Tag Archives: gender roles in the church

Microphones do not a leader make

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churchI want to repeat myself a bit. I think this point gets lost in so many of the discussions about gender: much of the problem stems from an overemphasis on public worship.

We define our churches by that once-a-week gathering of the saints. We define much of the work of the church by what is done during that time. Think about your church’s budget. What percentage goes to providing for that time? I’m talking about salaries, about building costs, about everything involved in allowing us to bring dozens or hundreds of people together. Isn’t that the main thing our church does?

If it is, then our church has little right to exist. Our weekly time together prepares us to go out and do the work of the church. If three hours a week (or five or one) make up the bulk of our Christianity, then something is really, really wrong.

Much of the discussion about men and women in the church comes down to who is going to get to stand up, who is going to get to speak, who is going to get to be seen by everyone else present.

So let me restate my radical views:

  • I don’t think the focus of the early church was a once per week assembly. To be honest, you have to do some piecemeal Bible study to even present a case for a weekly assembly.
  • I don’t think the focus of the church was on gathering hundreds of Christians together in one place. That wasn’t practical in many settings. And if it were the focus, wouldn’t we have more discussion of such in the New Testament?
  • I think a lot of our angst comes from the modern design of assemblies. Not the New Testament example. The modern design. Suddenly stepping up to a microphone implies authority. Where someone telling their story to a gathered group of friends feels like sharing, “giving your testimony” to a crowd seems to place you above them, if only for a moment.

I know that not all of the problems mentioned in gender discussions revolve around public worship. But a high percentage of them do.

I also know that pointing out that problem doesn’t solve it. Fact is, we have large weekly assemblies. We are guided by modernism’s idea of what should be done at such times. And we’ve got to work out how to proceed.

Let’s just recognize that there should be flexibility in how we proceed, with each congregation being given the freedom to work out its own standards and norms. Those who damn other Christians for not being more inclusive of women are running the risk of damning themselves. Those who damn other Christians for allowing women to participate more fall under the same threat of divine judgment.

Does Galatians 3:28 provide the final word on gender roles in the church?

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Bathroom-gender-signWhen discussing gender roles, one passage is often played as a bit of a trump card. It’s the magnificent statement by Paul in the third chapter of Galatians, where he affirms the equality of every Christian:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek,
slave nor free,
male nor female,
for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

There it is, for all to see. Gender differences are wiped out, they claim. I definitely agree. As far as access to salvation is concerned (Paul’s concern in this context), there is no difference between the genders.

Most scholars consider Galatians to be one of Paul’s earliest writings, if not the first. Some place the Thessalonian letters earlier. The vast majority agree that the following come later:

  • Paul’s discussion of gender roles in 1 Corinthians 11
  • Paul’s description of gender differences in Ephesians 5
  • Paul’s specification of male-only elderships in Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3
  • Paul’s discussion of gender roles in Titus 2
  • Paul’s teaching about widows (and not widowers) in 1 Timothy 5

I’ve intentionally avoided “the two passages,” though there’s no valid reason to ignore the fact that instructions are given considering the different genders in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2.

Let’s discuss the extent to which there is to be a differentiation between genders today. Let’s discuss how men and women can each function within the modern church. But let’s not pretend that Galatians 3:28 did something that Paul never intended it to do: obliterate the differences between men and women. (And please stop saying that there are only two passages that discuss limiting what women do in the church)

Does Paul go against the rest of the Bible on the topic of gender roles?

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Bible by fireplaceOne of the myths in the debate on gender roles is the idea that the weight of the biblical record supports full egalitarianism, but two verses written by Paul have led churches to discriminate against women. That’s not the case at all.

Another debate which courses through our fellowship is the topic of instrumental music. In that case, instruments were clearly accepted in the Old Testament; the case must be made, therefore, as to why that changed (or didn’t) in the New Testament. [Another topic for another day]

That’s not how it is with gender roles. As we’ve discussed this week, the bulk of the biblical record argues for a difference between what men and women do. There are exceptions, few and easily counted. There’s been a furor this week about the ratio of women speakers to men speakers in Christian conferences. One blogger calculated that 19% of the speakers are women. The percentage of women in leadership roles in the Bible is far lower than that, even if we include ungodly women like Jezebel and Athaliah.

The burden of proof, so to speak, is on those that want to show a marked change in policy. The weight of the biblical record, not to mention church history, is against them. Don’t think that by dealing with Paul’s remarks, we’ve settled the issue. There’s much more to be looked at and studied.

Let me repeat what I said on Wednesday: I think women have often been mistreated, abused, and wrongfully treated as second-class citizens of the Kingdom. I think that the whats and hows of their participation in the Body need to be examined with an open mind.

I just don’t want to start the process with misconceptions.