Posted Nov 18, 2019 by Michael L. Brown

Special Note from Dr. Brown. We are frequently asked about the role of women in ministry. Can women preach or teach? Only to women? To men also? Can they be pastors? Elders? Recently, my friend Kris Vallotton posted his understanding of some of the key Scriptures. This is a response from Nataliya German, who is married to Dr. Igal German, my assistant at AskDrBrown in Jewish ministry. Please enjoy this article and share it with your friends!

I recently came across Kris Valloton’s article where he writes: “Many women wake up every day to a world of discrimination simply because of their gender. But the most troubling aspect of this oppression is that the church is often found leading it! Many believers have developed a theology that proactively uses the Bible to disqualify women from the most formidable roles of leadership, especially in the Church. I am appalled by the number of Christian leaders who are convinced that women are not as qualified, called, and/or gifted to lead as men. The argument for disempowering women is illogical, unscriptural and beyond-outdated! I’d like to propose that any stinking thinking that relegates women to a lower seat of power or authority is way past its expiration date and it’s high time we get with the program that Jesus preached throughout His ministry” (https://www.krisvallotton.com/4-reasons-women-oppressed-church-not-okay).

As a woman, I respect this male author for supporting and appreciating women but I strongly disagree with his perspective on the role of women in ministry. In his article, Kris argues that oppressing women is unscriptural. Of course, I wholeheartedly agree. At the same time, I submit that the Bible presents ample evidence for the fact that God assigned men and women their unique spiritual roles in the very beginning of primeval history. Are we in the position to judge God’s decision as oppressive just because it does not fit our limited human understanding? Of course not! Moreover, I submit that any attempt on our part to reconstruct the order established by God for male and female ministry would be dishonoring God. Before we proceed with our discussion, let us be reminded of God’s warning given in Revelation 14:6-7: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (KJV).

Contrary to many misogynist trends throughout church history, both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament present women as God’s precious vessels. Just like men, women are created in the image of God, called to advance God’s holy Kingdom on earth, responsible for their actions and equal to men in God’s plan of salvation (Genesis 1:27–28). Both Eve and Adam receive God’s blessing and are commanded to multiply and “have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). This text demonstrates that God wants both genders to be in charge and take care of the beautiful nature He entrusted to them.

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dcondon posted a comment · Dec 24, 2019
Excellent article Nataliya German, thank you for teaching so well! Does anyone else notice parallels between Valloton's reasoning and that used by christian attempts to justify and normalize homosexual behavior. Oh but for that outlier Paul! and oh the Old Testament doesn't speak to it! Thank you Nataliya for showing how the whole Bible speaks to it, starting with Adam. And what it says is good. What customs and cultural influences shaped the order of the first family? Only our Lord's.
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nathanz posted a comment · Nov 30, 2019
Good article with good points! I’m a man who has been blessed by women. Some of the nicest people I know are women. Great Christian women, such as Ruth Graham and Corrie Ten Boom, have done much to help further the Kingdom of God. My own mom is a great mom who loves God. However, there's a double standard of misogyny being (rightfully) despised in America, yet there's widespread acceptance of radical feminism, which is clearly at war with men. A retired professor from Grinnell College wrote a column the Washington Post found suitable to print in which she actually said, "I hate all men and wish all men were dead." Then there’s Marcie Bianco, an author on the NBC news website. She had an opinion piece in which she said women are, "increasingly realizing not only that they don’t need heterosexuality, but that it also is often the bedrock of their global oppression." To quote Marcie Bianco, “Men continue to coerce, harass, rape and kill girls and women - and go to extreme lengths to avoid responsibility for their actions.” Clearly, she’s unfairly generalizing as she paints a very bleak picture of men. Yes, there are men who’ve done wicked things, but the men who commit the wrongs are the ones to whom guilt belongs, not everyone who belongs to that gender. Tragically, much of the church seems to be silent on the subject of feminism. Even worse, some Christians have even teamed up with the feminists, promoted their ideas and are on board with the so-called “empowering of women.” But in reality, feminism is not good for men or children (literally unborn babies are dying because of it). Even women themselves are hurt by feminism. Because feminism goes against what God says in the Bible about family, authority, and the roles of men and women. For instance, Ephesians 5:23 says, “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” Then there’s Titus 2:3-5 which says, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Ideas have consequences and some of the consequences of feminism are strained relationships, divorce, single parent families, men being demeaned and demonized, and worst of all, the rejection of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.
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words2yz posted a comment · Nov 22, 2019
All the women who helped and served JESUS in His ministry were esteemed and valued !!