The Proclaimer

Equal But Different   

It is becoming more and more common in our society to see women in roles that, in times past, have been limited to men.  This, of course, is the direct result of the “women’s lib” movement of the past few decades.  Unfortunately, in an attempt to obtain “equal rights” this movement has blurred the distinctive roles of men and women, creating an atmosphere of “sameness” rather than “equality.”  This, in turn, has contributed greatly to the dysfunction and even the destruction of the home and family as prescribed by the Word of God.  While “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34) and  “there can be no male and female” for all “are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28), the fact is, God draws a clear distinction in the roles of men and women. 

While men and women are “equal” in God’s sight in that He loves all the same, they are different.  I suspect it is not “politically correct” in the minds of many to call attention to this difference, but Paul says, “I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3).  God’s arrangement of “headship” does not imply that woman is inferior to or less important than man any more than it infers Christ to be inferior to God.  It simply shows their roles, though equally important, to be different.

Not only has the home been affected by the newfound “liberation” of women, but the role of women in religion is a hotly debated topic in many denominations.  Whether women should be preachers is a point of controversy in the minds of many.  What does the Bible say about this?  Paul said, “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” (1 Tim. 2:11, 12). Paul gives the same instruction to the Corinthians: “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” (1 Cor. 14:34). Clearly this instruction is an application of God’s arrangement of headship that “the head of the woman is man” (1 Cor. 11:3).

The issue has nothing to do with the worthiness or abilities of a woman to take a lead in the public assembly, but with the role God has assigned to women.  Paul prohibits the woman to teach a man or to preach in a public assembly not because women are inferior or incapable of doing so, but because she is not “to have authority over a man.”  This does not, of course, preclude her using her ability to teach other women or children.  In fact if no men are present, the use of her abilities to lead others in prayer, song or in the teaching of God’s word is not an issue.  In such a case she could take the lead without having dominion over a man.

I must hasten, however, to emphasize that God’s arrangement of headship is clearly defined and we must honor it.  We must resist any temptation to acquiesce to pressure applied by a society that has no respect for God or His authority.  Many homes have been disrupted by wives who refuse to subject themselves to their own husband, “as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22), and Satan would exert the same evil influence in the family of God.  Not only is it becoming increasingly common to see women in roles of leadership in denominations, it is becoming more and more common to see this in many so-called “Churches of Christ.”  And while this may not seem an obvious threat or to be much of a problem among more conservative churches, we need to constantly heed the warning of the apostle Paul, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).                  

                                                                    -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer