by Kyle Ellison<\/p>\n
Fox News reported this week that women are now the largest demographic that is abandoning the church in The United States. Honestly, when it vaguely asked me to guess who was leaving at the highest rates, this wasn’t the answer that came to my mind, but then I began to question why this might be.<\/p>\n
One woman was interviewed and said the following as to why this trend has emerged…<\/p>\n
“Women are less inclined to be involved with churches that don’t want us speaking up, that don’t want us to be smart,” Mojica Rodr\u00edguez, the daughter of a pastor who was raised attending church frequently, said, according to AOL.com.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Let me just say that this made me sad. It makes me sad that this woman felt this way, but it also makes me sad that someone made her feel this way.<\/p>\n
Let’s state two important truths upfront:<\/p>\n
\n
- God has different roles for the sexes.<\/li>\n
- There are things women do that men may not and things men do that women may not.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
I reject the idea that God or the apostles were sexist, male-dominant, or against women. Still, I believe we have failed in some ways in helping women see their intricate value before God and their absolute necessity to the well far for God’s church. If you are a woman who is a Christian, let me say that you are to be valued, you are to be used in Christ’s body as a fellow servant and laborer, you are not second class, and I do want you to be very <\/b>smart in so many ways.<\/p>\n
\n
- Paul praised women and their contributions to his ministry (Romans 16).<\/li>\n
- Paul praised Timothy’s mother and grandmother, who instilled faith in him.<\/li>\n
- God used women extensively, such as Rahab, Pharoah’s daughter who raised Moses, Ruth and Naomi, Phoebe, and others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Nevertheless, I do worry that there are some things that we cannot compromise on when it comes to the sexes: Women may not serve as pastors or bishops in a New Testament church, and women may not usurp authority through preaching and teaching in the assembly. Though I do not have the space and time to unpack this, let me say that Satan has deceived people into thinking that the same role equals the same value, and that <\/b>is the lie.<\/p>\n
I am not a pastor or elder. Why? According to God’s Word, I am unable to at this time. Does this make me less valuable? There are wonderful works women do that I cannot.<\/p>\n
Hear me well! The same roles are not equivalent to the same value.<\/p>\n
God loves, uses, lifts up, and thinks highly of women. May we always be sure to do the same in the church of the Living God.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Kyle Ellison Fox News reported this week that women are now the largest demographic that is abandoning the church in The United States. Honestly, when it vaguely asked me to guess who was leaving at the highest rates, this wasn’t the answer that came to my mind, but then I began to question why…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[82],"class_list":["post-69403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":32140,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-you-help-me-respond-to-some-questions-on-womens-roles\/","url_meta":{"origin":69403,"position":0},"title":"Can you help me respond to some questions on women’s roles?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I know you have no shortage of busy-ness, but here I come with another question for you. I had a discussion via instant messaging with a friend, and I'd greatly appreciate your wisdom in trying to decide how to respond. Here are my friend's comments: I Corinthians 11 talks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34019,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/our-roles-are-not-shameful\/","url_meta":{"origin":69403,"position":1},"title":"Our Roles Are Not Shameful","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jarrod M. Jacobs God created man and woman (Genesis 2:7, 18-25; Matthew 19:4). He also made them to fulfill specific roles on this earth. In Genesis 2:18-25, God states that man and woman have certain roles and responsibilities. These roles have transcended the years and the confines of countries\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":70557,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/equal-in-christ-distinct-in-roles-a-scriptural-case-for-male-leadership-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":69403,"position":2},"title":"Equal in Christ, Distinct in Roles: A Scriptural Case for Male Leadership in the Church","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gregory Alan Tidwell I've been a preacher in the church for over forty years, and over time, I've seen many debates rise up among us. One of the most enduring, particularly in recent decades, is the question of women's leadership in the church. Many voices today, both from within\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":87017,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-proper-for-a-woman-to-preach\/","url_meta":{"origin":69403,"position":3},"title":"Is it proper for a woman to preach?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, Minister, I am reaching out because I was searching to see if it was okay for a woman to preach in a church. I read a lot, and your breakdown was more understandable and less depressing. I recently joined a church, but women run it. 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It leaves me with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26934,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-women-submit-to-female-leaders-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":69403,"position":5},"title":"Should women submit to female leaders in the church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a young woman. I was wondering, what do you think about women having to submit to female leadership or authority within the church? 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