March Intermission: From Complementarianism to the Person and Work of Christ

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Editor’s Note: As a primer on the issues surrounding men and women in the church, the home, and beyond, we direct our readers to download for free 50 Crucial Questions: An Overview of Central Concerns about Manhood and Womanhood.

It has been said that March enters like a lion and ends like a lamb. As the seasons change, going from the cold of Winter to the warmth of Spring, the weather patterns often change dramatically. Whether this saying is true or not, is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is the problem that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is facing with respect to women preaching and pastoring across the denomination. And this is merely a microcosm of a larger dynamic in many evangelical denominations across North America.

If we entered the month concerned that there was a growing movement of egalitarianism in the Southern Baptist Convention, we depart from March with that concern validated. Not only have we seen Saddleback define their terms regarding women’s pastors, but we have also heard confirmation that Rick Warren will attend the Southern Baptist Convention to appeal the decision to remove Saddleback and for the “benefit” of his “6,000 Purpose Driven Churches.”

At the same time, Mike Law’s proposed amendment to the SBC constitution—that the SBC “Does not affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.”—has gained steam and opprobrium. His website documents more than 170 female pastors in the SBC, and news reports misrepresenting his position and motivations have followed suit. At the same time, further developments have occurred. One of the largest churches in Tennessee has recently ordained a woman; a large SBC church in Colorado with multiple female pastors has headlined their website with a woman preaching to their church; and SBC pastors like Andrew Hebert have offered support to the movement by tweeting out a collection of misleading Scripture references.

Long story short, what motivated us to identity the egalitarian beach ball as a wrecking ball has been proven throughout the month. And this subject will only continue as messengers prepare to attend the SBC in June. For that reason, we offer what follows as a collection of resources for you, your churches, and anyone else who has ears to hear.

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Under Reconstruction: How the Egalitarian Beachball Wrecks the Household of God

Over the course of March, we attempted to show from Scripture (e.g., Titus 2, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 11), from nature, from ecclesiology, and from other literature why God calls men to lead churches. As Todd Pruitt notes, this is grounded in creation itself, and as Abigail Dodds observes, this is good for men and women in the church. Even more, Jonathan Leeman teases out the ways Scripture forbids and invites women to serve in the church, and this is coupled by Chad Lawrence’s article on the ways in which manhood and womanhood are practically expressed in the home.

Indeed, it is the household imagery of the church that best accounts for the language of 1 Timothy 2:12. In the household of God, Paul forbids a woman to teach or hold authority over a man. Why? Because the household of God is a new creation community, one that is meant to restore order to the world by means of organizing itself to principles found in creation itself. This is the rationale given in 1 Timothy 2:13 and one that must be read in the context of 1 Timothy 2–3.

Many today are ignoring the rich history and biblical exegesis that explains the household of God. And accordingly, they are playing with the egalitarian beachball. When pragmatism runs the church, the church refuses to build itself according to God’s Word. But when the construction project is superintended by God’s Word, then the Spirit of Christ is the true foreman of the church. Yet, many today are finding ways to repackage biblical truth and others are claiming complementarian convictions even as they welcome women to preach God’s authoritative word in pulpits across America.

For this reason, denominations are having debate this and Christians are needing simple, biblical answers for questions about men’s and women’s roles in the church. This month, we have attempted to provide many of those answers. Yet, if one article summarizes everything, it would be Trent Hunter’s seven-point response to the egalitarian beachball. In his longform, he gives a brief answer to each of the seven points below. His article serves as a great resources for explaining how to answer the questions that keep coming up.

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In all, we would ask you to pray for the churches of Southern Baptists and to pray for June’s convention. If you are Southern Baptist, please look for ways to join us in New Orleans and lend your voice to calling the SBC to uphold its statement of faith, The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which (in glad obedience to God’s word) limits the office of pastor to biblically qualified men. Most concretely, you can share the articles and podcasts listed below or donate to Christ Over All, so that we can print material to distribute in New Orleans. Our longform essays are in bold below:

The Egalitarian Beachball Is a Church Wrecking Ball By David Schrock

What looks colorful and playful . . . until it smashes into the household of God? It’s a wrecking ball disguised as the Egalitarian Beachball, and its coming for the Southern Baptist Convention. READ ESSAY

 

