As the 2012 election approaches there is a lot of talk about potential candidates. Who will be the next United States president? Will a woman make history by being elected? Perhaps it is too early to decide. However, it is not too early to discuss the possibility. And more importantly, what biblical stand should Christian people take on the matter. Does God’s Word address such issues?
God ordained three institutions upon this earth. He ordained the family, the church, and government. The Scriptures are clear about the hierarchy within the family. The husband is the head of the family; the wife is to submit to him as unto the Lord; and the children are to honor and obey their parents. (Ephesians 5:33-6:3) The Scriptures are clear about the hierarchy within the church. I Timothy 2: 9-15 and I Corinthians 14:33-35 explains this clearly. Men are to be the spiritual leaders not only within their home but also within the church. I realize that even within Christian circles today that this is not taught. However, the authority of the Scriptures still stands. We can accept the truth or deny the truth, but we cannot change it. So if God has established men to lead in the institution of the home and within the church. Why then, would we think that God would not have a hierarchy within the institution of government?
When tackling the subject of women in political leadership, often Christian’s will point to two particular passages in the Bible – Esther and Deborah. Esther is the heroine of the Old Testament book named after her. She was the young Jewish Queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus. She was responsible for saving her people from mass slaughter. Esther was placed in her position, “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) The account of Deborah is found in the book of Judges Chapter 4. She was a prophetess who judged her people. She was the only female judge of Israel. Deborah led a successful attack against Jabin, the King of Canaan.
Those that contend that God is pleased with women in leadership often use these examples from history. In looking at the story of Esther it is important to remember that she did not have a choice in the matter. She was not seeking a position of political leadership. She did not purposely forsake her family in order to become Queen. She was not given an option. Look at Deborah from Judges Chapter 4, many others will say. God used her to lead the nation of Israel to great victory. This is a convincing argument other than the fact that people forget to take the story in context. When you look at the whole passage contextually the children of Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” (Judges 4:1). God was not pleased with them and put them in bondage. It was a shame to the men of Israel for a woman to judge over them. Isaiah 3:11-12 says, “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. 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.” There is a lot to this passage. But simply put, God gave the wicked people what they wanted. It could be that God, in His sovereignty, will allow a woman President. Romans Chapter 13 tells us that there is no power but of God. God Himself will place our next President. But Christians must remember that sometimes God gives His people what they want, not what is best for them, (I Samuel Chapter 8).
When sharing this view with a young lady, the other day, I was asked, “What if the vote comes down between an unrighteous man for President and a Christian woman?” Wouldn’t we have to vote for a woman in this case? Many believe that we must often choose the “lesser of two evils.” The assumption is that God will not give His people the right option. However, I believe that God always gives His people a way to make the right choice, (I Corinthians 10:13). It was John Quincy Adams that said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
Whether we are speaking about the home, the church, or government, the issue has never been if women were capable of leading. Of course women are capable of leading. There are many talented women who have a great gift of administration. The issue has never been if they were smart enough. There are many women who are well educated and skilled above even men. The issue has never been if they could lead. It is true that there are women that could lead very well. But these are not the issues. The biblical issue is whether women should lead. Christian people can rationalize woman leading in the home, in the churches and within our government. However, they cannot from the Scriptures establish that this is God will. He did not design women to lead in any of the institutions He has ordained. The fictitious principle is just not there. The modern feminist movement has caused many Christian’s to err. I pray that we will lay aside this fallacy and come back to Scripture. May the pure Words of God be our standard for our beliefs.
Kimberly Williams 
Great reminder! Sometimes it’s really hard for me to stand up for anti-feminist principles, even among other Christian women. Luckily, the women in my church believe what the Bible has to say, so I’m not all alone, but some of the other Christians that I associate with just can’t separate the truth from popular opinion. I try to make a stand on my blog, and I try to advise my family the best I can, but in public, I’m a very non-confrontational person. Is it our job to try to get the word out about the God-given role of women, or do we just live it as well as we can and wait for someone to ask why our marriages are so great? Or can we sometimes sense when someone is “ready” to hear the truth? Also, how do you help people who don’t believe that the Bible is the authority on everything? Do you just keep your thoughts to yourself, while trying to live out loud? I want to help, but I don’t want to drive people away or get on their nerves. I want to remain humble and not point out fault in my friends’ lifestyles. I don’t have an office in the church, so people don’t generally ask my advice about anything. Thanks for your post, and for any thoughts you might have about my questions!
