The Roles of Men and Women in the Church and in the Bible

Recently, I have talked with some people about the role of men and women in the church in terms of leadership and teaching. Here is the biblical take on all of this:

Everyone is commanded to preach ("proclaim" or kerusso in Greek) the gospel. Preaching, in this sense, is testifying to the truthfulness of the gospel. On the other hand, not everyone is supposed to teach (didasko in Greek). Teaching, in this sense, is explaining biblical truths about doctrine and church tradition.

So who is not supposed to teach?
1. People who stumble in their faith (James 3:1-2).
2. People who are not mature in their faith (Hebrews 5:12-14).
3. People who want to teach for their own good (Titus 1:10-11).
4. People who cause trouble (2 Timothy 2:24).
5. People who are not qualified and not trustworthy (2 Timothy 2:2).

So, it's not that women can't teach. It's about God's choice in who teaches who.

Men are created to fill the role as overseers in the same way men are created to fill the role of a father in a family (1 Timothy 3:2). The only difference between overseers and fathers is that overseers are specific to the church and fathers are specific to the family. Both overseers and fathers are told to teach by (as described in 1 Timothy 4:11-16):
1. Being examples of people in Christ
2. Teaching what scriptures say
3. Loving people.

Women can't be men or fathers, so they can't be overseers (1 Timothy 2:12). But that does not mean that women can't teach or be mothers. Remember, It's about God's choice in who teaches who.

Titus 2:1-10 explains this better than I could ever:
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

In sum, If older men are like those overseers that are mature in the faith, then they are generally called to teach sound doctrine to all. Women who are mature in the faith have no explicit titles, like overseer; nonetheless, their role is like that of the older Christian women as described in Titus. So who do women of mature faith teach? They teach sound doctrine to men and women who are immature in the faith, just as mothers would teach younger men and women in the family.

When you really think about it, church "fathers" (or overseers) and church "mothers" both teach sound doctrine to the whole congregation.

Church "fathers", however, are the primary teachers who have final authority in the general assembly (Hebrews 13:17). Authority, in this sense, is about order (Ephesians 5:23-24), not value (Galatians 3:28)! This authority is not a to be proudly declared as if one has God's favour (Titus 1:10-11). It is more of a grave responsibility for leaders to:
1. Learn from Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
2. Teach God's people (Titus 2:1).
3. Love their wives and their congregation (as Christ loved the church in Ephesians 5:25a); in this way, providing a way for mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) and wives submission to husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24) .
4. Serve their wives and their congregation (as Christ did in Ephesians 5:25b and Matthew 20:28); in this way, providing a way for mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) and wives submission to husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24) .

So, church "mothers", are to teach under the authority of church "fathers".

What about those female pastors that plant churches? Are they in the wrong?

It is pretty clear that it is sinful for women to feministically take on the role that God designated for men. Eve did that when she took it upon herself to make the choice in eating the forbidden fruit and impose the fruit on Adam. Like I said, mothers can't be fathers; women can't be husbands; and yes, this is similar to the reason that homosexuality is sinful. If a woman's desire is to have sex with a woman over and above her desire to glorify God, then she sins. If a female pastor desires to fill the role of a "church father" over and above her desire to glorify God as a "church mother", then she sins.

That being said, it seems to me biblically that women who teach or plant churches are not necessarily "in the wrong". In fact, I think they are truly glorifying God by planting churches and pastoring congregations when God has made no men available that are qualified as a "church father". But, they must do these things as "church mothers", without seeking to replace "church fathers". This by no means undermines their leadership. They are to still teach those that are not mature in the faith, and pastor younger men and women. If these "church mothers" are genuinely faithful, then they would submit to a qualified "church father" if God makes such a man available. Otherwise, God calls whom He wills for His glory, be that a man or woman.

Just to add: Adam also had two sins that are revealed in Genesis 3. The sin that is relevant is the one where Adam emasculates himself and takes on the role of the "church mother". He does this by not being a man by taking responsibility for his wife's actions (Genesis 3:12). And instead of loving his wife by substituting himself for God's wrath, he blames her. I say this just to clarify that men do not escape the sinful nature that we inherit from Adam, just as women inherit the sinful nature of Eve.

This is why we need Jesus!

Lastly, concerning submission, I have often heard that Ephesians 5:21 is a sort of cancellation of Ephesians 5:22-24. In other words, God wants men and women to submit to one another (5:21), so there is no real need to think that women should specifically submit to men (5:22-24). But this is a blatant misinterpretation of the biblical text. Ephesians 5:21 doesn't just say: "submit to one another." It says, "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Submission here is talking about worship, not order of leadership (or headship). We know this for sure because Ephesians 5:15-20 talks explicitly about worship practices. Therefore, Ephesians 5:22-24 must stand on it's own as a different, though related, command to Ephesians 5:21.

There is obviously way more that needs to be explained. I've tried my best to explain to you what I believe God wants us to do to spread His gospel and glorify Him in the church. I personally think that God wants the church to be like a family because He wants the church to have relationships that resemble the Trinity (more on this some other time!). In any case, familial relationships are more conducive to intimate relationships.

I hope that you are blessed by this biblical account, rather than discouraged. If we get past our worldview, there is shalom, or peace, in God's purposes for the church. Remember, it's about the cross and the supremacy of Christ... not us.