The Pride and Rebellion of Women Preachers, Teachers, and Singers.
We are aware that God created woman in the beginning, and along with the man (Adam), she was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). She was a special creation of God, made from Adam’s own body. As God said, “I will make him a helper suitable for him” (2:18).
Later in Scripture, we have this further explanation: “Man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9). But, lest the reader receive the wrong impression, we continue to read: “In the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God” (vv. 11-12). These teachings were given to support the reasons why God wanted the Christian woman to wear a veil when praying or prophesying (vv. 3-16). This shows that there is an amazing interrelationship between the man and the woman, particularly in Christ the Lord.
Women Choosing to Disobey the Lord
Although my website is a primary means of outreach (see www.Truediscipleship. com), I do have a Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/richard. hollerman/ timeline#_) and hopefully some of the readers have examined what we offer there. The outreach through this latter means is between 4,000 and 5,000 at present (and 5,000 is the limit to the number of “friends” allowed). Each day one or as many as a dozen or more people request that I “friend” them. As I was going over the daily series of “friend” requests, I was amazed at the number of women who claim to be a “prophetess” or “teacher” or “preacher”! Many (or even most) of these come from one of the countries in Africa, although these requests also may come from other continents of the world—such as India and elsewhere. Additional women preachers and teachers come from America. The point is that many dozens of these Facebook people are women and many of these women are claiming to occupy the position of prophetess, teacher, or preacher.
We find it amazing that as the world becomes more and more feminized, those who claim to be Christians also become more feminized. We are not speaking of having a deep respect and appreciation of women (which is right), but we are referring to those women who choose to rebel against their God-given role in life and insist on being “equal” with men in business, in government, in entertainment, in education, and even in the church! Here we are not speaking of a refusal to adhere to “traditional” roles for women, but we are referring to Biblical and godly roles for women. There is a vast difference.
Why do both men and women have such a widespread opposition to what is plainly presented in the Word of God as being His will? We suppose that there are various reasons for this rebellion against what God has spoken. For instance:
- We are living in an increasingly feminist age. This attitude has contaminated many in the religious world as well as society in general.
- Some women feel like they have talents and insist on using these abilities regardless of what God has revealed.
- Some women must have leadership or teaching responsibilities in the secular realm, thus they think that it is only logical that they exercise them in the religious and spiritual realm as well.
- It may be that the husbands of these feminist women encourage their wives to participate in this way.
- Many women are encouraged by other men and women to become involved in a public teaching and singing ministry.
- Without doubt, many of these women come from churches or fellowships in which women are not only permitted but also encouraged to publicly speak, teach, and sing.
- The influence of the world is unmistakable. It would seem that in secular music, women are often as involved; and women may be as involved as men in teaching and leading publically.
- Some women must believe that they are being denied public works that God wants them to do, and this would include teaching, preaching, and singing.
- Probably many women simply have their hearts closed to what Scripture says about the limitations to women’s public speaking.
One who has a high regard for the truthfulness of God’s written Word will view these developments with dismay. We’ve always been aware that some Charismatics, Pentecostals, and Methodists allow women to publicly participate in worship services and elsewhere, but this rebellion against Scripture goes beyond these denominations and groups of people to traditionally more conservative groups as well.
It is good for any woman who is involved in this movement to consider Scripture. Those women who would dare to call themselves a “prophetess” (or prophet), or “leader” or “preacher” or “teacher,” must be willing to go back to the Scriptures to discover what God has said about this Biblical conflict. Yes, it may conflict with what she has always believed, or it may offend other women or men who encourage her public participation, or it may cause her public ministry to cease. However, it is far better to crucify herself than to offend God and violate His Holy Word.
What does Scripture say?
As we examine Scripture, we discover important truths that bear on this matter:
- Only men are permitted to become congregational “overseers” (or “bishops” and in Scripture, and an overseer is the same as an elder [presbyter] and a shepherd [pastor]. (1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:5-6.)
- A woman is not permitted to teach or exercise authority over the man, but is to remain quiet (1 Timothy 2:11-15).
- The woman is not permitted to speak in the assembly but must remain silent (1 Corinthians 14:33-37).
- The men (the Greek aner indicates the male gender) are to lead prayers in the assembly (1 Timothy 2:8).
- Men are to have authority over the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3).
- In marriage, the woman is to be under the authority of her husband (Ephesians 5:22-24, 33; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-2). If she is to be under authority in this relationship, surely she should be in the assembly as well.
- Women are not permitted to be a deacon (servant) in the assembly (1 Timothy 3:8-13).
- Women are not given permission to be a public teacher in the assembly, especially over the man (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
- Women are to sing edifying songs (Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16-17) but surely should do this along with men but not by means of solos—since they are not to speak publicly or teach over the men/males (1 Timothy 2:11-12; Titus 1:5-7).
- There is no indication that women were ever called an “overseer” or a “servant” (deacon) or a teacher or a preacher in Scripture. Since we are to speak “as it were, the utterances of God” (1 Peter 4:11), let us not presume to use terminology that is unscriptural and especially anti-Scriptural.
Let’s not in any way deny women any position that God has given to her. But, on the other hand, let’s not do anything that would promote a feminist and rebellious attitude in the woman.
Let’s just be content to do and say what God our Creator and Lord permits us to do and say. This is the way that is “safe” and “cannot be wrong”! It is a blessed thing to see a woman who is fulfilling her God-given role, primarily as a wife and mother, as well as a teacher and leader of other women (cf. Titus 2:4-5; 1 Peter 3:4-5), but it is a shameful thing to observe a woman who insists on being masculine in demeanor! Who or what will you follow—the fashion of the secular and feministic world, or the word of the living God? The choice is ours.
–Richard Hollerman