Women Pastors: The Most Obvious Evidence of a Rebellious Church

“Women pastors and women preachers are the most obvious evidence of churches rebelling against the Bible … Women who pastor and women who preach in the church are a disgrace and openly reflect opposition to the clear command of the Word of God. This is flagrant disobedience.” — John MacArthur

I do not agree with the late John MacArthur on much theologically. In fact, there are significant areas where I strongly disagree with him. However, I recently came across an older article citing this statement from him, and on this particular issue, I could not agree more with his assessment. We are living in a time where professing believers are often more offended by biblical authority than by open rebellion against it.

The issue of women pastors is not about intelligence, talent, compassion, or spiritual usefulness. Many women possess remarkable wisdom, strong biblical understanding, and tremendous influence for good. The Bible itself honors faithful women throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

The issue is authority.

Has God spoken clearly concerning leadership within the church, or has He not?

The Apostle Paul wrote under divine inspiration:

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” — 1 Timothy 2:12

Likewise, when Scripture gives the qualifications for bishops and pastors, the office is consistently described in masculine terms:

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;” — 1 Timothy 3:2

This is not vague language. God did not leave the structure of His church open for modern reinterpretation. Yet many churches today attempt to explain these verses away by claiming Paul was merely addressing an ancient cultural issue unique to Ephesus.

However, Paul himself removes that argument entirely by grounding his teaching not in culture, but in creation:

“For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” — 1 Timothy 2:13

This is crucial.

Paul appeals directly to Genesis. The order of male leadership in the church did not originate with tradition, denomination, or Western culture. It originated with God Himself. And rebellion against that order began long before modern feminism. It began in Eden.

One of Satan’s earliest attacks involved overturning God’s established order. Adam abdicated spiritual leadership while Eve stepped into a role God had not assigned to her. Ever since the Fall, mankind has continually resisted God’s authority structures in the home, society, and church.

This is why the debate over women pastors is about far more than a church staffing decision. It is ultimately about whether churches will obey Scripture when Scripture collides with the spirit of the age.

I was once taking Spanish lessons from an elderly woman in Asheville who had previously served as a professor at a local college. It quickly became obvious that she was deeply grounded in feminism and modern liberal ideology. Once she discovered that I was a Baptist preacher, nearly every Spanish lesson slowly transformed into an inquisition over why Baptists do not permit women to occupy the authoritative offices within the local church.

No matter how many times I showed demonstrative Scripture while answering, “Because the Bible says so,” the response was never sufficient for her.

Eventually, I kindly reminded her that I was paying to learn Spanish, not to be lectured on feminism. My final answer to her was simple: if you do not like the rules, do not play the game.

These are not man’s rules. These are God’s rules for His church.

Unfortunately, many professing Christians have adopted the same spirit as this unsaved woman. They are more interested in advancing feminism than submitting to the plain teaching of Scripture. The modern push for women pastors is not fundamentally about biblical interpretation. It is about whether modern culture or the word of God will have the final authority in the church.

Modern culture’s version of equality means sameness. The Bible never teaches that. Men and women are equal in value before God, yet they are given distinct roles and responsibilities. Distinction does not imply inferiority.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself submitted to the will of the Father while remaining equal with Him in Godhood (Phil. 2:6-7). Biblical submission has never been a statement of lesser worth.

Likewise, refusing the pastoral office to women is not hatred toward women. It is submission to God’s design for His church.

The Scriptures could not be clearer concerning order within the assembly:

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.” — 1 Corinthians 14:34

And again:

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

None of this diminishes the importance of godly women. In fact, Scripture repeatedly highlights the faithfulness and influence of women whom God greatly used.

Mary was chosen to bear the Christ into the world. Her humility and submission stand in sharp contrast to the rebellion celebrated in modern culture. Lydia opened her home and became one of the earliest supporters of the church at Philippi. Dorcas was “full of good works and almsdeeds,” so beloved among the believers that the widows wept at her death. Priscilla, alongside her husband Aquila, helped instruct Apollos more perfectly in the way of God.

The Bible honors women immensely without ever placing them into the office of pastor or bishop. God’s elevation of women in Scripture did not require the erasure of biblical distinctions. A woman does not need a pulpit to possess spiritual power. In fact, some of the greatest spiritual influences in history were women who simply embraced the role God gave them with faithfulness and strength.

Many modern churches recoil at these truths because they have embraced the values of contemporary culture above the authority of Scripture. Instead of allowing the Bible to correct society, they reinterpret the Bible to satisfy society.

But churches do not possess the authority to rewrite what God has already established.

Ironically, churches that abandon biblical teaching concerning male leadership rarely stop there. Once a church becomes comfortable dismissing clear Biblical commands in one area, compromise spreads rapidly into others. Many denominations that first embraced women pastors eventually abandoned biblical teaching concerning marriage, sexuality, biblical inspiration, and the exclusivity of Christ altogether.

This is because the true issue is never merely women pastors. The true issue is biblical authority. Will believers submit to Scripture when culture mocks it? Will churches fear God more than public opinion?

Faithful Christian women have always played an indispensable role in the work of God. Women have taught children, strengthened families, supported ministries, encouraged preachers, aided missionaries, defended truth, and influenced generations for Christ.

A woman does not need the office of pastor to possess eternal influence. The modern church often treats leadership positions as though they are the measure of dignity and importance. Scripture does not. In the work of God, humility and obedience is greatness.

The question is not:
“What role do I desire?”

The question is:
“What role has God ordained?”

The church’s responsibility is not innovation, accommodation, or cultural conformity. The church’s responsibility is obedience. And when a church openly rejects God’s plainly revealed order, it reveals something deeply troubling: It no longer trembles at the word of God.

About The Author