Is the Slippery Slope Actually Slippery? Egalitarianism and the Open-and-Affirming Position By Colin Smothers

Does embracing female pastors eventually lead to embracing practicing homosexual pastors? A lesson in hermeneutics. READ ARTICLE

 

Paul’s Teaching on Women’s Roles in Titus 2:3–5 By Marny Köstenberger

Although our culture has become confused regarding the roles of men and women, Scripture provides an unchanging guide for these issues. So what does the Bible have to say about God’s glorious purpose for women? READ ARTICLE

 

On Complementarity By Colin Smothers

God’s word and God’s world both testify to complementarity between men and women. So, what exactly is complementarity and why does it promote flourishing for everyone? READ ESSAY

 

2.10 David Schrock • Reading • “The Egalitarian Beachball Is a Church Wrecking Ball” By David Schrock

What looks colorful and playful . . . until it smashes into the household of God? It’s a wrecking ball disguised as the Egalitarian Beachball, and its coming for the Southern Baptist Convention. LISTEN TO PODCAST

 

Paul’s Teaching on Male Elders in 1 Timothy 2–3 By Andreas Köstenberger

Elders are to manage the household of God, but who does Scripture permit to hold the office of elder? And were these qualifications limited to the New Testament era, or are they binding for the church throughout time? READ ARTICLE

 

2.11 Colin Smothers • Reading • “On Complementarity”

God’s word and God’s world both testify to complementarity between men and women. So, what exactly is complementarity and why does it promote flourishing for everyone? LISTEN TO PODCAST

 

Women and Head Coverings: Explaining and Applying 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 By Andy Naselli

What do head coverings teach us about men and women? And how do we apply Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 in our culture today? READ ARTICLE

 

Encore: Is It Loving for a Faithful Christian to Go to a “Gay Wedding”? By Robert A. J. Gagnon

The answer is a clear, unflinching, biblical, “No!”—motivated by a love that far exceeds the love of every single wedding guest. READ ARTICLE

 

2.12 Colin Smothers, David Schrock, Trent Hunter • Interview • “On Complementarity”

God’s word and God’s world both testify to complementarity between men and women. So, what exactly is complementarity and why does it promote flourishing for everyone? LISTEN TO PODCAST

 

Women Teaching in Complementarian Churches By Robert Lyon

It may come as a surprise that some complementarian churches actually affirm women preaching. How did they arrive at these conclusions? And what are the dangers of this position and its underlying arguments? READ ARTICLE

 

The Conversation Behind the Conversation: How Ecclesiological Assumptions Shape Our Complementarianism By Sam Emadi

How do our views on the church and spiritual gifts impact our thinking on roles of men and women in the church? As it turns out, in more ways than you might think. READ ARTICLE

 

The Impossibility of Eldering: On the Good and Proper Role of Women in the Church By Abigail Dodds

That God created us all either male or female is not an arbitrary bit of information, but actually shapes what our discipleship looks like. So, what is the proper role of women in God’s good design? READ ARTICLE

 

Creation, Men and Women, and the Household of God By Todd Pruitt

God did not randomly assign roles for men and women in the church. Rather, these flow directly from his created order. Will we uphold the good design of Genesis 2, or continue the rebellion of Genesis 3? READ ARTICLE

 

A Not-So-Biblical Survey of Women in the Bible: A Thirty-Seven Point Response to Andrew Hebert By David Schrock

When imprecision about the Bible is amplified through social media, a viral tweet can do untold damage to biblical truth. In response to a pastor’s recent statement about women in the Bible, this article will put into context more than three dozen verses offered by this misleading tweet. READ ARTICLE

 

Truth Be Told: Empirical Research Regarding Complementarian Institutional Vitality By Linda Reed

They said, “If you hold to a complementarian position, your organization will die.” But what does the empirical data actually show? READ ARTICLE

 

An Interview on Male and Female He Created Them: A Study on Gender, Sexuality, and Marriage By Denny Burk, David Closson, Colin Smothers

What is an accessible resource to help churches explain what God’s Word says about manhood and womanhood? Enter Male and Female he Created Them. READ ARTICLE

 

2.13 Jonathan Leeman • Reading • “Criteria for When a Woman Can Teach Among Christians”

Does Scripture permit a woman to teach a Sunday School class? What about lead a small group? While Scripture clearly teaches complementary roles for men and women, applying this teaching to various ministry settings requires careful thought. So, what does a faithful and wise complementarianism look like in practice? LISTEN TO PODCAST

