Women Preachers

Truth doesn't change

There is something deeply troubling happening in the religious world right now.

At the recent annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, leaders begun the process of passing what they are referring to as the Mohler Truth and Unity amendment. This amendment is an effort to reaffirm that women are not to serve as pastors or spiritual leaders over men.

Think about that for a moment.

A man-made denomination that has historically struggled with doctrinal compromise is having a hard conversation because they are convicted about what the Bible actually says.

Meanwhile, in far too many congregations of the Lord’s church, we are racing the opposite direction. We are creating women’s ministries that mirror denominational structures. We celebrate new women’s ministries without even blinking. We are platforming women as theological influencers over men through podcasts and conferences. We are watching congregations appoint women as “education ministers, “youth ministers,” and even elders” while others remain silent because they don’t want conflict.

Brethren, this should shame us.

For generations, the church of Christ stood unapologetically upon the authority of Scripture.

We didn’t ask, “What does culture want?” We asked, “What does the Bible say?” But somewhere along the way, many became more concerned about pleasing the culture rather than being faithful to the Word.

The Bible could not be clearer.

The issue is not whether women are valuable.

Scripture is crystal clear that godly women are indispensable to the Kingdom. The church would collapse without faithful Christian women. Women teach children (2 Timothy 1:5). Older women are commanded to teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5). Women serve, encourage, evangelize, and influence souls every day.

But the modern debate is not about value—it is about authority and role. It’s about whether we really believe in humbly serving or “empowering.” It’s about whether we are teaching our young ladies to have a meek and gentle spirit, or whether we are encouraging them to be leaders.

God’s Word has already spoken.

In 1 Timothy 2:11-12, Paul wrote:

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man…”

Then, lest someone claim this was merely cultural, Paul rooted the instruction in creation itself:

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve” (v. 13).

Paul wrote: “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.” (1 Corinthians 14:34). See also 1 Peter 3:1-6.

The qualifications for elders are equally plain:

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…” (1 Timothy 3:2). In Titus 1:6 it reads “the husband of one wife.”

These passages are not difficult to understand. They are difficult for modern culture to accept. The New Testament pattern is not confusing unless someone desperately wants it to be.

That is the real issue.

This is not about ability. It is not about intelligence. It is not about value. Scripture repeatedly affirms the immense worth and influence of godly women. Some of the strongest Christians I know are women. The church desperately needs faithful Christian women teaching other women, training children, encouraging families, and serving the kingdom in powerful ways (Titus 2:3–5).

But feminism has convinced many people that role distinction equals inferiority. It does not.

God established different roles within the home and the church long before modern activists ever existed. The problem is that many Christians today have been discipled more by social media, university ideology, and daytime talk shows than by the Word of God.

Truth does not shift because society changes.

Truth does not bend because feminism becomes popular.

Truth does not evolve because podcasts and platforms make error more polished.

And now? Instead of leading culture with truth, some in the church are allowing culture to drag them by the nose.

Shame on us!

If anything, the church should be leading the charge in standing courageously upon Scripture—not lagging behind denominations in defending what the Bible plainly teaches.

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Notes

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