It is a Shame for a Woman to Speak in Church

Disclaimer: Unquestionably, this article generated the most controversy of any I’ve written. I knew it would. Before I wrote it, as a conclusion to my series on biblical worship, I wrestled within myself over whether I should address leadership in worship or not. I concluded not to do so would be an act of cowardice on my part. Two notes. One, few churches remain faithful with reference to leadership. Therefore, this is an important topic for all to consider. It isn’t just a personal hobby horse. Two, knowing the effect this article would have, I chose for my article title simply to quote the final sentence of 1 Corinthians 14:35. A public response to my article was offered and included below.

Over the past several months we’ve been thinking about Christian worship. Believing worship is about evangelism and outreach rather than Christ’s honor, the modern church orients worship to the participant rather than to Christ. In other words, it’s no longer worship, it’s a pep rally. Having lost their focus on what worship is about, it’s no wonder we see Christ’s standards compromised. Chief among these compromises, perhaps, is permitting women to lead men.

In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul wrote, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” When God assembles his people, it is appropriate that women should adorn themselves “with modesty and self-control” (1 Timothy 2:9). Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 14 we read, “As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches….For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church” (1 Corinthians 14:33-35).

The Spirit of Christ, speaking through Paul, teaches it is a disgrace for women to speak in the assembly of Christ’s church, specifically in the context of teaching. However, even in so-called “conservative” churches, you find women leading in worship weekly. Not long ago I listened to minister preach on 1 Timothy 2:12. He explained to his congregation this verse no longer applied because it was “culturally informed.” In other words, per this preacher, Paul only excluded women from leadership because he was going along with the culture. But this explanation does evil to the concept of divine inspiration and ignores Paul’s own reasoning.

In 1 Timothy 2:13, Paul went on, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” You see, Paul drew his argument from creation, not culture. God created men to lead and women to flourish under that leadership as helpmates (Genesis 2:18-24). When churches give women positions of leadership over men, in teaching or worship, they upend the created order. It is a shame when women lead men and when men will not step up to give spiritual leadership. 

The church that honors Christ will worship him how he wants to be worshiped. It is his divine command that qualified men lead his worship. Sometimes you cannot find godly men to fill positions of leadership. This is not the time to become pragmatic, it is the time to pray. Sometimes the Lord leads us through seasons of want. In these seasons you learn whether you are really committed to him or if you will resort to your own wisdom.

The deteriorating culture around us is shaking its collective fist at God’s created order. The church must not join in that rebellion. Instead, it is God’s will that the church assembled for worship resemble his order for creation. For, as Paul noted, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). To know his peace, we must submit to his authority. To submit to his authority, we must restrict leadership over men to qualified men.

The following response to my article appeared in the April 28 edition of the Enterprise-Journal.