 

Criteria for When a Woman Can Teach Among Christians By Jonathan Leeman

Does Scripture permit a woman to teach a Sunday School class? What about lead a small group? While Scripture clearly teaches complementary roles for men and women, applying this teaching to various ministry settings requires careful thought. So, what does a faithful and wise complementarianism look like in practice? READ ESSAY

 

Poking Holes in the Egalitarian Beachball: Seven Arguments against Female Pastors By Trent Hunter

What do you say when your daughter turns to you and curiously asks, “So why can’t women be pastors?” Through seven different responses to current arguments, our answer boils down to this: “Because we trust our good and wise God.” READ ESSAY

 

Practical Complementarity By Chad Lawrence

Must we sheepishly uphold Scripture’s teaching on the roles of men and women, embarrassed by its “outdated” ideas? Absolutely not! The sweet song of complementarity causes homes to flourish, so we should gladly sing along. READ ARTICLE

 

2.14 Jonathan Leeman, David Schrock, Stephen Wellum • Interview • “Criteria for When a Woman Can Teach Among Christians”

Does Scripture permit a woman to teach a Sunday School class? What about lead a small group? While Scripture clearly teaches complementary roles for men and women, applying this teaching to various ministry settings requires careful thought. So, what does a faithful and wise complementarianism look like in practice? LISTEN TO PODCAST

 

Endless Repackagings of Egalitarianism: Four Important Book Reviews By Michael Carlino

There is nothing new under the sun. How do four recent books on manhood and womanhood give a new spin on an old sin? READ ARTICLE

 

The Beauty of Biblically Broad Complementarianism By Kevin DeYoung

What are the ABCDEs of differences between males and females, easy enough for a child to understand? They are Appearance, Body, Character, Demeanor, and (with a little cheating) Eager posture. READ ARTICLE

 

What That Hideous Strength Teaches Us About Marriage and God By Brad Green

While a science-fiction novel, C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength has much to teach us about our own reality. Namely, masculine leadership is not an obstacle to overcome but an aspect of God’s good design. READ ARTICLE

Behold the Man: Meditations on Jesus Christ, His death, and Resurrection

If March came in like a lion and the roar of the debate continued through the month, we can rejoice that for Christ Over All, the month is going to go out like a lamb. This does not mean a capitulation to passivity, but it does mean that we who rejoice in Christ’s Lordship, do so as disciples who worship the Lamb who was slain.

In Revelation, the resurrected Christ is portrayed as lamb once slain but now reigning. And for the next month, we are going to glory in this Lamb who was slain, but who now reigns on high. Wonderfully, April brings us to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. While we celebrate the resurrection of Christ every Lord’s Day, there is something extra special about the holy day which remembers the empty tomb.

Beginning with Lee Tankersley’s meditation on why the resurrection is necessary for penal substitution, we will spend the month reflecting on Jesus Christ, his cross, and his resurrection. From biblical meditations to theological reflections, we will wash off the gangrene that comes with polemical argumentation and we will soak in the truth that Christ died for sinners according to the Scriptures, and that he arose on the third day—also to fulfill the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1–8).

Keeping the gospel at the forefront of our minds, we will meditate on who Christ is, what he has done, and what this means. And thus, as we prepare for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, may these essays stir your affections for Christ. At the same time, we would invite you to share them with others. The resources we produce here are for the edification of the church, and there is no message more important than Jesus Christ crucified, resurrected, and reigning.

To that end, we enter the month of April with hope that the Lamb who was slain is now ruling in heaven, sending forth his gospel, drawing his sheep to himself, and drawing his sword against the goats, the wolves, and the serpents. With confidence that the risen Christ reigns over all, may we celebrate his death and resurrection this month.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author

  • David Schrock

    David Schrock is the pastor for preaching and theology at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. David is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a founding faculty member and professor of theology at Indianapolis Theology Seminary. And he is the author of Royal Priesthood and Glory of God along with many journal articles and online essays.

David Schrock

David Schrock

David Schrock is the pastor for preaching and theology at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. David is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a founding faculty member and professor of theology at Indianapolis Theology Seminary. And he is the author of Royal Priesthood and Glory of God along with many journal articles and online essays.