REJECTING THE SCRIPTURES IS TO REJECT JESUS

 

 

Why do many reject the Scriptures? They accuse them as not conforming to their worldview, as sexist, homophobic, and even as morally deficient, or even try to reinterpret the Scriptures to align with their own beliefs. Let’s take the example of women in church leadership positions.

 

I think that the Scriptures are clear on this issue, although we might not approve of its answer.

 

Although many women followed Jesus, He never appointed any to a leadership role; nor did He even appoint one as an Apostle.

 

Even though the Bible distinguishes the male role from the female role, in terms of their value before God, there is no distinction between male and female (Galatians 3:28); nor is one more any more an image-bearer than the other (Genesis 1:26-27). Nor is one role lessor than the other. Instead, we even find a distinction of roles within the Godhead:

 

·       But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3)

 

Even though the wife’s role is subordinate to that of her husband, so too is the Son subordinate to the Father. However, this doesn’t make Him any less God than the Father. So too the wife is no less important than her husband. There is even a sense that both must submit to one another:

 

·       The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. (1 Corinthians 7:3-4)

 

Jesus had even argued that the one who serves is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Nevertheless, there are role distinctions as there are within the Trinity. Jesus consistently submitted to the Father:

 

·       “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:49-50)

 

Therefore, there is nothing demeaning about submission. Jesus therefore taught:

 

·       “The kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:25-27)

 

Perhaps the woman even has a more important role:

 

·       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; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35)

 

Some wrongly reinterpret such verses as only applying to the “unruly women” of Paul’s day. However, he did not justify this teaching based upon the changeable conditions of his day but on the unchanging creation order and the fact that the woman had been deceived and not the man.

 

This does not connote any inferiority in the woman. Instead, each gender has its own strengths and weaknesses. They are designed to be complementary.

 

Besides, elders were all to be men:

 

·       Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1 Timothy 3:2)

 

Nevertheless, there are a couple of verses where women do seem to have a leadership position, but these are the exception. Nevertheless, the teachings clearly prohibit the woman from ruling the man. Nevertheless, God always uses less than optimal situations and people.

 

This Biblical teaching might be repugnant to some. However, we must put first things first - God’s Word, even if we fail to understand its rationale. We cannot demand God conform to our understanding and preferences, as we tend to do in many areas of our lives.

 

Instead, as we conform ourselves to His Word, we demonstrate our love and appreciation of His surpassing wisdom:

 

“And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” (2 John 1:6)