So, I spoke at church on Sunday about how women shouldn’t speak in church.

Well, not exactly, but that infamously controversial verse from 1 Timothy, Chapter 2 was the focal point of Robert’s sermon, along with the qualifications for elders and deacons listed in Chapter 3.  He’s been doing a sermon series entitled “Devoted.” He felt led to return to the basics of discipleship after being burdened this summer with the consumer mentality not only of our church, but the church in general.  It has been a call to the five devotions of the first church listed in Acts 2:42: 

After covering these five components of being a Christ-follower, Robert planned the last two sermons to cover church structure and leadership as well as church planting as laid out in Scripture.  Sunday’s sermon was the one on church leadership.

It is difficult to get away from the biblical exhortation that men take on leadership roles in the church and in the home.  Not only are there very clear instructions on this, but as Robert stated in his sermon, “The gender story tells the gospel story.”  Beginning in the garden with Adam’s creation and then the creation of his suitable helper, Eve, continuing on to the development of the nation of Israel who is referred to as the wife of God and lavished with His love and favor, and culminating in Jesus, the Bridegroom, loving and dying sacrificially for His bride, the church, the illustration of man and woman in a marriage relationship is used over and over.

It is a role play we now strive to live out as a way of displaying the gospel in a tangible way here on earth.  We are asked to role play this “gender dance” in our marriages and families, and in our churches.  As the church, we are already in the role of bride.  We follow the leadership of our groom, Jesus, and He perfectly loves, and provides for our growth.  We thrive only when we are submitting to His perfect and gentle authority. And as unpopular as it may sound, the Bible calls for the same structure in marriage and in the church.

Many have and will continue to say that this biblical command is purely cultural, but when was Jesus ever affected by culture?  Jesus never bowed to His culture. In fact, I think He may be better known for breaking the codes of culture when they hindered His purposes.

Are there folks who genuinely and even physically struggle with their gender? Oh, yes.  Do fathers and husbands abuse their call to lead?  Without a doubt.  I am certainly not unaware of these serious problems, and even have many close to me who struggle with these great trials.

I don’t think they negate the biblical exhortation, though. Confusing? Yes.  Painful? Yes.  But since when do trial and suffering mean that we throw out Truth?

I also don’t believe this renders women doormats or sends them to the couch for soap operas and bon bons.

In a situation in which male and female are trying to faithfully live out the prescribed roles, I believe a woman will actually be and accomplish more than she might otherwise. And vice versa for the men.

I love the following quote by Ray Ortlund who wrote an essay in the book Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood:

Women are highly esteemed in Scripture and by Jesus.  I’m not sure where we got the idea that they weren’t. I spoke on this very topic Sunday as a preface to Robert’s sermon.  I owe so much of what I said and what I have learned through the years on this topic to Barbara Mouser and her course The Five Aspects of Woman: A Biblical Theology of Femininity. I especially love her observations on Mary of Bethany who clearly displayed an understanding of Jesus’ identity and His mission ~ possibly better than many of the disciples.  So, why wasn’t she made an apostle?  Barbara’s words are that Jesus did not choose to honor Mary with a man’s job, but rather with a woman’s reward ~ timeless recognition for her beautiful and feminine act of worship.

If you are interested, you can listen to my “sermon preface” and Robert’s sermon here.

The knowledge acquired from studying the theme of femininity and masculinity in Scripture has transformed my marriage, my relationships with brothers in Christ, other women, my children, friends, and even my siblings ~ a brother and two sisters.  I often relate to the wife of the man who fears the Lord in Psalm 128 ~ “She will be like a fruitful vine.”  Not so much in the literal sense, as I don’t think there are going to be anymore children coming out of this womb.  Rather, I relate to her in the sense that my righteous and God-fearing husband provide an atmosphere of freedom, unconditional love, and sacrifice which enables fruit to be born in my life.

I am blessed.

(And I was even able to speak in church!)