stiff-necked" was never around to see our normal meetings. He simply took someone's word about her as being true, without ever bothering to come and ask us our version. That kind of action, which we have seen far too many times, is a BIG mistake! The scriptural approach if you believe something is amiss is to go to your brother FIRST, privately, and ASK whether or not things you have heard are true.]
The result of my actions? the Lord honored His word and Bob began to come forth. At some point the Lord showed Bob what He was about through me. Then Bob, being greatly impressed, began teaching about a woman's help meet ministry.
In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the end times ... the last days. We need to remember that this Chapter, like all of scripture, is speaking to Christians TODAY! The word of God is TIMELESS and independent of any culture! Let us look at Verse 19.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Matthew 24:19
Undoubtedly, most Christians interpret that verse in the natural realm. We Christians are forever trying to pull down the word of God to the natural level so that we can understand with our natural minds. After all, seeking the Lord takes time, patience, and perseverance ... three qualities that few people have.
About one month after the September 11, 2001, atrocity, as my wife and I were traveling to her family reunion in North Carolina, Linda told me how grateful she was that I could hear a clear word from the Lord about the September 11 events and therefore protect and care for her spiritually. She extolled the faithfulness of the Lord and then referred to the above verse. She said that about 30 years ago the Lord had quickened that verse within her being with an unquenchable fire in terms of her ministry to me. I had always interpreted that verse in the natural realm in terms of how difficult it would be to flee with a baby or small child in the time of great tribulation. That is certainly true. But Linda said that verse, on a much deeper level, means that the Christian woman in the last days whose husband is a child or a babe SPIRITUALLY will experience great tribulation and suffering, because her husband has never matured in the Lord to be a proper covering for her, particularly during end-time events. When my wife shared that with me, I said to myself, "WOW! That is a real revelation!" When we got to Lexington, NC, I shared that word with a mature believer who was our host for the evening. He said, "WOW! That is a real revelation!" Neither of us had ever heard that meaning before.
But a Christian wife needs to be very careful, in her search for more of the Lord, that she does not "widen the spiritual gap" even MORE between herself and her husband. Most husbands, even Christian husbands, will resist inwardly your spirituality or anything that takes you away from him. That is particularly true if you go to all of the meetings and come home and tell your husband how wonderful the pastor is. That can become a very sore spot, particularly if he comes home to a dirty house, no hot meal, and no sex. He may not say anything to you openly about it because men don't communicate well. But inwardly he may build up a level of resentment and bitterness. Women who go to meeting after meeting, hoping to receive some fresh revelation from the Lord, need to be very careful! That is NOT what the Samaritan woman did. She did NOT go to that well hoping to meet Jesus! Jesus, by Divine appointment, met her! There is a difference!
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.1 Timothy 2:9-10
As a generality, women have been ordained to play a more hidden role than men (1 Peter 3:4). Men are in more prominent, visible positions in the Church. That in NO way makes the role of the woman inferior or less important. The "meek and quiet spirit" spoken of in Verse 4 speaks of the quality of the spirit, the inner man. There is also a difference between being meek and being weak. Meek implies strength which is under control; weak implies lack of strength.
We must hasten to add that the woman was NOT put on the same level as animals, to be ruled by man. There is NO sense of inferiority implied by the "help meet" ministry of the woman. Eve was made different from Adam and for a different purpose. Her abilities were designed to complement those of Adam's. We are talking about a God-created difference rather than a man-imposed distinction. God created men and women with complementary strengths. God also created a functional order wherein the man was designed to have leadership in the home and in the church. This in no way implies that women are viewed as less spiritual by God, nor do they get less attention from God, nor is their role any less important to Him, nor are they less accountable for their actions.
In 2 Kings 5 we read of the time when Elisha was used by the Lord to heal Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army, from leprosy. Leprosy in those days was not curable. But God had sovereignly caused Naaman to become a leper so that His glory might be made manifest. However it was a little maid who got the ball rolling. She was the instrument God used to introduce Naaman to Elisha.
