One of the issues I have today in the modern church is with women who, by their nature, speak to men as if they were children. Men are not children, and women are not co-equal to men spiritually.
In the assembly, this is why the Apostle Paul taught to let the women be quiet, and if they had something to say, to go home and ask their husbands.
We live in a day in which male authority both in the household and the marketplace of ideas is under continual assault. Most women (like others) wish to be leaders and “outshine the next guy” yet this is not the role of the woman in accordance with the Lord. Spiritual authority should be recognized, and I’m not just speaking about a man who is able to moderate well with people back and forth to have peace.
The Angels recognize God’s creation order, and the roles set forth in accordance with the scriptures. This is one reason why women are instructed to “cover their heads” while in church or in prayer. It is out of reverence and respect for what God has created, not legalism, and so to understand and acknowledge the levels of spiritual authority which he has ordained for his people. It was never meant to be some nicety or just a traditional dogma!
Even a superior education of a woman, or experience in leadership, does not negate the ordinances which the Lord God insists upon for his people. The man is held to a higher account by God for his leadership and his actions, despite how menial or lacking, and God will judge him for it. Pastors and teachers are also held to a higher account by the Lord, and people should honor them also.
A woman is to be the head of the children, much like an executive officer is charged with running the troops. The executive officer’s authority is never put above the Commanding Officer, but rather is to assist the commander in charring out his wishes.
Male leadership is supposed to be representative of Christ to his church, especially when it comes to the Pastoral role and teaching and instruction within the church. Some women, like my mother, for example, are much better versed in the scripture than men, and could easily teach or facilitate to men good Bible instruction, yet this would go against the very structuring of the church and might facilitate discontent and even anger by the man who realizes that he is being put in the position of the child. This is not about pride or chauvinism, rather it is about the woman inserting herself into a position in which she does not belong.
It is perfectly fine for women to teach other women and children in the scriptures, and I am most thankful that my mother did her job well, and if I so desire, I can still go to my mother for Biblical advice, even in her elderly age. Yet even my mother would not just assume that she was still in the position to instruct me in spiritual matters, she might offer up her advice to me in private, but she would never undermine me by attempting to correct me in public, nor would she do that to my father.
In Old Testament times, it was up to the Father to instruct his home, as it is still supposed to be in the New Testament, yet most men wouldn’t find the time to do so in being away from the household in caring for his family. And I would add that it is worse nowadays, given that many households require both parents to work in order to make ends meet, but I digress…
Please understand, that the Lord God is not about honoring simple traditions, he is about “being honored” above all else. And that will never change, just as the Lord has never changed – especially to accommodate rebellious man (mankind)! One of the reasons for this family erosion in understanding is that a lot of Pastors are no longer instructed in this (controversial) truth of the scriptures, so most people are not even aware of how much they cross the lines of authority (especially in a country that was formed by revolution). I will say, however, that the Mayflower Compact and later the U.S. Constitution were primarily formed for the liberty to worship freely, without the input of a tyrannical government (or a church): the reason is that man’s sinful nature only seeks to have control of others.
So, the bottom line is that: one either submits to the Lord’s will – or rebels against it, it is really that simple. That, dear brethren, is why it is imperative to have a good understanding of the scriptures and to have people who are called by God to teach, and not just for speaking for selfish gain.
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