Male Leadership in the Church
By Vincent Cheung
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to
teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed
first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was
deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if
they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
We live in a world of prejudice. Some think that Jews are superior to non-Jews, some
think that men are superior to women, and some think that the rich are superior to the
poor. The prejudice exists in every direction, so with great bitterness, some would insist
that women are superior to men, and some would claim that the poor are superior to the
rich, at least in virtue. The world's solution to prejudice is to minimize these distinctions;
however, since these distinctions are either inherent and permanent, or at least difficult to
change, both the distinctions and the prejudice remain, and these different kinds of people
are left without any principle that unite them.
The world's attempt to minimize distinctions usually propose that all kinds of people are
good. This is false and has resulted in failure. The Bible's approach is entirely different. It
condemns all kinds of people as guilty before God. Whether a person is Jew or non-Jew,
male or female, rich or poor, he or she is born a sinner, a child of wrath. No matter what
group a person belongs to, the Bible says, "There is no difference." All men and women
are contemptible. But then, it declares Jesus Christ as the true principle of unity among
those who look to him as Head and Lord. In him, the Jew is not superior to the non-Jew,
because no race can compare to the new creation race, the race of Jesus Christ. The man
is not superior to the woman, since through Christ we are all members of one body. The
rich person is not superior to the poor person, for we are all joint-heirs of the true riches
in Christ Jesus.
In absorbing human distinctions into true unity through Jesus Christ, the only distinction
that matters has come to the forefront, and that is the distinction between Christians and
non-Christians. The race, gender, and class of a person makes no difference when it
comes to his access to God through Jesus Christ. But whether a person comes through
Jesus Christ makes the decisive difference, for he is the only way to God and to salvation
from sin and hell. Thus since the beginning, the Bible divides mankind into these two
main groups.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to think that Scripture abolishes the distinctions
between race, gender, and class. Where relevant, it repeatedly reinforces some of these
distinctions that God has instituted either by creation or by providence. Again, the Bible
does not share the world's approach in promoting harmony among men. It is by adopting
the world's thinking in reading certain biblical passages that some have come to oppose
several prominent and explicit teachings of Scripture, such as those concerning male
leadership in the home and in the church.
The Bible indeed says that there is no Jew and Gentile, no male and female, and so on, in
Christ, but the context always has to do with the condemnation and justification of
mankind. That is, whether male or female, all human persons are condemned in Adam.
And whether male or female, all who believe in Christ are saved by him. The human
distinctions remain. A rich person does not lose all his money just because he becomes a
Christian. The money still belongs to him, and he can still purchase things that the poor
cannot. This is established by God's providence. The two were equally condemned under
Adam, and now they are equally justified, and have equal access to the throne of grace.
Yet their earthly standing has not changed. The same applies to race and gender.
When it comes to order in the home, the Bible is clear that the man is the head of the
house, and the wife must submit to him in everything as unto the Lord. Here Paul is
referring to order in the house of God, or the church, and he states that men are to assume
the leadership, and women are not to usurp them. This might appear sexist according to
the standards of the world, and it is pathetic to see how Christians who adhere to the
teachings of the Bible nevertheless try to explain how this passage is not sexist. What do
I care about the world's standards? According to non-Christians – at least some of them,
since they do not agree – this is indeed sexist. So what? Their standards are wrong. The
Bible says that, because of their defective intellect, they regard the gospel as foolish, but
we perceive that it is the power and the wisdom of God. Rather than convincing them that
the Bible does not violate their standards, Christians should attack their standards.
There is nothing in Scripture that withholds learning opportunities to women. They are to
have equal access to biblical teachings. However, Scripture indeed forbids them from
seizing positions of authority in the church. This does not mean that their ministry
opportunities are very limited, only that their official influence is restricted, and that the
ministry work that they perform must be done under the supervision of male leadership.
The wife cannot be head in the home over her husband, but she has tremendous liberty as
long as she operates under her husband's authority. A similar principle applies in the
household of God.
There is a woman preacher whose ministry is internationally recognized today. The
organization and its publications all come under her authority. Her husband is reduced to
such a negligible role that I went several years without even knowing his name, until I
saw a small advertisement in her magazine that mentioned something about him. Once I
heard her speak on a biblical text that deals with female submission to male leadership.
She could not deny the plain words of the passage, but at one point she roared, "I do
submit to my husband!" After that, the audience was too afraid to disagree with her.
A woman like this is a disgrace to Christ, a dishonor to her husband, and teaches
rebellion to female believers who envy what appears to be a liberty to serve Christ
unencumbered by the restrictions of their husbands. On the other hand, one wonders how
she has been allowed to carry things so far. It is likely that her husband has relinquished
leadership due to her stronger personality. Although this might feel like an act of love, it
is an act of rebellion against God, and against the order he has prescribed for the home
and for the church. Such an arrangement allows a cowardly man to lesson the burden on
himself, but it is a responsibility that God has placed upon him and not on his wife. As
the designated leaders, men are supposed to enforce God's instructions. Thus when
women overturn the proper order, men are also culpable. The wrath of God will not be far
from the chaos and disaster that result.
If men fail to lead, to give oversight and direction, and women are not supposed to
subvert them, then great frustration is inevitable. It is not enough for men to oppose
female leadership – that in itself is not leadership. Men must assume the roles that God
has ordained for them, without fear, shame, or apology, and then make organized efforts
to mobilize all the members of the body of Christ to perform the work that God has
prescribed for them, both male and female.
