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 A
female campus missionary! — what is that? I never have been
quite sure what constituted a “missionary” anyway, and I “sure
nuf” am puzzled by a WOMAN missionary — on campus or off! It
seems to me what God approves a woman doing on campus, she could
do off campus — but then I am not at all sure what she does
and what her “mission” is. Does she teach the Bible? Does
she hold classes with men present? Will she contend for the
faith against unbelieving men? The whole implication sounds
suspiciously like a trial run — foot in the door — for full
fledged women preachers. In fact if a woman can scripturally
hold Bible classes for men on campus and dispute the scriptures
with men on campus, what WOULD prohibit her from doing the same
thing at 9:45 Sunday morning in the church building? Time and
location is the only difference.
Women
in the New Testament were helpers to preachers (PhiI. 4:3) and
to the church (Rom. 16:1), but that is a far cry from women
assuming the work of preachers. Aged women should teach young
women things peculiar to their conduct and responsibilities as
godly wives and mothers (Tit. 2:3-5). Moreover, God used women
to prophesy (inspired teaching (Lk. 2:36; Acts 21:8,9; Joel 2:
28-30), yet the same New Testament limits the sphere of woman’s
teaching. She is forbidden to teach and exercise dominion
over men (ASV 1 Tim. 2:12). Woman must be subject to man — on
campus or off. She can never occupy a position exercising
dominion over men without violating scripture.
This
is no insult to a woman’s capabilities. Her intelligence and
skill is not
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inferior to man. Christ is not inferior to the Father (Phil. 2:6), but this does not
exclude his subjection to the Father (1 Cor. 15:58) God assigned
the subjective place to woman and the leading place to man (Eph.
5:22-33). Woman’s role is no less important, but it is
different from man’s place.
Paul
is not giving instruction for conduct in assemblies exclusively.
It is not only at the building or “in public” that woman is
forbidden to have dominion over man. A woman who wouldn’t
utter a word in the building will sometimes loudly argue — no
holds barred — with men just outside the door. She may be “quiet
as a mouse” in the assemblies of the church, yet “wear the
pants” at home. This passage defines God’s assigned place
for men and women everywhere — even on a college campus.
God
will be pleased with women who obey his commands — teach the
young women...keepers at home (Tit. 2:4,5)... continue in faith
and love and sanctification with sobriety (1 Tim. 2:15). The
cause of Christ will never be advanced by woman assuming man’s
work. This brings shame to a woman, reproach to the church, and
blasphemy against the word of God (Tit. 2:5).
Developing
correct attitudes in woman is the real solution. To be “in
quietness” (silence KJV —1 Tim. 2:11,12) describes a
disposition of mind — not just an action. A loud mouth,
aggressive manner, and commanding activities do NOT proceed from
a “meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price” (1 Pet.
3:4). Joe Fitch
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