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Divine authority versus human authority has been a problem for man since the beginning of time.
If unity in religion is ever to exist, the question of supreme or final authority in religious
matters must be addressed. Preachers or teachers of God's Word should never fear being
asked, "What is the source of authority for what you teach?" The reason this is so important is
because authority is the right to command and the power to demand obedience. Men can authorize
that certain acts be done in the name of religion because of feelings, personal tastes, customs,
traditions, or human creeds. This is the very reason there are so many different religious
beliefs today.
It is not unusual today to learn that a denominational church has given a designated council or board the absolute power to make and change the rules that they agree to abide by. This is quite convenient for man — if he does not like the rules, he can change them! This human philosophy, of course, clearly contradicts what the Bible teaches. God's Word declares, "For ever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven" (Psalms 119:89 ASV). Man has absolutely no God-given right to change, add to, or delete from the Holy Scriptures (cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19). Why do human beings have no God-given right to tamper with the Sacred Scriptures? The answer: "O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). Human authority is unreliable in religious matters because it rests upon no more solid foundation than fallible man! First, man is easily deceived (Matthew 26:41) and often chooses to depart from God's truths (Isaiah 53:6). Second, man's thoughts are not God's thoughts, and man's ways are not God's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). There is, thus, the necessity for divine guidance (Psalms 119:105). Third, religious strife, division, and numerous contradicting man-made creeds are the product of man's wisdom. The Bible warns, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Fourth, "the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25). The Holy Bible comes from the mind of God and not the mind of man (2 Peter 1:21). "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ASV, emph. in this and following Scriptures mine, MLW). Peter states that God has "granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3 ASV). Thus, the Bible is all-sufficient, its words are true (John 17:17), and its authority supreme and final (Matthew 17:5; Galatians 1:8). One is wise who heeds the inspired words of Paul to the brethren at Colossae, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17 ASV). One who desires to please God in religious matters must do all "in the name" or by the authority of Jesus Christ. God has given His Son all authority (Matthew 28:18) and speaks to us today through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). Christ speaks to all people today through His Word (Bible), and by that same Word every person will be judged (John 12:48). A teaching cannot be from Christ unless it is rooted and grounded in the Holy Scriptures! Let us now turn our attention to religious authority and ask, "Where does woman fit?" One could answer, "She fits exactly where God has placed her." This is precisely the point — neither man nor woman can occupy a position of authority in the church that God through Christ has not given them! For instance, the Catholic church has determined (notice the authority comes not from Christ, but from the Catholic church) that they will have a Pope to rule over them. The Holy Scriptures instruct that in a religious sense we are to call no man "father on earth" (Matthew 23:9), and we must not "worship" or bow to even an angel (Revelation 22:8-9). God has not given man the authority to be Pope over the church. Christ is the head of His church (cf. Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). Neither has God given woman the authority to occupy positions of leadership in the church. God gives us His order of authority. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." No, the "inferiority" argument will not suffice! Christ is surely not inferior to God because He is subject to Him. Likewise, woman is not inferior to man because she is subject to him. God's order of authority has absolutely nothing to do with one's intelligence or one's ability and talent to teach. The pattern for the Lord's church is of divine inspiration (Hebrews 8:5) and will always be our perfect rule (Philippians 3:16) and guide. It is foolishness to argue that God had a pattern for His people to follow under the Old Covenant, but has no pattern for Christians to follow under a "new" (Hebrews 9:15) and "better covenant" (Hebrews 7:19, 22, 8:6; 10:34; 11:16). According to the Lord's pattern, women are forbidden to teach or have dominion (usurp authority, KJV) over a man in the church. Paul taught the Corinthian brethren, "let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law" (1 Corinthians 14:34 ASV). Paul instructs young Timothy, "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness" (1 Timothy 2:11-12 ASV). Let it be clearly understood that God's reasons for not including a woman in the leadership role of the church has absolutely nothing to do with society or culture! To begin with, man was created first. Put these verses of Scripture together: "But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve" (1 Timothy 2:12-13 ASV). Second, Eve was deceived or beguiled, not Adam. The Bible says, "Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression" (1 Timothy 2:14 ASV). God's Word clearly teaches no one has the God-given right to place a woman in a position of authority (leadership role) over man in the Lord's church! Yes, this means that a woman cannot Scripturally be placed in a position in the church that sets her over man in teaching, leading singing, praying, serving communion, etc. This means that the argument that a woman does not "usurp authority" over a man if the elders give her permission to occupy and serve in such capacity is false as night. Elders have no right or authority to give women permission to do something that God has forbidden them to do! An elder's authority (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17) is limited to expedient or judgment matters. Elders have no authority to change, alter, or compromise in any way the teaching or doctrine of Christ (cf. 2 John 9-11). Let us deflate a few arguments set forth to include women in a leadership role in the Lord's church. God wants both men and women to use their talents to His glory in the church. Yes, inasmuch