Over the past months, I’ve noticed a growing trend among various Christian women influencers. There’s a thirst for more authority, leadership, and ‘vocational affirmation’ within the church body. Terms like Women’s Pastor and Women in Leadership are becoming increasingly acceptable and common.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴
At its core, I believe this movement reflects a deeper struggle about identity, purpose, and value in God’s design for men and women. To illustrate some of the mindsets and attitudes that are wrongly being cultivated in the modern church, here’s a quote from a popular Christian author and influencer:
“𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘈𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘤. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺. 𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦—𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦—𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦…𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮.”
While this may initially sound logical and appealing on the surface, when you break it down the real issues are so much deeper. I would submit that the ‘performing and jockeying’ isn’t about the stated lack of microphones or ‘coveted seats at the table’, dear sister. Rather, it’s the fruit of a heart driven by pride and self importance. Christian ministry at its heart is not a position to be claimed but a life of service following the example of Jesus.
𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆?
God’s Word clearly defines the order and offices He established for the local church body: positions of authority are entrusted to qualified men, and women are not given roles of preaching or leadership in corporate worship.
“Aɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀꜱᴇᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜ, ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪꜰᴇ…” (1 Tɪᴍ 3:2)
“Aꜱ ɪɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴜʀᴄʜᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪɴᴛꜱ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴜʀᴄʜᴇꜱ. Fᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋ, ʙᴜᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ɪɴ ꜱᴜʙᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ…” (1 Cᴏʀ 14:33)
“Lᴇᴛ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ qᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ꜱᴜʙᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴠᴇɴᴇꜱꜱ. I ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪᴛ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴇʀᴄɪꜱᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀɪᴛʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ; ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴ qᴜɪᴇᴛ.” (1 Tɪᴍ 2:11–12)
Coveting what God has not assigned brings conflict and confusion (see James 3:14–4:1). When we reject or resent God’s instruction, we become active participants in sowing seeds of discord. As Paul warns in Romans 16, causing divisions and creating obstacles contrary to sound doctrine is a serious matter.
𝗜𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀
If a woman feels she must reach beyond what God has lovingly assigned to her, she is missing the full measure of purpose He intended. Lies are always wrapped in something desirable. This is nothing new; it echoes back to the Garden, when Eve reached out for what was not meant for her.
But why is it that when a woman is told there is something she ought not to do, the outcry so often becomes, “Misogyny! Patriarchy! Hatred of women!” The issue here is not oppression. It is discontentment, and ultimately a rebellion against God’s good design.
Yet God’s design for women is not a punishment or a mark of inequality. It is an honored, beautiful, and holy calling.
My husband often says that God has entrusted women with roles so vital that there is no time or space for anything extra. To nurture life, build homes, shape hearts, and serve–with prayer, steadfastness, and strength, these are not small assignments in God’s eyes; they are precious and powerful. While I don’t have space here to unpack every wonderful calling God has given to women or highlight all of the remarkable ways He has used them in His kingdom, these treasures can be found throughout Scripture.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
Women are called to be deeply rooted in truth and sound theology. Scripture instructs older women to be active in teaching younger women, guiding them to embrace their callings with grace and strength. While the gifts of the Spirit are given without gender distinction, their exercise and application should always align with God’s revealed plan for men and women.
So why all the controversy over women’s function in the church? Why is there frequently anger and name-calling toward those who stand firm in upholding God’s ways? Is it because of pride, hunger for control, or a craving for recognition? I wonder if even deeper than that, the real issue is this: We have ceased to value what Jesus values.
Jesus honors the one who gives a cup of cold water to a child (Matt 10:42). He sees the quiet acts of care given to the needy (Matt 25:40). He esteems those who take the lowest seat (Luke 14:10) and lifts up the humble (James 4:10). He praises the widow who gave out of her poverty (Luke 21:1–4)—not the rich who gave for show. He blessed the children and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Mark 9:37).
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁.
We despise doing the hidden work. We minimize the small, unseen acts of faithfulness. There is a clamoring for platforms and pursuit of acclamation while deceiving ourselves that it’s “all for God’s glory.” Jesus, in many cases, has become an accessory worn to promote personal ambition.
