Jump Start # 1546

1 Corinthians 14:34 “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.”

  We are looking at the role of women in the kingdom. This topic is touchy and often fueled with more emotion than Biblical evidence. One of the passages that is often quoted in this discussion is our verse today. Women are to keep silent. Women are not to speak in church. Typically, it’s a man that reminds us of those thoughts. But what so often happens, a passage is stated without thinking about the consequences or the context. Those that make this blunt statement are usually guilty of violating their own logic and reasoning. This passage is pulled out, like a six-gun, to turn the tide so a woman can’t preach from the pulpit. Fearing that could happen, the “women are not allowed to speak in church,” is used.

Is it true that women cannot speak in church? Not at all? Let’s give this some thought.

First, the context in which this passage is found is in a section about spiritual gifts. Chapters 12-14 are addressing the use and regulations of these gifts. So, this is not dealing with a typical Sunday morning worship service. It’s not apple for apple to begin with.

Second, the “not to speak” rule is sprinkled throughout this section. It’s not just the women who are not to speak. Without an interpreter present, those with the gifts of tongues, were to keep silent. If there were two or three with the gift of tongues, one was to speak while the others remained silent. They were to take turns. Prophets must take turns as well. One is to remain silent while the other was prophesying. Then the apostle mentions the role of women. They were to remain silent. It seems that he is addressing spiritual teaching that came through these gifts. We know that some women had spiritual gifts. Philip’s daughters had the gift of prophecy. The context is not addressing a typical Sunday morning.

Third, the word “silent,” means complete silence. Nothing said. If this was the rule across the board for women, then they could not sing. Our singing would be male voices only. If this was true across the board, then a woman could not confess Christ. Jesus said, “if you confess my name before men, I will confess your name before My Father.” We’d have to put an asterisk on that passage and say, “Unless you are a woman.” A woman couldn’t do what Jesus said. Really? Those that I have heard loudly declaring that a woman cannot speak in church, were fine with a woman singing. That inconsistency kills their logic and shows that they do not fully understand the passage.

Fourth, it is feared by some that if this passage is left to the unique setting of spiritual gifts then there will be a rush upon the pulpit Sunday morning by the women. Nothing will keep them out of the pulpit. Calm down. Breathe. Paul’s instructions to Timothy, “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet,” (1 Tim 2:12) is the proper passage to use. Paul does not say that a woman cannot teach. Nor does he say that a woman cannot teach a man. What he does say is that she cannot teach or exercise authority over a man. Teachers control the class. Preachers control the audience. They take the discussion where they want. They start and stop when they want. There is a certain authority that comes with that position. It is that position that Paul was restricting.

Can a woman teach a man? Any married man would have to admit “Yes.” It started with our mamas teaching us things. Remember Paul’s words about Timothy? He had a faith like his mother and grandmother. Nothing said about good ole’ dad. Where was granddad in that list? Women. Women had influenced and taught Timothy. Do you remember the story of Apollos? He was mighty in the Scriptures but only acquainted with the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila, a husband and wife, heard him, “THEY took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” A husband and wife team that were teaching. Some would look at this passage as the husband did all the teaching and the sweet wife sat at the table in silence. The passage doesn’t say that. They took him and taught him. Women teach. Women influence. There are simply some restrictions upon how they teach. They do not teach nor exercise authority over a man. There are restrictions upon all of us, if we only realized that. I, as a preacher, cannot do what the apostle Paul did. I do not have the authority nor the right to command people what to do. Paul told Philemon that he could have ordered him to take back the slave, but rather appealed to him out of love. The only thing I can order is my lunch. I do not wear the same hat as the apostle. I have restrictions. The same goes for shepherds in God’s church. The same goes for citizens in the kingdom. There are many restrictions that God expects us to understand and abide by. These restrictions do not mean that we are inferior or not as bright as others. Absolutely not.

One of the greatest lessons I learned as a young puppy preacher came from a comment made by an elderly woman in a Bible class. I was young, smart, confident and had a bit too much in me. In a class, she raised her hand and quoted some O.T. passage that I had never heard of before and without knowing it, she let all the air out of my balloon. I realized right then, that the sweet old lady knew the Bible better than I did. She, who had never gone to college, had a grasp upon the will of God that I didn’t. It was there that I learned and I have shared with every young preacher that I know, that I was not the most knowledgeable person in the Bible in that room. Others knew more than I did. When a preacher gets that, he will do well. When the preacher also understands that he is not the most gifted speaker in the room, he will do well. He happens to be the one who gets paid, but he’s not the smartest nor the most gifted.

The statement, “women can’t speak in church,” needs to be looked at very closely. We must be careful that we are not misusing passages to our advantage, whether it is here or any other passage. Godly women have been the backbone of the kingdom since our Lord walked this earth. While the disciples are puzzled, confused and lacking faith, women were courageously demonstrating their faith and dedication to the Lord. Women as elders today? Some places are trying that. They are traveling down roads without any Biblical support. Instructions concerning who can be an elder begins with “a man must be…” So, a woman can’t serve as an elder. She can go home and pout or she can find where she can serve. Look at some of the powerful women such as Lydia, Dorcus, Phoebe—who didn’t challenge God’s way, but instead found ways to be useful, to serve and to help the kingdom. There have been women who have used their talents to write hymns. Women have written class material, articles for bulletins, and have led multitudes to the Lord. When one looks at the climate of women in the first century and then they see what Christ allowed, they are amazed. In Christ, a woman is not second class. She is a fellow heir, as Peter described it. In Christ, there is not Jew, Gentile, slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ.

I believe the climate in some congregations could be improved by having better attitudes. The male-female frictions and the younger generation-older generation frictions could be improved upon. Uppity attitudes and a “I’m going to do it no matter what” spirit leads to the door and a split. That is not the way of Christ. So many lessons about women in the kingdom are directed negatively. It is often stressed upon what women cannot do. Maybe it’s time to show what they can do and then step aside and allow them to do it.

Our culture has caved in. The pressure has led the majority to declare that men and women are the same. They are not. First, they don’t look the same. They are not wired the same. Women bring a kindness to a situation that men tend to rush right past. There is a place and a need for that. Most preacher’s wives have helped their husbands in so many ways. They have checked his grammar. They have smoothed his rough edges. They have been the first to hear his ideas and often that’s as far as his ideas get. She reminds him of things he forgot. She has helped him.

Don’t ever think that women are second rate because they do not preach. God doesn’t feel this way. I have often been asked if there were any preachers in my family. I respond by saying, “My mom preached. She was always preaching to me.”  When I listened, it was to my benefit.

Instead of putting women “in their place,” as some rudely say it, we ought to praise them and commend them as the apostle did. The congregation where I worship would not be the same without the powerful, faithful and wonderful women that are so busy doing what they can in this part of the kingdom. They have had a huge part in helping us be what we are. They are the best!

Roger