Sex Roles in the Body of Christ

Overview: Primary drivers of controversy.

Why is this issue is increasingly debated?

Smorgasbord ecclesiology. (General cultural trend to choose “what works” in doctrine and practice.)

Cultural (All roles all people (Mainline))

Charismatic Influence (Spirit over structure and the rise of the“independent evangelical”)

Multiplication of Programs with Increasing Expectations (Everyone a professional)

Principle Issues

Biblical Structures Require Biblical Standards

Identifying them

The Eldership and the nature of “pastoral” leadership.

Pastor (Shepherd)

Overseer (bishop)

Elder

What it means to be under the authority of Elders.

The Diaconate and the nature of service

Deacons

Deaconesses

Nurturing them

Educating

Apprenticing

Including

Employing them

Shared

Collegial

Rotating

Fire-walling them

Don’t confuse separate issues.

Whether ladies can be on a church board (see below) is not a Biblical conversation because Church boards are not a Biblical structure. Useful, good, and even necessary in the contemporary world, but not discussed in Scripture.

Don’t allow external conversations to drive internal decisions.

Cultural Structures Require Biblical discernment and “professional standards.”

Board

Trustees

Programming

The Real World Requires Balance

Gifts balanced against rules.

Spiritual work balanced against “doing business”

Common practice balanced against exceptional situations/circumstances

Jeanne d'Arc. Recognizing outliers.

Biblical Issues

Preliminary Issues

Spiritual equality

Galatians 3:27–29 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Spiritual gifts

The Corinthian Catastrophe

Gifts vs. Authority (structure)

Women vs. Men

Chaos vs. Order

Public Ministry

Paul’s Ministry Partnership with Women

Phoebe the Deaconess

Romans 16:1–2 (ESV)

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Priscilla (and all those other names in Romans!)

Romans 16:3 (ESV)

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Chloe. She had enough authority to send official messengers to Paul regarding the divisions in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)

11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

Euodia & Syntyche (Collaborators in the work of the Gospel)

Philippians 4:2–3 (ESV)

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Nympha

Colossians 4:15 (ESV)

15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Normal practice vs. Exceptional circumstances.

Background issues, local controversy, and the wisdom of the Spirit are all in play.

Women teachers

1 Timothy 2:8–15 ESV

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

In some ways this passage seems out of step with Paul’s typical practice. (See above).

There is more going on here than a “universal prohibition”

Following Paul’s reasoning can be frustrating because we don’t always know the occasion to which he was responding.

What is the purpose of 1 Timothy? (Encourage a young man in ministry.)

Tracing the thought through the passage: lack of male spiritual direction—>inappropriate feminine conduct—>Paul’s prohibition—>Biblical reasoning/Eve betrayed Adam when she was deceived and led him into rebellion—>Paul’s actual recommendation…faithfulness and self-control.

“…In these circumstances, under these conditions, I don’t allow a woman to teach.”

Conclusions

The wisdom of calling Biblical Things by Biblical Names (The gravitational pull of culture)

Reverend (the Reverend)

Preacher

Pastor/Elder/Bishop/Overseer (Many who are called “Pastor” do very little pastoring.)

Minister

Parson

Curate

Deacon(ess) Servant.

My favorite title for what I do Pastor-Scholar-Preacher

It is hard enough to be Biblically sound.

Matters are more complicated by introducing non-biblical structures.

Things really get out of whack when we are motivated by cultural, social, and political factors immaterial to how we responsibly lead the Church.