Men and Women in the Church

The church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18), and includes both men and women (Acts 5:14). Paul explained to the Corinthians that there is one body, yet that body is made up of different members with different functions (1 Corinthians 12). Regardless of gender, there is something each person can do in the body of Christ.

Sadly, there has been confusion as to what men and women can and cannot do. We must remember that the Scriptures, not our feelings, give us the authority for what we can or cannot do (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul told Timothy: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence (1 Timothy 2:8-12).” He told the Corinthians, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).”

Paul told Titus: “…The older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works (Titus 2:2-8)…”

Scripture tells us that men led in the worship, women taught women and children, and that everyone, regardless of age, was to set a good Christian example. Women were not permitted to lead in worship because it was the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-15; Genesis 3).