The Role of Women in Society, in the Home and in the Church
We are living in a society where the desire is for men and women to be equal on all levels, for our different roles to be made the same, for the old mindsets to pass to the new, and though a large proportion of today’s men and women try their hardest to deny the truth, the truth still remains. It is an unmistakable truth that men and women have different roles, and it is part of our nature to operate in these roles, but it is also part of our sinful nature to deny them and to blur the lines between masculinity and femininity.
In Society
What are is a woman’s place in society? Throughout the ages women have been mistreated by men, thought to be the weaker sex and inferior in essence. Many world religions, such as Islam say that Allah made women that way. John Piper says in his book, What’s the Difference?, “Whenever anyone asks if we think women are, say, weaker than men, or smarter than men, or me easily frightened than men or something lie that, a good answer would go like this: women are weaker in some ways and men are weaker in some ways; women are smarter in some ways and men are smarter in some ways; women are more easily frightened in some kinds of circumstances and men are more easily frightened in other kinds of circumstances.” So no sex is absolutely weaker, smarter or more courageous than the other, yet we do have our specific strengths and nature.
In many cultures, women have been treated like animals, good only for childbearing and housework, yet there is so much more to femininity! But in light of Genesis 2:18, Eve was made as a helper for man, not a slave. But women were not created to be dominant over God’s other creatures, it was Adam who was given dominion, and Eve was given to Adam to meet his needs, physically and mentally.
What about in the workplace? All throughout Scripture and history, man has been the caregiver and provider of families, and women have been predominantly keepers of the home, this is a pattern that should be noted. Titus 2:4&5 say, “and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
Does this mean that women can never leave the house or do anything outside of the home? Of course not! But the principle related here shows that women are not meant to be out in the world, separate from there husbands and having there own career. How could they be loving to their children if they are working? How could they be submissive to their husbands when they have their own career and a mindset that says they are independent? Its near to impossible, in fact Paul says the Word of God is reviled when women are not submissive.
This all doesn’t mean that women can’t work. There may be in some cases when it is necessary for a wife to work. But should it be the normality that it is in our present day? No. The Scripture clearly points away from that.
In the Home
What is the role of women in their home? Their first and primary responsibility is to their husbands (if married), to be submissive to him, to love him, and be a helper to him. 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives—
when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” Peter goes on to describe how a women should adorn herself, and though the clothing is cultural, the principle is to be modest. That is another responsibility of women, to be modest so that they do not stumble men around them, especially brothers in Christ. Just as Jesus said that if a man looks at women with lust in his heart, he has committed adultery with her in his heart, I would go on to say that if a women is dressing seductively and immodest she is committing the same sin. 1 Peter chapter 3 says that true beauty is of the heart, and that is what women should be adorning with beauty, not their outward appearance.
Wives are commanded to be submissive to their husbands just as their husbands are submissive to Christ and as Christ is submissive to the Father. Being in a position of submission does not take away from a persons worth. Christ was submissive to the Father unto death and His worth is far above all the riches in the world. How much more should a women be submissive to her husband? The obvious exception would be that if a husband was commanding his wife to sin, as Acts 4:19 says, “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’” It is better to obey God rather than any man. 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”
Wives also have a responsibility to their children, to train them, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6), and to love them, “and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,” (Titus 2:4). But it is not only the mothers job to train her children, the father must also have an active role in the child’s training.
Also the model of a women who fears the Lord shown in Proverbs 31 is a helpful guide for women. She is a hard worker, she is responsible, submissive, she looks after her household, she is wise with money and investments and the list goes on and on.
All the Scriptures pertaining to men and women show that a man is the head of his household and his wife is in submission to him and the children of the home are in submission to their parents. Thus, a women acting in rebellion to her husband is not only rebelling against her husband, but also Christ, who is the head of her husband, and God the Father who is the head of Christ. As you can see there is a chain of submission, and it applies to everyone, from children to parents to elders in a church. Some may mistake the Scriptures to say that only women and children are to be submissive, but they would be highly mistaken!
In the Church
The Church is Christ’s body and his bride and there are many guidelines by which the Church is operated. Where can these guidelines be found? Only in the scriptures, which are, as Christians, our only and final authority. But the operations of the church that are found in scripture are not merely guidelines or suggestions, they are commands given by God to his people. Women in relation to the church, have a part and role, but what is that role?
In 1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” Now this does not mean that women may not even open their mouths or speak at all on spiritual matters, but it does mean that women are not to be in any position over a man. Therefore, this scripture prohibits women elders, teachers or even worship leaders. Many would agree that women are not allowed to be teachers, but are allowed to lead worship, but isn’t that contradictory to the scripture? The text says that women may not have “authority over a man”, would not leading a congregation in worship entail having some kind of authority over men? I believe it does, and I believe that the scriptures show that.
Though women are not allowed to teach, they are still able to pray publicly, to read the scriptures allowed, and to teach other women. Titus 2:4 says, “and so train the young women to love their husbands and children…”, this shows that women shouldn’t be teaching on matters of doctrine, but on how to be a wife and mother, no man could teach a women the practical out workings of being a godly woman, only a woman can really know. That is why Paul instructs Titus to have older women teach the younger women.
There is no distinction between men and women in salvation, but there is a distinction in role, especially in the church and the home.
