A Problem Among Young People
There are many young people in the body of Christ who are truly dedicated to serving Christ. Young people have become involved in busing programs, personal work, visitation, etc., and for this they are to be greatly commended. Most of these youngsters would not deliberately violate the Lord's will in the area of New Testament worship, yet some are engaging in practices which are clearly wrong. It is becoming increasingly the vogue for girls to LEAD both songs and prayers in devotionals where boys are present. The rather informal atmosphere of these services doubtless leaves the feeling that this is not a real worship period and hence there is nothing wrong with girls leading.
The Bible makes it very clear that there are definite roles for both men and women to occupy within the body of Christ. Paul discusses this point in I Timothy 2. He lays down certain inspired regulations based upon the following foundation. (1) man was formed first, woman second. (2) The woman, being deceived, sinned first and subsequently led man into the same. Because of these historical facts, God has placed Christian women (and girls) in a role of subordination in the church of Christ. Thus, in I Timothy 2:8 and following, the apostle authorized, "the men" (males only) to lead the prayers, etc. Later, he strictly forbids women to teach or to conduct acts of worship in any way over man.
It needs to be understood that when one LEADS a worship service, from the very nature of the situation, the others must follow. And in the Biblical sense, this is exercising authority over men; a thing forbidden women. A noted Greek scholar, in commenting on these verses, has said that those who lead, "the public prayer must be the men of the congregation, not the women. A woman's positive duty is to make herself conspicuous by good works, not by personal display. Her place in relation to man is one of subordination." (Expositor's Greek Testament, Vol. 4, p. 106.) In our worship periods therefore, whether in a church building or in a private home, when a group of males and females are present, let only the males direct the worship.
A Problem Among Older People
Another growing practice in some congregations is that of so-called "team teaching." In this procedure, a couple, male and female (usually husband and wife) stands before a congregation or class to instruct it on some special theme. The woman teaches jointly and speaks freely as a team member. It is alleged that she is not exercising authority over the man for: (a) the husband has given her permission to so teach; (b) she is merely at his side to assist him in the presentation.
This practice is as unscriptural as it can be. In reply to the defense above, it may be observed: (a) no man has the right to authorize a woman to act contrary to the divine teaching of scripture; (b) the woman who instructs an assembly, though at the side of her husband, is doing precisely the same work as he is doing. In the student-teacher relationship she is as much an authority figure as he. And the Christian woman is not granted the concession of teaching a mixed assembly. Surely no one would contend that the preacher's wife could accompany him into the pulpit on Sunday morning and jointly with him exhort the congregation! Yet, what would be the difference in principle?
Our preachers and elders certainly ought to know better than to condone the practice of this "team teaching" phenomenon. Have we become that ignorant of the teaching of the sacred Book? Or is it that some have so imbibed the foolish raving of "Women's Liberation" that they have lost all sense of concern for what the Bible teaches?
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