©2006, Crossway Books, 272 pages including indices, in paperback. 

We live in a day when the church often mirrors culture instead of leading it.  Modern churches condone abortions, and more recently the unions of homosexuals.  Jesus told his disciples in the Great Commission to go into all the world and teach all nations, not follow the prevailing evil practices.

Now even in evangelical churches there is an emphasis on women in leadership positions.  Within the PCA I have noted a growing acceptance of women leading public worship by reading scripture.  I am familiar with the supporting argument that we believe in the priesthood of all believers; and since women are believers, their priesthood allows them to participate in this way.

The priesthood of believers is a valid doctrine.  1 Peter 2:9 speaks of Christians being “a royal priesthood.”  The passage speaks in regard to our applying God’s word daily as a people who have been called out of spiritual darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ.  All believers can go directly to God in prayer because of the atoning work of Christ.  Our prayers reach God’s throne.

Nowhere in scripture do I find a reference to the priesthood of believers as addressing those who exercise leadership in the church or in a worship service.  Each person is to be actively involved in the worship and praise of God while attending a worship service.

The public reading of God’s word is an opportunity to teach the congregation.  This teaching is accomplished through voice inflection and emphasis on the passages read.  We need to be mindful of Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:l2-l3, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.”  Clearly, Paul is writing in regard to women’s leadership within the church.  In the following chapter, Paul writes, “...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.” (1 Tim. 3:l0)

The PCA does not allow women to serve in a position of ordained leadership as elders or deacons.  However, this barrier to women’s leadership is falling throughout evangelicalism.

In this important book, Professor Wayne Grudem addresses these issues affecting  women and the church.  He writes with a commitment to God’s word and a current knowledge of the arguments evangelicals are using to promote women as ordained church leaders.  He often quotes from books using scripture for their documentation.  He takes these same scriptures to show that such argumentation denies or undermines what the Bible actually teaches.

Naturally, many of the arguments focus on 1 Timothy 2:l2-l3, which I quoted above.  Since Paul ties the reason for male church leadership to the order in which God created man and woman, Genesis l-3 is a central area of study for many of these authors.  Professor Grudem answers such questions as “Was Paul Wrong?” and “Is It Just a Matter of Choosing Our Favorite Verses?”.  He addresses these and fifteen other points that some evangelicals raise to promote women’s leadership.  In each chapter he answers the claims by using scripture.  He teaches a high view of scriptural authority and the importance of context in biblical study.

Another section of this book answers untruths or unsubstantiated claims that have been made to circumvent clear, scriptural teaching.  Again, Grudem patiently examines these claims.

A final section has been wisely added.  Grudem knows that matters will not end with the acceptance of women into leadership.  There are other dominoes in line that can then fall.

The author’s chief concern in this work is the attack on the authority and clear teaching of scripture.  Once scripture is undermined, the acceptance of any and every teaching can be expected.

This is a book for laity as well as officers to read.  It will be eye-opening to many; eye-opening in the sense that the arguments are actually being made and are receiving a hearing in the evangelical world.  Evangelicals need to be equipped with answers.  This is an excellent preparation.

For those who have friends who are open to these arguments, you can minister to them.  The chapters are concise, readable and well-documented from scripture.

Review ©2007 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia