Phil Sanders
The inspired Word of God says, “A bishop must then be blameless, the husband of one wife” (I Tim. 3:2); and “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife” (Tit.1:5-6 All quotations are from the New King James Version, unless noted otherwise).
These passages should settle the question once and for all time, since females cannot be “husbands.” However, in the minds of contemporary people nothing is more objectionable than the biblical concept of an all-male eldership. Many in our day buy into an unbiblical devotion to DEI: diversity, equality, and inclusion. They listen more to sociological studies than to the word of God. They argue “that adult women who had only male congregational-leaders growing up had, as an effect, (1) lower self-esteem (associated with more depression and anxiety), (2) less education, (3) higher unemployment, and (4) more of an authoritarian and judgmental view of God (associated with negative psychological health), on average, than men and than women who had influential female congregational-leaders growing up.” They believe the answer to the ungodly discrimination against women is to rethink and reject the biblical teaching about all-male leadership. They simply reject the biblical teaching of God.
Linda A, King, a female shepherd of the Dayspring Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, some years ago explained how the congregation came to have female elders. “For the last 4 years, we have also had female shepherds (elders). There is no more gender distinction in our congregation than there is a distinction between tall and short, young and old, rich and poor. I don't mean to sound glib about this: we studied the issue extensively over the course of two years in the early 1990’s. We conducted a series of all-church meetings one summer to examine, assess, and discuss the hermeneutical lens(es) through which we read scripture as well as the traditions and personal/professional/cultural contexts that influences our views. For these meetings we had ground rules and facilitators and plenty of time for people to listen to one another. Over it all, we had prayer. Although we did not reach immediate unanimity, there was a strong consensus. Our elders at the time decided that their ‘rule’ for the Dayspring congregation would be that there would be no rule” (wherethespiritleads.org).
When a human leadership rule there are no rules, they are not permitting the Lord to rule. They are being lawless (Matt. 7:21-23).
More recently the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas decided to include six female elders. Once again, the change took place after much reflection, prayer, and reason. One female elder said, “I have thought forever that if we really, truly believe that every human being is made in God’s image and we’re neglecting half of God’s image bearers as people who can lead God’s people, that’s a miss.” While it is true every human being is made in God’s image, this does not mean every human being has the same role in life.
Just because one is made in God’s image and has gifts and talents does not mean one has the right to step beyond God’s appointed roles for service in the Lord. Even the Lord Jesus, the most talented and capable person ever to walk on the face of the earth, observed the rules of the temple. “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood” (Heb. 7:14). He never served as a Levitical priest in the temple.
King Uzziah, though he early in his reign did right in the sight of the Lord and sought the Lord, later became strong and proud. “But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chron. 26:16). Azariah the priest, accompanied with eighty other priests of the Lord “withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God” (2 Chron. 26:18).
Uzziah became furious with the priests, but the Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy on his forehead. King Uzziah had trespassed God’s house and proudly assumed the role to which he had no right. “King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (2 Chron. 26:21). Though Uzziah was anointed as king of Judah, he was not a Levitical priest. To presume one can act where he or she has no right is to lose honor from God. Presumptuous sin is a great transgression (Ps, 19:13).
Even though an unmarried man may be godly and talented, he cannot become an elder unless he is the “husband of one wife” and have “faithful children” (Tit. 1:6). Even though a married male may be able to teach and not given to wine, he is unable to be an elder if he is a novice (I Tim. 3:2-6). One who ignores God’s instructions and insists on being qualified regardless is being presumptuous. No one can be faithful to God, if one refuses to listen to what God says (Matt. 7:21-23). A person who goes beyond the stated will of God and fails to listen to the words of the Lord is building his or her house on sand (Matt. 7:24-27).
Galatians 3:28
Egalitarians (people who argue for female leadership equal to male) argue that Galatians 3:28 permits them to assume roles of leadership: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” By doing so, they imagine this passage dismisses the instructions of other inspired passages.
Adult slaves made in God’s image did not cease to be slaves who obey their masters “in sincerity of heart, as to Christ” (Eph. 6:5). Wives, though made in the image of God, are told, “submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). When people fail to obey or submit to those who have authority over them, they are also rejecting the authority of the Lord Jesus. Regarding one’s relationship to God as children (Gal. 3:26-27), slavery and gender do not matter. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Belief in Christ and baptism causes one to be born again as children of God, but it does not permit slaves to act as masters or females to act as males.
To Be Continued