Women Preachers- Part 2
Continuing this search for biblical truth and women in the assembly, we need to understand God created the family first. The "church" was not created first.
1Co 3:11 -15 ~ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
I believe much of the confusion surrounding this topic of, "Should women preach?" happens because of a misunderstanding of the leadership structure in the home. An established attribute of God is that He is a God of structure and organization.
From the beginning, Satan's first attack on earth against God's creation was against the family. If the family can be destroyed first, then all other aspects can be affected. So, let's begin by reading from one of the most familiar passages on the subject found in Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:22-27 Wives, be submissive to your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head and Savior of the Church, which is His body. But as the Church submits to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Structure and organization are a part of who God is; we can see it in His creation and throughout the framework of scripture. There will be chaos, confusion, and disorder if the structure is removed. In the Bible, we see that God has set up a design for how family units operate.
First and one of the most important things to remember is that this passage talks about the function between a husband and wife, not between men and women. Using this scripture, I have heard men argue that men are the head of women. This statement is incorrect. Paul said, “the husband is the head of the wife.” There is a significant difference between what Paul says here and the general idea that men are the head of women. Practically this would never make sense because it would mean that every woman would have to submit to every man. Most would agree that this is not only foolish but would never work. This passage must be kept in the context of a marriage relationship and not the general relationship between males and females.
The many questions that are raised concerning women pastoring or teaching can only be resolved within the understanding and context of redemption. The ideas put forward must be compared with what Christ accomplished on the cross.