Should Women Preach?

            In the last one hundred years women’s rights have grown by leaps and bounds.  Women have gained the right to vote and are equal to men in basically every area.  I am thankful for godly women and for the rights they deserve to have.  However, have we known where to draw the line when it comes to women’s roles in the Church?  In many denominations today, there are women preachers and women leading in every area of religion.  Is God pleased with these changes?  Do the Scriptures authorize women preachers in a mixed Christian audience (Col. 3:17)?  Please understand that the content of this article is not about diminishing women’s rights.  The purpose of this article is to honor the authority of the Bible and the right of God.  Notice two passages concerning women preaching.

            1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.”  The Bible is a book that can be read and clearly understood (Eph. 3:4).  And, if there was ever a clear statement in the Bible, this is it.  The inspired Apostle Paul strictly forbids women preaching in the presence of Christian men in the New Testament church.  In the Book of 1 Timothy, Paul is discussing proper church conduct (1 Tim. 3:14-15).  In chapter 2, Paul is discussing the proper roles of men and women in worship.  The men are to be the prayer leaders in every place (1 Tim. 2:8).  Women are to learn in submission and are not at all permitted to teach before men (1 Tim. 2:11-12).  With such a clear teaching that forbids women from preaching, why do so many practice this sinful act today??

            1 Corinthians 14:34 “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 God wanted to say with great clarity that women should not preach in His church how would He do it?  I suppose He would say something like this.  “My law says in the church women should be quiet, I do not allow them to speak, they must be in submission” (please read 1 Cor. 14:34 again).  Please understand that God is not a woman-hater.  He simply has a chain of authority that goes all the way back to creation (1 Cor. 11:3).  In the chain of authority God has put Christ over man, man over woman and God over Christ.  God does not allow women to preach in front of Christian men under any circumstances.

            In our community it is sad to see so many denominations openly advertising the forbidden practice of women preaching.  If you are part of an organization that believes in using women to preach it is time to ask yourself who you will follow man or God.  While it is true that women should not preach in the presence of men, we do not want women to walk away feeling they do not have a role and purpose in the church.  Stay tuned next week and we will discuss the beautiful role of women in the church.