The Main Issue is Not Women’s Role (or Instrumental Music or…)

One week ago, I published a post that I thought would be read a handful of times and forgotten. Most of the time, between hits on our site, email subscribers, and rss, our posts are read a little more than 1000 times in the few days after publication. While not a huge number, we are thankful for every person who takes a few moments to consider what we share.

Then, last Thursday happened. The post I thought would just be another “regular” post went crazy. As I write this, it has been viewed well over 50,000 times and continues to garner share after share on social media.

Of course, the post dealt with a controversial issue: the public role of women in the life of a congregation. But as I read the many comments, emails, and social media notes about the post, it made me do a lot of thinking. With the perspective of this past week, I have come to several conclusions, but there is just one I want us all to focus on today.

We are not arguing–primarily–about the woman’s role in the church when we talk about this issue.

We are really arguing about the authority of Scripture.

The same is true when it comes to any number of issues we could discuss. Think with me for a moment.

The New Testament could not be any clearer on the subject of the necessity of baptism. Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, literally every conversion account in the book of Acts, Romans 6:3-4, and several other passages make it abundantly clear that the plan for God’s people includes that one be baptized in order to be saved. The argument against baptism has nothing to do with Scripture. Instead, it has everything to do with trying to fit Scripture to a Calvinistic viewpoint, meaning man’s teaching supersedes God’s eternal word.

Instruments of music are noticeably absent from New Testament worship, even though they were present in the Old. The New Testament makes it clear that we are to sing (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15, et.al.), but not “play.” The argument for including instruments is about how it makes us feel or how it sounds to us. The other argument is the terrible, “Well, God didn’t say not to!” None of these is based upon clearly seeing the authority of Scripture.

The organization of the church is clearly laid out in the New Testament. Each congregation is to be led by elders and served by deacons. If a church is able, and the elders find it appropriate, a preacher can be used to help with the public proclamation of the Word, and then every member is to be actively involved in the work. And that’s it. There is no superstructure above that. The only justification for a superstructure is manmade, and has to then take man’s directives instead of God’s.

And the role of women is clearly laid out in the New Testament, as well. They are to work hard in the church and they are vital in many aspects of the work of the Lord. Ladies teach, but not in a way that is “over” a man. They sing along with the men, because they are not leading and, therefore, are not holding authority. They do personal work and a myriad of other great things that are vital to the work. But God has clearly stated that the leadership of a congregation is to be male. The arguments for ladies having a leadership role are just our own thinking: “That’s just archaic.” “It was only cultural.” “That doesn’t work today.” No one ever justifies women leading by saying, “The New Testament clearly teaches it.”

Do you see what we are doing? While we must speak to each issue, we must also look behind each issue and agree on the standard. If we are going to say that our own feelings, or culture, or some “movement” is our standard, then anything goes. In fact, if those are the types of standards we are going to follow, then there are no issues to discuss, because we can do whatever we please and God will just have to accept it. It’s our own way that matters; not His.

If, however, we believe that the Bible is God’s Word and our unchanging standard, then we must fit its mold; not the other way around. We must stand boldly for what it teaches, both in action and attitude. We will never be perfect, but again, we are not the standard!

So why would I ever write an article that deals with such an issue?

Was it to garner views for the site? No, I never dreamed the post would take off like it did.

Was it to be “the standard” (as many have charged) that others are to follow? No, I am not the standard, because I am fallible, too.

Was it to be “the police” (as others have charged) of the brotherhood? No. I only made this public because the video was placed on YouTube, which the last time I checked, gets a few more views than our little corner of the web.

Was it to be mean-spirited (even, as one person stated, “the spirit of anti-Christ”) toward anyone? Any person who knows me knows that is not my intent, no matter how what I say or write might come off.

So, why would I write about such an archaic and “Pharisaical” issue?

It was because I believe that all of God’s Word is worth standing for, no matter the age or culture in which we find ourselves. I believe in rightly dividing the Word, and standing for the New Testament which my Lord put in place with His perfect blood.

My aim for all people is simple: I want them to conform their lives to the standard of the Word of God, and toward that end I will give my every breath.

All the way back in Genesis 3, Satan began his temptation of Eve with a powerful question, “Has God really said…?”

Somehow, about 6000 years later, that same question still works for the tempter.

Yes, God has really said. And yes, God really means what He has said.

And I will do my best to defend the words of the Lord every day of my life.

Will you?

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