Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 4/24/2009

Question
Good afternoon, I am speaking at church soon and wanted to research some information on leadership roles among deaconess and mothers in the baptist church. I thought I knew something but if you can help me I would be very grateful.

Answer
God has given wives a hard, but awesome role of showing the world how the church's relationship should be with Christ.  Eph. 5:22-33  We are to be subject to our husband as the church should be to Christ, our bridegroom.  We should communicate well with our husband as we should with Christ, but the final decision is not ours.  That may be difficult, but we don't have to bear the responsibility or blame, which is a load off of our shoulder.

According to I Tim. 2:12, women are not to teach or usurp authority over men.  Titus 2:3-5 says for women to teach other women.

Mark 10:43-45 "But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all, for even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister"  By feeding and taking care of a husband, children, and/or parents or others, women reflect God's image and are given a high position.

I Tim.5:8 gives the responsibility to provide for the family to the man.  

We are of equal value, (Gal.3:28), one Body of Christ (Rom 12, I Cor.12), but with different functions.  Probably women's position is harder emotionally (where we are stronger) but men's position is harder physically (where they are stronger), but this is generally speaking.  We have flawed genetics and flawed parents, from years of sinful separation from our perfect Creator, but the more we need God's grace, the more we can appreciate Him.

May our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven. (Matt.5:16)