May a Woman Lead or Govern Publicly?
Presently the United States is in a state of chaos and most people seem to be confused as to God’s will regarding the place of woman in public. The female leadership in America began in the 1800s but it accelerated in the 1900s, especially the middle of last century. There are even more female graduates today than males! (If women are to be keepers at home, we wonder what they will do with these degrees! 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:3-4).
Today, according to an article in Wikipedia, we learn that women have taken the lead, especially during the past century. Notice this discussion:
As of January 2020, forty-four women have served or are serving as the governor of a U.S. state (and two acting governors due to vacancies), three women have served or are serving as the governor of an unincorporated U.S. territory. Two women have served or are serving as mayors of the District of Columbia. Currently, nine women are serving as governors of U.S. states, along with the Mayor of the District of Columbia Muriel Bowser, and territorial governors Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam and Wanda Vázquez Garced of Puerto Rico.
But is this arrangement really the will of God? After all, since God created the male and the female in the beginning, surely He should know what His will is and what is considered normal. For instance, notice 1 Corinthians 11:3: “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:3). God is saying here that “the man is the head of a woman.” Consider: If the man (the male) is the “head” or authority over the woman (the female) is it at all possible for the woman to exercise authority over the man? Doesn’t this clearly violate the revealed will of God?
Years ago, the United States (including the preachers, pastors, and priests) rejected the authority of Scripture, choosing to follow their own ways rather than the ways of God. Yet the Lord says, ‘“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”’ (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is not hard to understand—but it may be hard to accept. Fundamentally, it says that the will of God is often opposite from the will of man, and vice versa.
It is not too hard to see why atheistic countries like Russia or one like China would accept female leadership. It is not difficult to see why a Hindu or Buddhist country in Asia would accept female leadership for they have no concept of God’s revelation in Scripture. But we do wonder why places like Europe, North America, and South America—with a professing “Christian” background would accept this sort of false view of things. Africa is another matter. It would seem that there has been Muslim, “Christian” (Protestant and Catholic), and animist influence. For some reason, it would seem that many in Africa just throw out the Biblical directives and choose rather to accept the “Prosperity Gospel”!
But even if we give allowance to unbelief in the world, still one would think that there would still be plenty of people who respect divine revelation regarding gender leadership. (It would seem that generally the false cult of Islam has more of a respect for male leadership than most of these other countries!)
What do we find regarding female leadership in the political arena? We know that there are many different positions of leadership that women have filled but we find that several women did take the lead for one day or two weeks (for example) during the past century. Then we read this: “The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor was Ella T. Grasso of Connecticut, elected in 1974 and sworn in on January 8, 1975.” It has been going “downhill” ever since!
This leadership capacity doesn’t go back very far, as we can see. In fact, from 1974 until 2020, we find only 46 (forty-six) years. Thus fewer than a half-century do we find a regular election of women in taking the reins of civil government! We must conclude that with the increase of lawlessness, the increase of secularism, the increase of feminism, we have discovered that women have taken leadership over men!
Of course, other manifestations of female leadership have come and this applies to not just being a mayor, a governor, a representative, or a senator. Think of the Supreme Court, with women occupying this position! Think of women teaching in United States colleges and universities. Think of women taking the lead in companies across the country. Think of the women public preachers and teachers! As the country has become more and more secular, with less and less respect for God’s written Word, we find women taking the lead over the man! This shameful circumstance must grieve the heart of God!
Presently, the country is in rebellion against authority! And some of this authority would be the public authority that includes the presidency itself. Some think that if Biden were to become the next president, a female vice-president (Kamala Harris) might actually be the first woman president (if he dies or becomes incapacitated). And we all know that Harris is a radical feminist and radical liberal! She seems to have little or no respect for the plain instructions of God’s Word.
Consider this: If it is wrong (and sinful) for a woman to become a shepherd (pastor), an elder (presbyter), or an overseer (bishop) in the assembly of God (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Timothy 3:1-8; Titus 1:5-9), if it is wrong for a woman to become an evangelist or preacher (2 Timothy 4:5; Ephesians 4:11), if it is wrong (and sinful) for a woman to publicly speak or teach (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 14:33-37), then would it really be right for her to lead a state or country? If it is wrong for a woman to exercise authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16), then would it be right for her to take the authority over a nation?
We know that America has known female leadership for nearly half a century (see above), but is this right? Is there something fundamentally wrong about this? Instinctively we know that it is unjust, wrong, incongruous, and even sinful.
Let’s repent and return to Scripture! Let’s determine and follow the will of the Lord in regard to gender, in regard to male leadership, and in regard to following what God says is right and a clear indication of His good will! Anything less will lead us to further secularism, further feminism, and further chaos! We know that there are a few women in America who strive for godliness and increased Biblical knowledge. We applaud them! May God help them—and help all of us—as we all seek to know and do His will in regard to male and female leadership.
Nothing in this expose should be interpreted as an indictment against women in general. We suspect that there may be more women who are spiritually-inclined than men in this country (and even the world). But we are especially dealing here with God’s will regarding leadership. And especially the leadership of a country!
–Richard Hollerman
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