The article above makes a solid Biblical case for distinct gender roles in the church service. A few years ago, I was not sure where I stood on this issue. My friend and I then co-taught a Bible lesson and thoroughly researched what the Bible says about the subject. Our conclusion is that the Bible clearly teaches that the specific role of preaching to men in the church is a position that is reserved for a man - not a woman. Paul is clear that he does not permit a woman to teach over a man (1 Tim 2:12) and then provides the reason: Eve mislead Adam which lead to the fall (1 Tim 2:13-14). This is not to say that women in general have any sort of deficiencies in leadership but rather seems to be a memorial to what happened in the Fall which led to the entire world suffering. Reading pragmatism into the text could lead one to the conclusion that this doesn't matter but the Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of accurate representation through symbolism (Gen 9:6, James 3:9, Ex 20:4, Heb 8:5, Lev 10:1-2, Lev 20). This does not mean that women are worth less than men. On the contrary, we are all co-equal in Christ regardless of gender, social, or cultural status (Galatians 3:28). This does not mean that women have a less important role.
The Bible is clear that the body of Christ has different parts that are all important and that each part should not boast of its own importance above the others (1 Cor 12:12-31). Likewise, there are a variety of spiritual gifts (teaching being one of them) but the same Spirit and the same God who empowers them in everyone (1 Cor 12:4-6). Not everyone is a teacher (1 Cor 12:29). We should desire these gifts but there is still a more excellent way (1 Cor 12:31) and this is the way of love (1 Cor 13).
What if there is a very qualified woman whose life goal has been to become a pastor and there are no "suitable" men around to be candidates? This is once again appealing to pragmatism instead of God's Word. Is it the power of human will that effectively shepherds God's children or is it the power of God? It is the power of God working within us and through us (1 Cor 2:1-16, 1 Cor 1:27, Rom 8:28, Col 1:28-29, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor. 12:7-10, John 14:10). Furthermore, the spiritual gifts are gifts -- not innate qualities brought about by the will of man. Can God still bless people through a woman pastor? Yes He can and He does. Many people have been saved through disobedience and bad doctrine as well because it is God who saves people (Eph 2:8, 2 Tim 1:9, Rom 8:28, John 6:44). The question we should ask ourselves is how much do we really love God if we listen to His Word in some places and then gloss over or discard it in others?
Having a specifically assigned gender role is contrary to a common manifestation of the feminist movement whereby equality between men and women is imagined as having no role being off-limits to women. Rather than try to cater to this aspect of the feminist movement, we should aim to please God and to rightly divide His Word (2 Tim 2:15).
Todd Friel speaks about how we have different roles but should not think of some as more important than others:
"Why does the Church esteem certain roles while looking down on others? Even Paul in prison did not tell Onesimus to reject the system he was in, but to improve his heart within his role. We need to be encouraging one another, and not conforming to the world’s system that says some roles are better than others." - Todd Friel
