In previous articles we have considered the uniqueness of humans, created in the image of God, Gen. 1. 27, and the distinction between males and females. These together complement each other and can glorify God. However, because of our fallen creation, this partnership, designed by God, is not fully displayed and, instead, there is conflict and disagreement.
The local church is where God’s order should be best seen in a world that has rejected Him and His word. It will not be perfect, because local churches are made up of saved sinners, who all still have the flesh! This article outlines some principles of biblical masculinity and femininity as they are expressed in the local church. We cannot address every aspect of the subject but provide a starting point for further study.
General principles
- All believers are priests. This subject is dealt with by Peter; he says that believers are an ‘holy priesthood’, 1 Pet. 2. 5. A priest is someone that has the privilege to enter the presence of God; in the Old Testament, this would be to offer sacrifices on behalf of God’s people. In the New Testament, the role of all believers is to ‘offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’, v. 5. Paul exhorted the Romans to ‘present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God’, 12. 1; the context is that believers, together in one body, should fulfil their spiritual gift, to prove the ‘will of God’, v. 2. Perhaps our most significant opportunity to offer spiritual sacrifices is in remembrance of the Lord Jesus at the breaking of bread; preparation is required by all believers in their worship of the Lord Jesus, expressed audibly by the males.
- All believers are one in Christ. ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus’, Gal. 3. 28. Regardless of race, status in the world, or sex, Christians are equal in dignity and value, and are one in Christ.
- All believers have equal responsibility. Being priests and one in Christ Jesus brings great privilege and responsibility for all believers, male and female, old and young. It is a privilege to be part of a local church, but also a responsibility to study the word of God, pray, and serve the Lord daily in the priestly activities and work of the local church - not just when there is a meeting!
- There are different spiritual gifts.1 God distributes gifts ‘to each one individually as He wills’. 1 Cor. 12. 11 NKJV, and has given individuals gifts to benefit the people of God, Eph. 4. 12. Some gifts are more prominent than others, but not more important - the unseen gifts of helps, 1 Cor. 12. 28, service, Rom. 12. 7, and showing mercy, v. 8, are vital for the wellbeing of a local church. Interestingly more than half of the ongoing gifts in the New Testament are unseen, compared to prominent gifts such as teaching.
- There is an order of headship. ‘The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God’, 1 Cor. 11. 3. The Corinthian church was not acknowledging the headship of Christ, and Paul was teaching God’s order: God, Christ, man, woman. This is order, not inequality, as the Lord Jesus is ‘equal with God’, Phil. 2. 6. In the local church, this is shown in symbol form, the covered head of the woman and the uncovered head of the man show the glory of Christ, as the man ‘is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man’, v. 7. Headship is also shown in roles, ‘I will therefore that men pray every where’, 1. Tim. 2. 8, they are commanded to lead audibly church gatherings in prayer (this is all men in the church, as prayer isn’t a spiritual gift) while ‘women keep silence in the churches’, 1 Cor. 14. 34. This relates to what is audible - as we have already seen, the silent, spiritual prayer and worship of all believers is important.
Practical implications
So, what are the implications of the principles? First, because God has stated these things in His word, I can believe them, base my convictions on them, and seek to obey them. Second, I can appreciate the wonder of God’s purpose and the dignity of serving as male and female together in the local church, for His glory.
