A Woman’s Place in the Church

A Woman’s Place in the Church

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” 1 Cor. 14:34. They should not speak, but be submissive. Notice the contrast: to speak and to be submissive.

“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head . . . .” 1 Cor. 11:5. Paul goes on to say that a woman can pray and speak prophetically. How can someone speak prophetically and at the same time be silent? Those who prophesy speak edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Cor. 14:3-4. Those who speak prophetically edify the church.

We see again and again that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. We have become ministers of the Spirit, not of the letter.

What really is the difference between the Spirit and the letter?

“Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” The man is the head of the woman just as Christ is the Head of the church. “For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.”

The woman is from the man and exists for the man’s sake, just as the church is from the Man—Christ—and exists for His sake.

The woman as the weaker part must be submissive to the man, just as the church is submissive to Christ. This picture must be kept very clear, so we never forget Christ is the Head.

When a woman either prays or speaks prophetically, she must cover her head with a symbol of authority. By doing so, she declares while she is speaking that she accepts the position she has been given: a woman who understands her place and does not go beyond her boundaries when she speaks so that she becomes a man’s teacher or lord. With all submission, she speaks prophetically to the edification of the church.

A woman must remain silent in everything that is beyond edification and exhortation and comfort in her prophetic speaking. She must not bring forth a message (a sermon) that makes her a teacher or lord over a man. In this area she must remain silent and be submissive. This is not because she is inferior to the man in Christ, but as a representative of the church she must not be in opposition to her head.

Quite frequently, a woman is more spiritual than the men who are present. When she gives a prophetic message according to the light she has, the men can learn a lot from it. She then becomes a teacher for the man. What can we say about this? The woman has permission and freedom to speak according to all the light that she has, as long as she keeps her spirit pure from thoughts about being a man’s lord. The man, in such a case, should not be threatened because a woman has infringed on his honor. If he is carnal, that is his own fault. Just because he is born a man does not make him a prophet or spiritual, if he does not walk in the Spirit.

Paul commended Phoebe, “who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” Phoebe was on her way to Rome, and Paul exhorted the men there to receive her in the Lord for what she was, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Paul sent greetings to “Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 16:3.

The man has all rights, so he must not begrudge the woman the undisputed rights and honor that belong to her. This is righteousness.

Through a lack of knowledge, people have served the letter of the law and held to it to the degree that the woman has been made more of a slave than the Scriptures make her. We need to learn to be ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter. When someone insists on the letter of the law, they themselves are slaves, and they make slaves of others. It is not God’s will or intention that we should be ministers of the letter. When David ate the showbread, it brought him life; yet according to the letter, if anyone ate of it, they were to die. He understood the ministry of the Spirit.

So, what should we do? The woman in all her conduct and speech should show respect for the man and not exalt herself as his head or teacher. If the man feels judged when a woman speaks prophetically, he ought to judge himself. He cannot justify his flesh by using such a pathetic excuse as: “You are a woman, so you must not speak in such a way that makes me feel judged.” All may prophesy, and if an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, and is convicted by all.