Women in the Church: Do They Have a Role?

1 Timothy 2:11–15 states: “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. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” 1 Corinthians 14:33–35 states: “33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 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.”

Why does God command that a woman may have no authority over a man and why is a woman not allowed to teach a man? It seems that some of the best teachers I have had during my school years have been women. In high school I was selected to join a program called the Business Leadership program. I received a scholarship and I was also allowed to honor a teacher that had been the most influential to me. I selected my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Shanholtz to honor. She was an amazing teacher and was there for me during a difficult time in my life. It’s hard to imagine God saying to Mrs. Shanholtz, “You may not teach and you may not exercise authority!” Why also can a woman not speak in church? Is she not allowed to ask a single question? How is she supposed to further her faith if she cannot openly speak and ask her questions? What if her husband doesn’t know the answers to the questions she asks? It seems wrong to say that men can contro...

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...express my opinions, but in a way that will not put my husband down or take away his authoritative position.

I know a particular couple where the wife has the husband “whipped” in modern terms. Her expression of authority over her husband has been an issue for some time. Her husband knows that he needs to be the one making the final decisions, but was not sure how to approach the issue. Other people have noticed that the wife has become the dominant one in the relationship and have expressed their concern about the issue. After researching this topic I am able to clearly see that the wife in this case is in the wrong. She needs to be respecting her husband and not ignoring his authority and doing whatever she wants. When she ignores her husband she sets an example to other women that it is ok to disrespect your husband and step all over them, when it really is not.