I think of our small church and the Sunday school teachers who faithfully teach our children, pouring their love, energy, and attention into our little ones. To Michael and I, and far more importantly to God, their service is a beautiful and powerful investment that will leave a mark on the souls of our children for eternity. It touches us deeply. So many women serve in countless ways, I’m often in awe of the beauty in their attitudes and I deeply respect them for it.
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁
Feminist philosophy has crept into minds and churches and is becoming unabashedly bold and more common than one might think. It shows up nearly everywhere, quietly eating away at women until they begin to feel disconnected and dissatisfied with the purposes God created them for.
I know what a mental battle this is because I’ve wrestled with it myself. It uncovers layers of selfishness and pride I wasn’t even aware of. Over the years, I’ve come to recognize that this struggle isn’t the fault of God’s plan; it’s the result of sin in my own heart. As I surrender to the Lord and align my thinking with His, I find tremendous peace and see His hand at work in incredible ways.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 “𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀”
When ‘influencers’ or teachers prioritize maintaining their platforms over sound words, the impact on Believers can be deeply harmful. As 2 Peter 2:3 warns, “by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words,” and 2 Timothy 4:3 cautions that “they will heap up for themselves teachers and turn their ears away from the truth.”
Many Christians have traded discernment for the comfort of emotional validation. They filter truth through the voices they follow, confusing popularity with authority, and influence with wisdom. Instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape their thinking through God’s revealed Word, they let others’ opinions take sway in their judgment.
Self-deception takes root when Scripture is read but explained away, leaving hearts vulnerable to lies. In that vulnerability the voices begin to whisper planting seeds of doubt, and bitterness soon takes root. The cycle of confirmation bias replaces Spirit-led, honest discernment.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 – 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲
Something to note: Have you ever noticed how quickly many women dismiss Biblical instructions given specifically to women by saying, “Oh, that was just a cultural thing”? Imagine for a moment the upheaval that would follow if men treated the directions given to them with the same dismissal.
See, when you start explaining away New Testament teachings by saying, “That was only culturally relevant then and no longer applies,” you’re pulling the legs out from under the entire foundation of Biblical truth. To reject them as outdated is to undermine and weaken the authority of Scripture, which leads to selective obedience where ‘we’ pick and choose what is right.
You may have heard of the movie “God’s Not Dead”, but you know – God’s not dumb either. When He inspired His Holy Word, it was meant to stand the test of time and changing cultures. None of it surprises Him. He meant exactly what He said. It is authoritative for all Believers, in every generation.
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝘂𝘀
I also want to acknowledge something deeply important: many women have experienced real pain and disappointment in churches and marriages. Some have felt undervalued, overlooked, or even mistreated in their God-given roles, and that pain is both valid and heartbreaking. The church must respond with compassion and seek restoration for those who have been hurt. However, it is vital that our personal wounds do not become the lens through which we interpret Scripture. While our experiences are real, they do not alter God’s unchanging Word. True healing comes not from rejecting His counsel, but from embracing it and allowing His truth to shape our identity and purpose.
God’s design sets boundaries — not to hold us back, but to protect us. These boundaries free women to step into a beautiful, sacred calling with purposes only they can fulfill. Men cannot do everything that women do. Their roles are different but equal in value, fitting together perfectly.
Though it may not always look like the world’s idea of success, God’s way brings true joy and lasting contentment. Life’s seasons may shape the opportunities and capacities we have to serve, but faithfulness in any season honors God. We are saved for His purpose as it says in 2 Timothy. So let us rest in that truth and walk confidently in it, knowing that our loving Father sees everything, even when others don’t. Learning to thrive in the roles God has given us is the greatest blessing and fulfillment any human can experience.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵
The most powerful women in the church are not those chasing positions, platforms, or titles. They are those who faithfully embrace the calling God has given them, valuing what He values and living for His approval.
Their strength is not seen on a stage, but it is honored in heaven and will outlast every fading trend. It’s a life anchored in truth, for the glory of Christ alone.
