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Biblical women and their role in the life of the church.

By churchwatcher on November 22, 2019

Church Watch Central recently received an encouraging email in response to our articles posted as to why women are not to usurp the pastoral role, a role given only to men – as declared in God’s Word:

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” 1 Timothy 2:11-14

The email also requested that we offer a biblical alternative. Our reader writes in part:

“Thank you for upholding Biblical truth and calling out the many dangerous and incorrect teachings that happen in the church today.

I’ve noticed that several of the last articles you’ve posted centered on women being strictly forbidden from pastoral ministry and I’m curious as to what you believe women are called by God to do for the Body of Christ. I believe that proper correction in the church does not merely stop at declaring what is wrong, but offering beneficial instruction in how to honor the Lord by following His path of life.

Out of the love for true, righteous, and pure worship to the Lord I ask that you may further build up the church by expressing what you deem to be the proper alternatives to the wrongs you address in your articles. Give the women and pastors who read your material a point of reference and set a goal for them to transform sinful behavior into righteous obedience.”

We offer the following article in response.

Why Women Are Critical To the Mission of the Church.

Katie McCoy writes:

While Scripture teaches that God has given the responsibility of the pastoral role to men (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-9),^[1] there are a myriad of meaningful ministries for women. Unfortunately, many women mistakenly associate being “out front” or “in charge” with being more valuable. However, when we shift our focus away from the few roles God has assigned to men, we’ll find that the ministries available to women are part of the lifeblood of a local church’s witness to the world.

A Long Legacy

From its earliest era, Christianity gave meaningful ministries to women. Women like Priscilla were fellow-laborers in the faith (Romans 16:3). Women like Lois and Eunice nurtured future leaders in the church (2 Timothy 1:5; see also Acts 18:2). Phoebe was a trusted and valued helper (Romans 16:1-2). Junia was a pioneer missionary (Romans 16). Women struggled for the cause of the gospel (Philippians 4:2-3), provided house churches and hospitality (Acts 16:40), and were known in their communities for acts of kindness and charity (Acts 9:36-42).

The trend continued in the following centuries. Ancient Christians in eastern cultures like Syria and Persia assigned substantial responsibilities to female deaconesses––women who served other women in concrete, tangible ways. Their ministries included evangelism to other women, teaching and discipling new female converts, caring for women who were ill, and assisting in the baptism of new female Christians.^[2]

These significant ministries are among the reasons Christianity drew so many women in ancient cultures.^[3] Michael Kruger, an expert on early Christianity, explains that the number of women who converted to the Christian faith in the early church was disproportionate to the gender ratio of the Greco-Roman world, so much so that the pagan philosopher, Celsus, mocked the Christian faith as a religion of women. Among the reasons for Christianity’s popularity is that the church gave women opportunities for honorable and dignified ministries. Kruger notes the presence of women in even the earliest source of Christian history, with ministries of caring for the poor and imprisoned, missions, hosting home churches, and funding the work of the kingdom.^[4] And all of this happened in harmony with 1 Timothy 2:12.

But there’s something about these facts that is easy to miss, and it just might turn the conversation about what women can and can’t do in the ministry on its head.

A New Perspective

The ministries in which women participated are among the markers of genuine Christianity in a community and these ministries led to the growth of the early church. Whether carried out by males or females, these ministries are the boots-on-the-ground assignments for any body of believers. They are at the heart of the church’s mission––meeting spiritual, physical, and material needs in our communities!

Consider how important these ministries were to the New Testament church:

- Evangelism and Discipleship – Three words to sum this one up: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)!
- Serving the poor – The Jerusalem council charged Paul to serve the poor in his ministry to the Gentiles, the very thing he was “eager to do” (Galatians 2:10).
- Caring for the sick – Historically, caring for the sick distinguished Christians from pagans.^[5] Jesus even made caring for sick and imprisoned believers synonymous with caring for Him personally (Matthew 25:35-40).
- Meeting material needs – Paul praised the believers in Macedonia for sacrificially giving to the work of the kingdom despite their material lack. Meeting the material needs of other believers also demonstrated unity in the church (Acts 4:34-35).
- Hospitality – The ministry of hospitality, or “love of a stranger,” was deeply valued; both Peter and Paul commanded all believers to practice hospitality (1 Peter 4:9; Romans 12:13).

This is the ministry of the church.

Some Practical Suggestions

Now, to clarify, this is not at all to devalue or downplay the priority of the preached Word or the high calling and responsibility of a pastor. Not in the least. Yet, like all other spiritual gifts, the role of a pastor is only one (albeit vital) part of the body of Christ, and it is a calling given to a relatively few number of Christian men. The church’s mission, on the other hand, is the task of every member of Christ’s body, and it is carried out not only during corporate worship on Sunday, but at all times.

Women, consider some practical ways you might join in this critical work:

- Evangelizing and Discipling. – All other ministries provide opportunities for these two. Ask your neighbor or co-worker how you can pray for her, and look for opportunities to initiate spiritual conversations. Join in the evangelistic efforts of your church or go on a mission trip next summer. Find a younger Christian woman, pick a book of the Bible, and study it together (also, see Titus 2:3-5). Teach a Bible study for women.^[6] Memorize Scripture with a group of friends and talk about how God is using it in your lives. Be the listening ear for a younger mom who’s in tears over raising her toddler and share your wisdom. The possibilities are endless!
- Serving the poor and vulnerable. Volunteer at a pregnancy center, where so many women considering an abortion are in poverty. You might serve in organizations that help women cultivate life skills or find jobs, or ministries that help women rescued from human trafficking. Or, you might speak up for the unborn by advocating for certain legislation.
- Caring for the sick. Make a hospital visit or take a meal after a surgery. Clean the house of a woman recovering from chemo treatment or take care of her kids so she can rest. Drive her to an appointment or pick up some groceries. You could even bring a younger woman with you and teach her how to take care of others who are ill.
- Meeting a material need. Help a college student go on a mission trip or fund a ministry of the church. Help a single mom buy school supplies for her children. Pay a month’s bills for a family whose father just lost his job.
- Showing hospitality. Host a Bible study in your home or have your neighbors over for dinner. And Christian hospitality doesn’t just happen in the walls of your house.^[7] It can happen when you help a new family in your church find their way around town, or when you help a family of refugees learn and adjust to American life, or when you help children learn to read in an after-school program.