Titus 2:4-5: [Older women should] admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 

We’ve all heard stories of scientists striving to find the “missing link,” the remains of some creature that connects modern man with the chimpanzee. Many of these stories are so far-fetched they’re humorous, such as the story of the “Heidelberg Man” whose ape-like shape was manufactured from the remains of just a jawbone. Later, scientists conceded that this bone was quite human after all. Or consider “Nebraska Man;” this “link” was artistically portrayed as a full figured humanoid. But it was built up from the remains of one tooth—a tooth that was later found to have come from an extinct pig.

And yet, men of worldly wisdom continue to search for the mysterious “link” that would distance them from their Creator.

In a similar fashion, evangelical feminists strive to find a biblical “missing link” to support their quest for egalitarianism. They select a few choice Scriptures to twist and strive to build a new doctrine, one where men and women are left emotionally, vocationally, and sometimes physically, indistinguishable and patriarchy and complementarianism are presented as outdated and culturally irrelevant. They attempt to present a new breed of women who are prepared to ascend Babel’s steps to save the world from the alleged folly of sexual distinction and male-headship.

Now, before you get me wrong, let me assure you that we men can indeed behave like apes. We have done a pretty poor job of taking dominion of the earth, stewarding God’s creation, and bringing the good news of Christ to the nations. We have also failed miserably at protecting and cherishing our women, leading our families, and being servant-leaders.

But our failure is not God’s. In fact, God’s immeasurable Grace is the only thing that keeps me from being pinned to the floor with the weight of that failure. His Grace releases me to live out what He’s called me to and His Word shows me how to be victorious in it.

He doesn’t need a new paradigm; rather, we need to repent and embrace the roles and responsibilities the Lord has given us in His Word. As we live out the Gospel in our lives—in our homes; as we reflect Christ and glorify Him in all we do, we will win the lost. As we live out our faith—in real life–God just may bless us with authentic revival and powerful reformation—one family at a time!

To this end, we have described our position on family and gender roles. One of these positions—a position that is under attack in many churches today— is that the normative role of women is that of wife and mother. Here is where the stones and arrows fly. Thankfully, I have thick skin.

The evangelical feminists scour the Word, trying desperately to fit square blocks in round holes, to somehow prove that the clear prescripts of Scripture are invalid today. They look for that ever-missing link.

Meet the alleged poster women for an alternative career path…

Ruth–A farm hand (Ruth 2:7). Hardly! This was not a woman working in agriculture by choice. This was a widow striving to glean leftover grain so that she and her mother-in-law did not starve.

Deborah–A judge (Judges 4:4-6). Yes, she was a judge. But God’s Word tells us that women ruling in places of authority are a curse upon a land (Isaiah 3:12). The men of Israel had turned their backs on Jehovah. The whole Book of Judges chronicles the apostasy and rebellion of the men of Israel (Judges 2:11-23). Maybe it is time for Hillary after all!

[Editorial clarification - I am not equating godly Deborah with Hillary Clinton. God was indeed gracious to give rebellious Israel a godly leader. But this was still a curse on the land, albeit a gracious curse. Note John Calvin on this issue: "If any one bring forward, by way of objection, Deborah (Judges 4:4) and others of the same class, of whom we read that they were at one time appointed by the command of God to govern the people, the answer is easy. Extraordinary acts done by God do not overturn the ordinary rules of government, by which he intended that we should be bound. Accordingly, if women at one time held the office of prophets and teachers, and that too when they were supernaturally called to it by the Spirit of God, He who is above all law might do this; but, being a peculiar case, this is not opposed to the constant and ordinary system of government."]

Lydia–The businesswoman (Acts 16:14). She was the first convert in Europe and was an Asian business woman. She obviously did not grow up in a covenantal home. She was outside the people of God (the Jews). Is it any wonder she made a living outside the prescriptive will of the Lord? Yet, she is held up a hero by evangelical feminists.

Phoebe–The deaconess (Romans 16:1). Again, she was most likely a Gentile convert. Many scholars see her as possibly being a “widow indeed” (1 Timothy 5). Her listing in Romans 16 does not mean she had never been a wife and/or a mother. As we see, a “widow indeed” can and should serve the church and has a unique calling in this stage of her life. Still, she is not an “independent woman” purposing to live apart from family and “do her own thing.” She is a tried and true servant of the church.

