Untitled Sermon

Happy Women’s History Month (A Biblical Study on Gender Roles)

Today, we have the privilege of studying the topic of gender roles today. I have said that last weeks topic of election might be the most controversial in the church. This topic today is the most controversial outside of the church.

In honor of Women’s history month, we are talking about gender roles and feminism today.

A “gender role” is defined as an “overt public presentation of one’s gender. Gender roles are the most conspicuous and easily accessible example not only of how gender has traditional existed in a male/female dichotomy but how it is toxic to the individual regardless of gender. While women suffer most notably from gender roles in the workplace, the household, and in society, the gender norms also thrust upon men unfortunate circumstances and injustice.

In Churches today, we clearly deny most feminist ideas. It is obvious that most feminist organizations also push abortion, and most churches see it as obviously wrong

However, today some churches identify as egalitarian, meaning that God has given men and women the ability and purpose to lead in both the church and the home.

We are here not to respond to the obviously wrong feminist movement, but to biblical pushback to the idea of gender roles.

Why talk about this: I assume most of you are not married. And fun fact, it does not matter what your gender is, you are called to submit to your parents. Also, girls you do not need to submit to a guy who is not your husband. (Unless he is your dad or pastor)

However, the Bible highlights the important of gender roles, and most of you, especially if you go to public school, are being lied to every day.

Overview: Beliefs of a Christian Feminist

A man ruling over the woman is not a created design, but a curse from the fall (Genesis 3)

Submission in the Bible is a call to mutual submission (Eph. 5, 1 Peter 3) .

Commands for male leadership in church, and a male dominated bible are cultural

Should women be pastors?

1 Corinthians 14:34–35 ESV

34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1 Timothy 2:11–14 ESV

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.

Two Restrictions

Not to teach doctrine to men

Not to exercise authority over a man

Background

False Teachers were likely pushing women away from traditional roles given

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV

14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

Questions:

What is teaching?

What is a man?

What does this command?

It is speaking of how the church should do teaching and worship

Why should we follow this command?

There must be a cultural reason given for us to ignore this command

Paul must say for example: “Do this because of the situation in Ephesus.”

Paul explicitly grounds his reasoning in creation. In other words, this applies for any created being

It is hard to think of a more universal reason for something

Application:

We here at Bear Valley Church see it absolutely clear in the bible that women cannot be pastors or teach to men

What this does not include

Women can teach sunday school (to children)

Women can teach to other women

Women are still commanded to learn the scriptures

Should women lead the family?

Ephesians 5:22–23 ESV

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

1 Peter 3:1–7 ESV

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Women submitting is called pure conduct

If you are to ask a Christian, what is a way that a Christian woman shows herself to be a follower of God, one correct answer is submission.

Not limited to having a good husband

What does submission not mean?

Giving up independent thought

Giving in to every demand

Fearful

Giving up influencing the husband

What does submission mean?

Affirming the husband as the leader

Gentleness

Acknowledging the authority of the husband

Women submitting is beautiful and precious to God

We see an external and internal contrast

Back in Peter’s day, there was pressure on women to look attractive similar to today

Be beautiful through having a gentle and quiet spirit

Husbands must live in an understanding way as the woman is the weaker vessel

What does it mean that a woman is weaker?

In intelligence?

Cannot be: I am a middle school and high school director, I talk to both guys and girls. Guys are clearly more stupid, especially in middle school

My View: Women are more reliant on the man, then the man is on the woman. Husbands and Dads can absolutely crush a family by being sinful.

Takeaways

Summary

We looked through two major passages that discuss if women are called to lead either the church or the family.

Based on 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Peter 3, we conclude that the bible has not created women for leadership roles in both areas but rather to submit to church leadership and their husbands.

This does not mean there is any difference in value, and both genders are vital for a church or marriage to function as God has intended.

However, in the world today, you will likely be called a misogynist if you believe that only men are called to lead. This is a classic example of someone who disagrees with the bible pushing the biblical truth farther than it really says. The Bible strongly commands husbands to lead their wives respectfully 1 Peter 3, and to love as Christ loved the church Ephesians 5.

Prepare Yourself to be a Godly Spouse

Men: You are called by God to lead the family. By the grace of God, work to control your anger, control what you look at on your phone, stop being a loser, stand up for what is right, read the Word.

Women: Stop believing the culture that will shame you for living the role that God created you for. You are meant to raise a family, you are meant to submit, you are meant to be a worker of the home. Be beautiful in having a 1 Peter 3:4, a gentle and quiet spirit. Consider who you will marry. Glorify God through submitting to your husband and if you are not married your parents.

Conclusion

I hope you all today saw me speak on an issue that causes controversy, and I hope you continue to train yourself to look honestly at the issues that are disagreed upon in the church. I pray that today I was an example of objective bible interpretation, and I hope you were convinced today that Christian feminism has no biblical support. I pray that we would be thankful for the gender God has given us, and live the role God has created us to have, so that we might reflect His awesome love and power to the world.