Amy,
Martin Luther said, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen.” Words are mighty (mightier than even the sword, as someone else once said). Writing is a great way to get the truth out. But I agree with you that we need to do more. There is a passage in the Bible that seldom gets preached. Ephesians 5:11 says, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” It’s the reproving part that no one likes to do. Christians are to take a stand against evil. And the feminist movement is at its roots a work of darkness that began in the garden when Satan tempted Eve to usurp the authority of her husband.
I believe that we must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit when we talk to people. I try to remember that most are simply deceived into believing a lie. We must be compassionate yet still speak the truth in love. We also have to have the discernment to know when we should not speak. We certainly do not want people trampling the Words of God therefore we should not “cast pearls” (Matthew 7:6).
You will run into those who do not believe the authority of the Bible. Remember, it is not our job to convince them of the truth. We are just responsible to proclaim it.
I’ve read your works and you are doing a great job of proclaiming the truths of God. Blessings to you!
Kimberly,
Thanks for the quotes, the scriptures, and the encouragement. I guess I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing: writing a lot, trying to live out loud, and bringing up the topic whenever I think the soil has been prepared. I try to drop hints here and there to those who are struggling with this issue, and then if I ever find myself in a deep conversation with them, they already know how I feel, and won’t feel like they’ve gotten the wind knocked out of them when I bring up the topic of submission. I know lots of women in the church who think they are submissive, merely because they never directly disobey. I used to believe that way myself, but I’ve found that it’s so much more than that. It really stems from the amount of respect you show your husband on a day to day basis, and in each small aspect of living. The more submissive I become, the greater leader he becomes (I kind of think having a little follower prompts him to lead). Our relationship also becomes sweeter by the day. I can feel love emanating from him when he’s around me, and I hope that he can feel how deeply I respect him.
Excellent post! I hadn’t even thought of this issue in this way, but you are completely correct. Thanks for putting this in the forefront of my mind.
There was discussion about religion in my Race and Ethnic relations class, and I seemed to be the only person who raised my hand in opposition to women being priests, reverends, etc…
I could have said that in the Bible there is something about “women not dominating over men.” Apparently, most people may be Christian in the class, but I seemed to be the only person willing to speak. I felt (maybe) somewhat like a loner when people seemed to snicker or make whatever noise that they did as I was speaking.
(Referring to women not being the Pope, or bishops) I could have said that the Bible says this…maybe about “women not being in these positions”
At first I said “no,” to supporting it…then I recanted. But I changed my words fast and stood on being against it!
I felt that I might have done something wrong after someone in the class said that the part in the Bible (about “women not dominating over men”) was referring to “home-life.” I might have, “oh, okay..Your right.” I hope that I didn’t misrepresent the Bible or say something that I shouldn’t have said. I also hope that I don’t turn anyone away from Christian beleif. That’s not what I intended.
What of the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8 who worked under the authority of the queen? Philip never instructed the eunuch to quit his job. In any case, the New Testament requirements for church leadership do not apply to the secular arena, or else Christians could not support any candidate in most elections (even Ronald Reagan was not the husband of one wife).
Teresa,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that the qualifications for church leadership do not apply to the secular world. However, wouldn’t it be a much better world if they did! Imagine all of our leaders being blameless, vigilant, sober, having good behavior, not greedy, not covetous, one that rules his house well, etc. But I recognize that God’s standard for pastors/bishops is not the same standard that we have chosen to hold our leaders to. It is unfortunate.
I believe that there is quite a difference between the Ethiopian eunuch who worked under the authority of a queen and Christians in American voting for a woman president. We have a choice in the person we put in office.
Like I said, it is not an issue of whether women can lead, but rather should they lead. I just cannot find it in the Bible where this is ever God’s will.
Blessings to you!
I cannot find it in the Bible where it is ever God’s will that we rebel against the government, yet the United States was founded on rebellion against the British monarchy. Democracy and voting are not biblical concepts to begin with, yet if we can allow for that, I don’t see why we need to bar a woman from doing something that the Bible does not forbid.