Mary (Romans 16:6)–see Phoebe above. There is not enough information to suggest anything but the normative role for her.

Mary Magdalene–Possibly an ex-harlot (according to church history – see comment below) but certainly a demoniac (Luke 8:2). She certainly shouldn’t be an example of egalitarian bliss. Before Christ’s gracious touch, she may have lived a life of sexual exploitation and sin. Not much of a model for our daughters – but a sister in the Lord, nonetheless. Mary Magdalene was another sinner saved by Grace, just like me, but she should not be held up as an example for women’s roles.

Susanna–A demoniac (Luke 8:3). Not much is known about her, except she appears to be one who the Lord delivered from demonic possession or infirmities. Again, a picture of God’s grace, but not a role model for our daughters.

Dorcas – A who-knows-what (Acts 9). All we know is that she was a disciple of Christ, known for good works and charitable deeds. She died and was placed in an upper room. She was raised by Peter who presented her to the “saints and widows.” Could she have been a widow herself? Not much else is known of her. There is no reason for us to believe she was an “independent woman.”

Euodia and Syntyche–Lawyers, maybe (Philippians 4:2-3)? Or, perhaps, Philippian boxers? We know nothing of these women except they were Christian women who were contentious and in some sort of quarrel. Good thing their conflict took place before the age of blogs. Again, the text does not give us any indication of where they lived – or with whom (brother, son, family, etc.)

Of all the 162 named women in the Bible, this is the list commonly given to support egalitarian claims. So, when we look at the statistics and the examples, we find that most of the named women in the Word of God followed the normative track of being wives and mothers, the same prescript found in Genesis 3, Titus 2, 1 Timothy 5, and Proverbs 31 –a short list.

And, after running out of named individuals in the Word, some turn to these examples:

The Hebrew Seamstresses (Exodus 35:25 -26) – This section of Scripture does not talk about those with shops outside their homes. The Hebrews were on their 40-year walk through the desert. These were gifted women who were bringing offerings to the new Tabernacle! Would that all men and women give their gifts and talents to the service of the Lord!

The Warning of the Prophet (1 Samuel 8:13) – This is not a blessing – it is a curse! Samuel is warning God’s covenant people that if they insist on having a king, he will take their daughters for his service!

1 Samuel 8:13-14: He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants…

Hardly a proof text for daughters leaving the guidance and protection of family; nor is it a primary external call for women. In fact, it sounds more like the draft or a warning of “Look out—you might just get what you ask for!” One of my favorite Rabbi’s once said, “May the Lord bless and keep the Czar…far away from us!”

The Proverbs 31 Woman (Proverbs 31:10-31) – What a woman! Sounds like my wife! There is no doubt this is a gifted lady, and one that all women should strive to emulate. But note two quick things – she is first a wife and a mother—a faithful keeper of her home. She does not neglect her household to make a name for herself—in fact we learn in this chapter that she “makes a name for her husband” (Proverbs 31:23) and her husband and children in turn, rise up and call her blessed (Proverbs 31:28)! Additionally, there are different seasons in a woman’s life when being involved in activities outside the home are more possible. Most scholars see the Proverbs 31 description as spanning a lifetime. This makes more sense to me. In addition, a godly keeper at home is not chained to her home, but she is a home-centered woman, industrious, passionate, strong, hard-working, and happily under the authority of her husband—she is not a career woman.

As we consider the future of our daughters, shouldn’t we look to the Word of God to see if there is a basic course laid out for them? While I do believe there is a place for higher education in the preparation of our daughters, our focus should be to encourage them to see the eternal value in embracing their unique role as wife, mother, and keeper at home—the normative role for women, found in Scripture.

I do not believe that all those who hold to the “egalitarian” positions outlined above are feminists. Some are simply evangelicals who have not taken the time to study these things out for themselves. Others have studied, but come to the Word with their own iron-clad presuppositions. Nevertheless, it is time for Christians to be counter-cultural, or rather, to be biblical in their study and application of God’s Word. The cause of the weakness in the church that has occurred over the decades is not complementarianism but liberalism, pragmatism, and feminism. If we really want to reach the lost and see the Church create culture rather than adapt to culture, it will occur when the members of the church live as the Bible commands.

1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

A quick note of clarification: As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, we are to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Likewise, the women above can be viewed as “role models” as they faithfully walk in God’s precepts. However, the state they were in when they were brought into the Kingdom should not be used as a model for Christian women.