There were women prophets in the Bible, but women have never served as priests in the temple of God. There’s a clear hierarchy in the Bible: Jesus Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ:
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3; see Ephesians 5:22-24)
So, what’s the truth about women speaking in the Church? Let’s begin with the following scriptures:
33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. (1 Corinthians 14:33-34)
The apostle Paul says, “In all the churches.” These scriptures mean what they say. To say otherwise is twisting or adding to the scriptures.
Some believe that times have changed, and we have to change too. God doesn’t change, and his word doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter how we feel as human beings, we have to obey the word of God. Let’s continue:
If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:35)
If it’s dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church, then how much more for a woman to speak in the pulpit. In the following scriptures, Paul anticipates the reaction of the Corinthians:
36 Did God’s word originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. (1 Corinthians 14:36-37)
So, women not speaking in the church is a command from the Lord because it’s dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church (see verse 35). As Paul says, if we’re a spiritual person, we’ll acknowledge this is a command from the Lord. If we’re unspiritual, we won’t acknowledge the Lord’s command. The next verse is what’s concerning:
But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored. (1 Corinthians 14:38)
Is it a good thing to be ignored by God? So, not only will women speaking in church be ignored, but those who support them will be ignored because they’re ignoring the Lord’s command. If we’re not obeying a command from the Lord, are we in obedience or disobedience? We’re in disobedience. We must repent of disobedient behavior.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
The apostle Peter says everyone. It pleases God for us to come to a knowledge of the truth:
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)
Eight verses after this scripture, we have some more truth:
I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12)
A Pastor of a church is in a position of authority. So, a woman will not teach or have authority over a man in the church, no matter what she or anyone else might think. But is this a bad thing? Is Paul being discriminatory against women? No, he’s not. These things are put in order for our own good. Some believe these scriptures are talking about the husband/wife relationship and they’re about a woman asking her husband a question while the sermon is going on. What if the husband asks his wife a question while the sermon is going on? A wife asking her husband questions at home can also be intended to keep him on his feet, spiritually speaking. Let’s listen to the apostle Peter:
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives (1 Peter 3:1)
In the Bible, there are no examples of women teaching or preaching, but women can testify to others about Jesus:
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” (John 4:39)
Women also have labored for the gospel:
Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)
Let’s go to Titus:
3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4 In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited. (Titus 2:3-5)
Self-control, as mentioned in verse five, is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:23). We must not only come to a knowledge of the truth, but we must practice the truth. Let’s listen to Jesus:
But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.” (John 3:21)
Ultimately, God will judge the motives of the heart. So, in these last days, let’s humble ourselves and make every effort to be found blameless when we stand before the Lord.
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin. (James 4:17)
Peace to everyone, and may our Lord Jesus return soon.
Futile World 