TEN TRUTHS YOU MAY NOT KNOW AND MAY NEVER WANT TO KNOW 5

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

TRUTH 5: Women Cannot Be Preachers And Teachers In A General Assembly of Saints

The greatest flaw of the "women liberation movement" is its inability to reconcile the facts that though men and women are of "equal value", they have "different roles". For some strange reason, this "politically correct" movement has wrongly assumed that the differences in roles between men and women, diminishes the dignity of women and the only way the modern woman can show she "has come of age" is to release herself from "the shackles" of subjection to men.

That both men and women are of equal value is a fact too true to be denied. Paul wrote; "Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman..." (1 Cor.11:11-12). In other words, both cannot do without each other. It is also written that Christian men and women are "...heirs together of the grace of life..." (1 Pet.3:7). Certainly, men and women are of equal value.

However, the same scriptures that teach that men and women are of "equal value" teach that women are to be in subjection to men. It is written; "But 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.10:3). Does the fact that Christ is in subjection to the Father, reduce His dignity and make Him any less Deity (Php.2:5-11)? Also, Peter in speaking of the "holy women...who trusted in God" said they "...adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands" (1 Pet.3:5). Slaves and their masters are of "equal value" (Gal.3:28) yet they have "different roles" (Eph.6:5-8).

The reason why women are to be in subjection to men is not like some assert, "the fruit of a backwards 1st century culture" but rather, is founded on the historical fact of the creation of the world, a period that transcends all cultures. In giving the reason for women subjection to men, Paul wrote; "...but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man" (1 Cor.11:7-9). This is as clear as it gets.

This evident inability to reconcile the fact that men and women are of "equal value" but have "different roles" has manifested itself in the desire to have "women preachers and teachers". Arguments ranging from, "Paul did not like women because he was unmarried" to "it was a cultural issue" have been used to push the "women preachers and teachers" agenda but to no avail.

The sacred writings continue to proclaim; "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 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. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control" (1 Tim.2:8-15). Only wilful ignorance would prevent a person from understanding these words.

Once again, the reasons why women cannot preach but must submit to men in preaching is not as is claimed, "a cultural issue" but as a result of the historical facts of creation and the woman being the first to sin (1 Tim.2:13-14). These occured in a period that has already been asserted, trancends all cultures. It needs to be pointed out that this letter was written to regulate conduct "...in the house of God, which is the church of the living God..." (1 Tim.3:15). Therefore women preachers are unscriptural.

Some contend that if women cannot preach, then women cannot ask questions in a public bible class (cf.1 Cor.14:35). I submit that the assembly of 1 Corinthians 14 was a uniquely 1st century assembly, that teaches the same principle as 1 Timothy 2. The context of 1 Corinthians 14 has to do with spiritual gifts and in this assembly, there were those who spoke in tongues and prophesied. After regulating the gift of tongues, the apostle began to deal with the disorderliness that was being manifested by the prophets, who would just arise to speak whiles another was speaking, under the guise that they could not control their spirits (1 Cor.14:29-33). It was in the context of speaking to the prophets that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.

Clearly, "your women" (1 Cor.14:34) is a reference to the wives of the prophets who most probably were usurping the authority of the men in the congregation by speaking or asking questions in a way that exercised dominion over the men. The fact that Paul says nothing about the unmarried women, proves that this was a unique situation. Since miracles have ceased (1 Cor.13:8-13 cf.Jam.1:25), and the scriptures complete (2 Pet.1:3; 2 Tim.3:16-17), then we can have no such situation today with prophets revealing inspired truth and thus no wives of prophets to ask their husbands questions at home. The principle however is still the same as it is in 1 Timothy 2. If in asking a question, a woman would behave herself in such a manner that exercises dominion over men, then she's in violation of God's word.

The idea that obedience to God's word for women to submit to men is a "shackle that needs to be broken", will ever be one of Satan's greatest lies of this age. Commenting on 1 Timothy 2:8-14, a faithful Christian woman wrote; "Women, again, in these latter days have been listening to Satan - and weak men have been repeating Adam's mistake of weakness - for women are taking over the work of preaching in many pulpits." (Betty Burton Choate; The Role of Woman, pp.56).

"The New Testament abounds with examples of godly women who, consistent with their assigned roles, served their Master with dignity and honor. Yes, women whose names will be remembered with admiration long after the modern-day feminists are gone and forgotten!" (Wayne Jackson; The Role of Woman).

Women can teach children (2 Tim.1:5) and in an all-women setting (Titus 2:3-5) but they cannot be preachers and teachers in a general assembly with men present.

If you didn't know this truth, hopefully you do now.

God bless us all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

(To be continued...)