Women in Church – How the Church Operates

Women in Church – How the Church Operates

The Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit makes it very clear how women should behave in the Church of God. Some things in the Word are not so clear but this topic he makes very clear and there should be no questions in our minds about it.  When he is done telling the way the Church should function in 1 Timothy, he wrote this, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Okay, we know the following verses explain how we are to behave so let’s look at them closely.

First, he commands that we pray for all those who are in authority over us in 1 Timothy 2:1, 2. Then he writes this to men, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 1:8). Right after this verse are the instructions for women in the Church of God.

9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;” Women are to be modest in behavior and dress and not draw attention to themselves which is completely opposite of the way most women behave today. Just think how much stronger the Church would be today if all women who call themselves Christians spent much more time working on their inner life and godliness rather than their outer life which is decaying.

10 “But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” We should be known for good works: kindness to all we come in contact with, living sacrificially for others, helping those in need, and doing good. 

11 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.” We are commanded to learn in silence while being in subjection to the leadership of the church. I am not sure how the Apostle Paul could have been any clearer than this and it is not a cultural thing. Women are still talkative and prone to not be silent or in subjection. We haven’t changed as many would have you believe. Some tell me that women weren’t educated like they are now. Well, you know what God says about education of the world; the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Women are no different today than always.

12 “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” In case women didn’t understand verse 11, Paul repeats himself. “Women are to be in silence.” They are not to teach, nor to be in authority over men. They are to be silent as in not speaking in the church. Yes, this is hard for women but it is what we are called to do and respect the role the Lord has given to us. 

13 “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” God created man first for a reason. They are the leaders and this is God’s perfect design. Feminists have fought this from the beginning. Even the right to vote was due to women not respecting men and their decisions and believing they know better than men but they don’t. We are led too easily by our emotions and feelings (short-sighted) and most men are not. They, the Founding Fathers of America, are the ones who long time ago framed the Constitution and this once great nation without the help of any women. Feminists have rebelled against their God-ordained role and have not only destroyed their marriages, but their children and now the nation as well. Tragic. 

14 “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” This is why God made men to be the leaders. Women weren’t created to be leaders. It’s not in our nature and when we do, chaos prevails. “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12). 

15 “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” This is God’s perfect will for us; to marry, bear children, and guide the home. Even if women can’t have children, they can still be nurturers of other’s children, nieces and nephews, and continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. Many times we are told to be sober and sober minded and women today are not. They drink too much and live an excessive life in many areas. They are seekers of pleasure rather than seekers of God. 

Right after these verses, Paul describes elders and deacons as the “husband of one wife” and gives a few descriptions of what should characterize their wives. “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things” (1 Timothy 3:11) “Grave” meaning serious about life and self-disciplined, not flighty, extravagant, discontent, but living to please the LORD in everything. They should not be known for slandering and speaking lies about others.

There were some women who supposed that, the moment they became Christians, they were to run about everywhere. “No,” says the apostle, “let them keep at home.” There is no gain to the Christian Church when the love, and the industry, and the zeal, which ought to make a happy home, are squandered upon something else.”
~ Charles Spurgeon

15 thoughts on “Women in Church – How the Church Operates

  1. Thanks for another timely teaching… I was asked to give a Sunday school presentation in church recently, and I declined after seeing the other women Sunday school teachers presenting their material behind the pulpit in front of men, women, and children. Quite frankly, it made me very uncomfortable. Thank you for your encouragement today!

  2. Lori,

    Who– WHO can argue with The Holy Word of God?!

    NOT ME!!!

    *hugs*
    ~Kelley

  3. I understand what you are saying, Lori.

    I have a sincere question for you. I understand that your blog is aimed at women, however I see men reading and commenting here, so obviously they are reading and trying to ‘learn’ as well. Aren’t you then teaching them, which is unbiliblical?

  4. I am not in a church, Sarah, and am not in authority over men. If men want to read a book or blog written by a woman, it’s their choice but every man who reads my blog knows I am teaching women. Some men read it to make sure that what their wives are learning is biblically accurate and others want to know how godly women are supposed to behave.

  5. I teach Sunday school to 3-5 year old children & I genuinely want to know if that is biblical?

  6. Hi Lori
    I was wondering what you think about the children’s talk in church? It is primarily teaching children, but the whole church is listening & I hadn’t thought before about it. Our church is very strong with only men leading & preaching, but both genders do the children’t talk (a 5 minute talk to the children relevant to the topic of the sermon in children’s terms). I am now honestly wondering if I should pull out of doing it.

    Thank you so much Lori for your godly teaching. I read your blog via email ( have for years) & I really appreciate how you are not afraid to go contrary to ‘popular Christianity’ & instead stick to what the Bible says.
    Blessings
    Renata:)

  7. Thank you! I believe this is wrong, Renata, since it is at times a woman who is teaching to men in a church situation. It should be men teaching even the children in a church where men are present.

  8. It’s up to the elders and the fathers of the children, Steffani, and if you are doing it in your church it is probably fine to do, but the teaching of the Word was given to parents and the men leaders of the Church according to the Bible. Parents too often leave it all in the hands of the church and this isn’t good.

  9. Thank you for the stand you have taken on many controversial subjects.
    I’m curious, what religion are you?

  10. Lori, I agree that it is the parents primary responsibility to teach the children. However, we have children who attend and their parents do not, and there is no Bible teaching in the home. So the only Bible teaching they receive is in Sunday school. The women Sunday school teachers are teaching in classrooms where no men are present, so there is no authority being usurped. Is this biblical?

  11. It is good these children are learning the Word from someone, Steffani! If a child’s mother doesn’t teach her child about the LORD it’s good that they are learning from someone else.

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