A wife is designed with the capability of bearing and nurturing children. Does that mean that the man is inferior? Of course not! Men are designed to be physically stronger and capable of more strenuous work. Does that make the woman inferior? No! The man and the woman were designed to have complementary, not competing or equivalent, strengths. Are the hidden, internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys, less important because they are not as visible as the skin? Has the hand been designed to hear better than the ear? Has the foot been designed to see better than the eye? Does the nose speak just as well as the mouth? Why then should we believe that EVERYONE is a mouth? Are the hidden floor joists which support the sub-flooring less important than the beautiful hardwood floors which are so visible to the eye? Should we believe that God did not really know what He was doing when He set the members in the body every one of them as it has pleased Him?
Let me be the first to say, however, if the Lord wants to use a woman for ANY kind of ministry within the Church, that is HIS business. I certainly will not object. The Lord may suspend His rules any time He wants to, but woe to any human being who suspends God's rules. As a slight tangent, many years ago I wrote a book titled, "When God Suspends the Rules." I have not yet had an anointing to print that book. But the exception does not do away with His rule for us.
Now some single or divorced women may ask, "But what about me? I'm not married. What can I do?" The answer is this ... do what you see the godly women doing in the New Testament. In the New Testament we are taught and shown by example that we have an obligation to those who are orphans and widows, to those who are sick and destitute. Although Paul instructed Timothy to teach the older and younger men and the older women, he is not told to teach the younger women (Titus 2:1-8). Women can surely minister more effectively to other women.
Notice the requirements which Paul sets down for the widow who is to be put on the role of those who are regularly supported by the church: "Having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work" (1 Timothy 5:10). In Acts chapter nine Dorcas worked with the widows making garments for use either by the needy or by those who ministered in the church.
According to the New Testament women cannot be leaders in the church, but they can help their husbands lead. Priscilla and Aquila are prime examples. We will look at a number of scriptures which support that statement.
I know personally of a church where the wife is the pastor and her husband is her assistant. That church has never prospered in numbers of "members" and from my personal awareness has never prospered spiritually. Why? because their leadership is out of God's order. A good brother in another country recently told me of his experience in a local church which was led by a woman. He said it resulted in a disaster.
The books of 1st and 2nd Kings list the names of 16 kings of Judah. In each of those 16 cases, Scripture says, "and his mother's name was xxx." There is not one verse in the Bible that says "and his father's name was xxx." That fact emphasizes the vital role that a wife and mother can have on their children. In the books of 1st and 2nd Kings, we find 16 occurrences of "and his mother's name was xxx." Eight of those kings turned out to be "good" kings and eight turned out to be "evil." It is also worth noting that there is not one verse in the Bible that says, "And her mother's name was xxx."
We should remember that a wife is one with her husband in his ministry and they bring harmony and balance to that one ministry. Fulfillment is achieved by knowing your assigned role and then doing it to the glory of God. May God raise up godly women who will minister to and through their husbands ... young women who will minister to those in need, older women who will minister to younger women, teaching them to be godly women and wives and mothers, and particularly bring up their children in the ways of the Lord.
Many Christians teach that a woman can hold any office or ministry that a man can hold. That is nothing less than saying, in our heart, that a queen can rule. A woman came very close recently to being the President of the United States. Will the next President be a woman? perhaps. If that happens, it will be yet another fatal blow to America.
From the very beginning, women fulfilled a vital role in the Christian church (Acts 1:12-14; 9:36-42; 16:13-15; 17:1-4, 10-12; 18:1-2, 18, 24-28; Romans 16:1-15; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 1:5; 4:19), but not one of leadership. The apostles were all men; the chief missionary activity was done by men; the writing of the New Testament was the work of men; and leadership in the churches was entrusted to men.
Although the Apostle Paul respected women and worked side by side with them for the furtherance of the gospel (Romans 16:1-14; Philippians 4:3), he appointed no female elders, deacons, or pastors. Some months ago I heard a good man, an evangelist, say the following:
"Someone asked me if women could be an elder in the church. I responded, certainly, if she is the husband of one wife." In Paul's letters, he urged that men were to be the leaders in the church and that women were not to teach or exercise authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12). Therefore, although women are spiritual equals with men and the ministry of women is essential to the body of Christ, women are excluded from leadership over men in the church.
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