Used by Permission Taken from Reflections on First Timothy by Vincent Cheung
By Vincent Cheung
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to
teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed
first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was
deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if
they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)
We live in a world of prejudice. Some think that Jews are superior to non-Jews, some
think that men are superior to women, and some think that the rich are superior to the
poor. The prejudice exists in every direction, so with great bitterness, some would insist
that women are superior to men, and some would claim that the poor are superior to the
rich, at least in virtue. The world's solution to prejudice is to minimize these distinctions;
however, since these distinctions are either inherent and permanent, or at least difficult to
change, both the distinctions and the prejudice remain, and these different kinds of people
are left without any principle that unite them.
The world's attempt to minimize distinctions usually propose that all kinds of people are
good. This is false and has resulted in failure. The Bible's approach is entirely different. It
condemns all kinds of people as guilty before God. Whether a person is Jew or non-Jew,
male or female, rich or poor, he or she is born a sinner, a child of wrath. No matter what
group a person belongs to, the Bible says, "There is no difference." All men and women
are contemptible. But then, it declares Jesus Christ as the true principle of unity among
those who look to him as Head and Lord. In him, the Jew is not superior to the non-Jew,
because no race can compare to the new creation race, the race of Jesus Christ. The man
is not superior to the woman, since through Christ we are all members of one body. The
rich person is not superior to the poor person, for we are all joint-heirs of the true riches
in Christ Jesus.
In absorbing human distinctions into true unity through Jesus Christ, the only distinction
that matters has come to the forefront, and that is the distinction between Christians and
non-Christians. The race, gender, and class of a person makes no difference when it
comes to his access to God through Jesus Christ. But whether a person comes through
Jesus Christ makes the decisive difference, for he is the only way to God and to salvation
from sin and hell. Thus since the beginning, the Bible divides mankind into these two
main groups.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to think that Scripture abolishes the distinctions
between race, gender, and class. Where relevant, it repeatedly reinforces some of these
distinctions that God has instituted either by creation or by providence. Again, the Bible
does not share the world's approach in promoting harmony among men. It is by adopting
the world's thinking in reading certain biblical passages that some have come to oppose
several prominent and explicit teachings of Scripture, such as those concerning male
leadership in the home and in the church.
The Bible indeed says that there is no Jew and Gentile, no male and female, and so on, in
Christ, but the context always has to do with the condemnation and justification of
mankind. That is, whether male or female, all human persons are condemned in Adam.
And whether male or female, all who believe in Christ are saved by him. The human
distinctions remain. A rich person does not lose all his money just because he becomes a
Christian. The money still belongs to him, and he can still purchase things that the poor
cannot. This is established by God's providence. The two were equally condemned under
Adam, and now they are equally justified, and have equal access to the throne of grace.
Yet their earthly standing has not changed. The same applies to race and gender.
When it comes to order in the home, the Bible is clear that the man is the head of the
house, and the wife must submit to him in everything as unto the Lord. Here Paul is
referring to order in the house of God, or the church, and he states that men are to assume
the leadership, and women are not to usurp them. This might appear sexist according to
the standards of the world, and it is pathetic to see how Christians who adhere to the
teachings of the Bible nevertheless try to explain how this passage is not sexist. What do
I care about the world's standards? According to non-Christians – at least some of them,
since they do not agree – this is indeed sexist. So what? Their standards are wrong. The
Bible says that, because of their defective intellect, they regard the gospel as foolish, but
we perceive that it is the power and the wisdom of God. Rather than convincing them that
the Bible does not violate their standards, Christians should attack their standards.
There is nothing in Scripture that withholds learning opportunities to women. They are to
have equal access to biblical teachings. However, Scripture indeed forbids them from
seizing positions of authority in the church. This does not mean that their ministry
opportunities are very limited, only that their official influence is restricted, and that the
ministry work that they perform must be done under the supervision of male leadership.
The wife cannot be head in the home over her husband, but she has tremendous liberty as
long as she operates under her husband's authority. A similar principle applies in the
household of God.
There is a woman preacher whose ministry is internationally recognized today. The
organization and its publications all come under her authority. Her husband is reduced to
such a negligible role that I went several years without even knowing his name, until I
saw a small advertisement in her magazine that mentioned something about him. Once I
heard her speak on a biblical text that deals with female submission to male leadership.
She could not deny the plain words of the passage, but at one point she roared, "I do
submit to my husband!" After that, the audience was too afraid to disagree with her.
A woman like this is a disgrace to Christ, a dishonor to her husband, and teaches
rebellion to female believers who envy what appears to be a liberty to serve Christ
unencumbered by the restrictions of their husbands. On the other hand, one wonders how
she has been allowed to carry things so far. It is likely that her husband has relinquished
leadership due to her stronger personality. Although this might feel like an act of love, it
is an act of rebellion against God, and against the order he has prescribed for the home
and for the church. Such an arrangement allows a cowardly man to lesson the burden on
himself, but it is a responsibility that God has placed upon him and not on his wife. As
the designated leaders, men are supposed to enforce God's instructions. Thus when
women overturn the proper order, men are also culpable. The wrath of God will not be far
from the chaos and disaster that result.
If men fail to lead, to give oversight and direction, and women are not supposed to
subvert them, then great frustration is inevitable. It is not enough for men to oppose
female leadership – that in itself is not leadership. Men must assume the roles that God
has ordained for them, without fear, shame, or apology, and then make organized efforts
to mobilize all the members of the body of Christ to perform the work that God has
prescribed for them, both male and female.
Used by Permission Taken from Reflections on First Timothy by Vincent Cheung