as God's Word will allow. No matter how talented a woman may be, she cannot do that which God has not authorized her to do! Some twist what Paul said to the Corinthian brethren to include women in leadership roles in the church. The Holy Spirit records, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18 ASV). Both men and women are reconciled to God through Christ Jesus, but the "gave unto us" refers to the apostles (of which none were women). The apostles were committed to the ministry of reconciliation in their teaching and preaching the glorious gospel. Others falsely argue that God does not recognize any distinction between male and female in the church. They quote Paul, "There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye are all one man in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28 ASV). Regardless of race, color, sex, or secular education, one who genuinely obeys the gospel is a New Testament Christian. As a Christian, a male does not have an advantage over a female. Paul, speaking of Jews and Gentiles (both men and women), says, "having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:15-16). Some advocate that Phoebe served the early church as a deacon (Romans 16:1), and that certain virgin daughters prophesied (Acts 21:9). There is a vast difference between an assumption and authoritative truth. Inspired qualifications for deacons requires that "deacons be the husbands of one wife..." (1 Timothy 3:12). Phoebe could not meet this qualification, and thus could not have been a deacon in the early church. Certain daughters did indeed prophesy, but they surely did so in harmony with God's will. It is mere assumption when one advocates they prophesied to men. They must have prophesied to women. There is also a difference between a private discussion and public teaching (cf. Acts 18:26). The false charge is made that the church of Christ does not believe women can teach. Women may with God's approval teach women and children. The Scriptures authorize ladies more mature in the faith to "train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children" (Titus 2:4). In following the teaching of First Corinthians 14:34, how does one reconcile ladies singing in the worship assembly? The reason is simple — God has commanded (authorized) both men and women to worship and one facet of Lord's Day worship is singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). But this does not mean that a woman can assume the leadership role of leading singing for the congregation! Neither can selected women fitted with microphones sit in the back of the auditorium and lead the congregation in singing! God's Word has no convenient loopholes! Let me end this article with an example of what rank liberals who no longer respect the authority of God's Word are advocating. The July/August 1994 issue of Image magazine carried an article by Tom Vermillion of Midland, Texas under the section Revisiting Scripture entitled, "Regarding the Role of Women." This article stated in part, "Women have broken into the ranks of every traditional male stronghold in society...the Supreme Court and lower federal courts make headline news almost daily with rulings that send a clear message that discrimination on the basis of sex is unlawful...even evil...Our women grew up in a world that taught them in every way and at every level that discrimination on the basis of sex is bigoted and immoral. They bring that cultural mandate into a church that says there are things women cannot do... simply because they are women. We now hear our younger women speak about the 'oppressive' church. They fearlessly ask why women can't be preachers or elders or adult Bible class teachers if they have the ability. As women expand their role to every corner of society, they will be asking more and more why the church discriminates and feeling more and more that it is wrong — especially when they can look across the street and see females standing in the pulpit or wearing clerical robes in other religions groups who also quote Scripture and worship God...But isn't it time we articulate a theology of family and church that is consistent with biblical truth and that makes sense to the generations growing up in America now... The 'under 40' end of our culture will not accept our mandates without biblical explanations that make sense." This writer disdains the manner employed by progressives in the Lord's church who claim to revisit the Scriptures! Translation? A liberal loophole is desired, and thus a revisit of the Scriptures is needed! First, it matters not that the present generation believes that a woman has the right to do everything that a man can do in the church. Since when does a new generation become the pattern for Christians? A faithful child of God will always speak and do "the things that befit the sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). Second, women cannot, with God's approval, serve as preachers, elders, and adult Bible class teachers of mixed classes because God has not given them the authority to do so. It matters not what man-made denominational religious groups are doing across the street! Some people never recognize the things "written aforetime were written for our learning..." (Romans 15:4). Do you recall Israel demanding a king so she could be like the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5, 20)? Whether a "thus saith the Lord" makes sense to generations now growing up in America matters not one bit! God's Word is valid and binding even if all of mankind agrees that it does not make sense! Third, "to fearlessly ask why a woman cannot be an elder" is to ignorantly or defiantly ask such as the Bible clearly authorizes that an elder must be "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2). The problem we are facing today is that an ever growing number of people are determined to fulfill their own whims and wishes and in so doing they refuse to submit to the authority of the Scriptures. Fourth, how sad it is to hear those who rebel against God's Word refer to those who respect and demand obedience to His Word referred to as the "oppressive church." Not so! True freedom is only possible by knowing and obeying God's truths (John 8:32). We encourage people to honor God by submitting to His will and recognizing His authority in all religious matters. May we have the courage to reject the false teaching of those who hurriedly revisit the Scriptures when God's Word clearly condemns what they desire to do! Godly women are a blessing to the Lord's church, and they fit beautifully when they recognize God's authority and worship and serve according to the Lord's will. |