The Woman's Place



Today I would like to deal with a topic that I have heard is quite controversial in some circles. I know that most non-Pharisee churches have difficulty with this issue but I have become increasingly alarmed by the number of Pharisee churches that are beginning to compromise with the spirit of this world on the very important topic of the Woman's Place in the church. This topic is only controversial to those who ignore the authority of God and his Holy Word and anyone who rejects the Bible teaching on the Woman's Place blasphemes the Word of God by despising Sound Doctrine.


Let me state first of all that I love women and believe that God has a divine order and economy under which we are to abide. The Bible that tells us Christ is to rule over the man and the man is to have dominion over the woman because "the head of every man is Christ; and the head of every woman is the man" in I Corinthians 11:3 meaning that the woman's God-ordained place is to be in subjection to the man. This is not my decision or interpretation but this is straight from the Bible that it is the man's place to rule over the woman. I realize this is an awesome duty and weighty responsibility and women should be grateful for the fact that God has not placed this grievous burden on their delicate shoulders. I say this, not to be lord over God's heritage, but to humbly submit to the divine decrees of God and gravely accept this heavy weight of accountability before Him. After all, man bears some of the responsibility in the Fall but the primary blame is put on the woman for deceiving the man. It is true that had Eve listened to Adam in the first place, we would not be in the state we are in and none of this would be controversial at all.

But the Bible is very clear about the woman's role in the church. Just read the following:
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 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 (1 Timothy 2:8-12).<BR>
It is clear from this passage that all the leadership roles in the church belong to the man and all the "followship" roles belong to the woman. It is not the woman's place to pray in church but the man's. It is not the woman's role to lift up hands in church but the man's. Women should never dress up for church, wear make-up or jewelry but instead be clothed with good works and humility. They should also be silent and in subjection because they are not permitted to usurp authority over the man. Once again, these are not my words, these are straight from the Bible and to go against them is to go against the plain teaching of the Word.

This is not to say that women cannot contribute to the work of the Lord. They are only forbidden speaking and leadership roles. There is plenty for women to do in the church. They are naturally inclined toward children and it is only right and fitting that they teach the children during Sunday School. The older women are commanded to teach the younger women how to be good wives and keepers at home - an endeavor that meets with my enthusiastic approval.

One of the biggest problems in the church today is that women don't know their place in the home, let alone their place in the church and this instruction by the older women is desperately needed. Women are also well suited to cooking the food for the carry-in dinners, setting the tables, and cleaning the dishes afterward while the men discuss the weighty matters of theology and doctrine. The best church janitors are women and some even do well as groundskeepers by planting flowers and such around the church house. There are many areas of service for women, even though they are denied speaking and some teaching roles in church.


You can find more ideas for areas of service for women in the church at: ; some of which I will include here.
The following is taken from the site.

Some of the works which women may do include: write Bible class material, visit the sick--shut-ins — weak members — newcomers, see that recreation through the home is provided for the church’s youth, prepare the communion, assist women at baptism (and wash baptismal towels & garments), grade Bible correspondence courses, teach women’s and children’s classes, office work (bulletins, etc.), clean the church building, help evangelize, baby-sit for other church workers and arrange bulletin boards. Only one’s imagination limits the work which women may do in the church, yet within the bounds set forth by God in his Word.

Another good source of information on the woman's place can be found at:
which tells us:
Verse fifteen of this chapter call women to their proper place and task.

And that is childbearing! "She shall be saved in childbearing."  This needs all the emphasis we can give it in our day!  Childbearing includes the actual conception and bearing of children and all the rearing of them in God's fear.  God gives the women of the church ample opportunity to teach and to rule.  They must teach and rule their little ones in the fear of His Name. Some would accuse us Pharisees of wanting to keep women "barefoot and pregnant" in the service of the Lord. It should be abundantly clear that this is a blatant calumny of the worst sort. There is absolutely no mention in the above paragraph - as you can read for yourself - about keeping women barefoot.



Gamaliel/rjp

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body.
Ephesians 5:28-31 (NIV)<BR>


- posted by rick @ 12:34 AM