In preparation for writing this article I entered the term “feminism” in Yahoo’s search tool on the internet.  In response to my search Yahoo gave me 895,657 websites to choose from.  Some say that feminism is a passing movement, nay – I tell you it is a growing religion.  The Today’s New International Version of the Bible majoring in its motivation of creating a “gender neutral” version of the Bible is just one fact that shows the truth on my above statement.  Whatever affects the world seems to infect the church.  This is true of the feminist’s movement.  For example:
 

“West Islip Church of Christ is lead by a group of gifted shepherds known collectively as the Council. The Council is currently composed of nine individuals: Don Bayer, Sue Bayer, David Fritz, Methel Gale, Hubert Gibbons, Julie Madsen, Barbara O’Connor, Donna White, and John White.

Our ministers, Katie Hays and Lance Pape, serve under the guidance of the Council.

 Katie Hays serves the congregation through preaching, teaching, and pastoral care; her areas of special focus are service and outreach. Katie holds the M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and is currently a D.Min. candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Katie’s husband Lance Pape shares in the preaching, teaching, and pastoral care; his areas of special focus are worship and fellowship. In his spare time, Lance works to promote gender justice in Churches of Christ through his website, Gal328.org. Lance holds the M.Div. from Yale Divinity School.” (http://www.wichurch.org/)

     The Bible shows a pattern for leadership in the home and in the church.  (I Corinthians 11:3) “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”  The order of authority as outlined by the inspired apostle Paul (II Timothy 3:16-17) is very clear.  Paul wrote a clarifying statement along the same line to the church at Ephesus: (Ephesians 5:24) “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”  Woman is not the head of the man, just as man does not have authority over the Lord.  Other scriptures in the New Testament show that the woman is to be in submission to the man (Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18, and I Peter 3:1).

     That fact that a woman in the church of today may be spiritually stronger than her husband is no surprise.  Actually, I have seen that in many cases.  The problem of the man being weak does not however make an exception for the women to lead the home or the church.  The woman can and should use her influence and through suggestion she could teach the man of the family that he is to be the leader.  If the “Christian man” will not fulfill his duties after attempts from the wife to help him see what he should be doing, that Christian woman can always bring the issue to the elders or other mature brethren in the church to step in and help this erring brother do what the Lord desires of him.  However, though he be weak and failing, that does not permit a break down in God’s plan just as poor singing and song leading does not authorize bringing in a mechanical instrument in addition to the authorized vocal praising of the Lord in song (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16).

     It has been presented in at least one congregation that I am aware of, that the women are better teachers than the men, so why not let them teach mixed classes, etc.  So… why not?  First off, the word of God does not permit a woman to teach over a man.  One might in response to that statement argue that the command “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) is generic by way of whom is to go.  In such a case I would point out that Paul made a restriction that cannot be overlooked.  Besides Paul’s instructing that a woman is to be silent in the assembly (I Corinthians 14:34-35), he was even clearer in a application to the general teaching role of the woman as it so relates to the man when he wrote his first letter to Timothy.  (I Timothy 2:11-12) “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”  In Paul’s instruction to Timothy there is no limitation placed wherein we can conclude this only applies to the assembly.

     Furthermore, when we consider the leadership roles of the woman in the church we must also take into account God’s clear instructions on who is to lead the church.  God was clear through the pen of Paul to point out that men were to lead the church.  By way of telling Timothy to train preachers Paul said: (II Timothy 2:2) “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  By way of Paul telling Timothy and Titus to appoint elders he said: (I Timothy 3:2) “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…”  (I Timothy 3:4-5) “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”  (Titus 1:6) “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife.”  In Paul’s instructions about appointing deacons he said: (I Timothy 3:12) “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”  (All emphasis added – B.A.Y.)  Clearly, the offices of a local church are to be held by men.  In the case of elders and deacons these men need to be married and they must rule their houses well.  What argument can be made against clear, divine instruction?

     The feminists just scream at things such as have been written in this article.  They would say “he is a sexist”, and to that I would reply “no more than God is”.  Sometimes the truth is not comfortable for some people.  However, that does not negate that it is truth indeed.  Some would argue that our culture makes God’s word invalid as it relates to the roles of the man and woman in the home and church.  I tell you, our culture (using that term loosely as I argue that my culture is different from this world’s culture – Romans 12:2 and I John 2:15-17) cannot change what God has said (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32, Matthew 15:7-9, and Revelation 22:18-19).

     Sisters in Christ should not at all feel “less important”.  We are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).  There is just a difference in the roles that we are to fulfill.  We realize that children are to submit to their parents (Ephesians 6:1-2), why do brethren have difficulties with the God given roles of the man and woman?  Does the fact that a woman is in submission to a man make her opinion any less valid?  Certainly not, but the leading has to come from the man.  I for one enjoy getting the input of my wife on most matters, but the final decision on these things are left up to and made by me.  There’s a saying “he makes all the decisions – after she tells him what to decide”.  However funny that is, it is not God’s designated plan for leadership in the home or the church.

     What a shame it would be for a man and a woman to lead faithful lives in all areas, but to fail in this one.  Again, God has been very clear: (I Corinthians 11:3) “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”  Just as Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), the man is the head of the wife.  Notice the words of Paul once again: (Ephesians 5:23) “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”  There are many significant roles the woman has (childbirth, being a mother, guiding the home, being a wife, etc.)  I have mentioned many times that the work I do as a Gospel Preacher is possible largely through the support I gain from my faithful wife.  A woman has great roles, specific roles, as the man does as well.  To a question of significance - “who wears the pants in your family?”