Votes For Women?

John McCain's announcement of his VP pick sure set the nation buzzing. While the news organizations are arguing over how politically smart his choice was, Christians are dealing with a completely different issue. At first glance, it seems like a wonderful choice. The Republican VP nominee is pro-life, a fiscal conservative, wants to preserve the definition of "marriage" as between one man and one woman, and is big on government reform. But there is one problem. The nominee is a she; Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. So, what was a no-brainer now gives us pause, and we must now ask ourselves a question. Can we, as Christians, give our full support (our vote) to Mrs. Palin (or any woman for that matter) for the office of a civil leader without rejecting the tenets of the Bible?

Biblical Headship

To answer this question, we've got to go back to the beginning, and I mean the very beginning. Genesis 2 gives the account of the creation of man and woman, and it is here that the Biblical headship of man over woman is first displayed. In I Corinthians 11, a broader account of this divine order is given, with the order being God, Christ, Man, Woman. It is this idea of Biblical headship that Paul gives as the reason for male leadership in both the family and the church.

"For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." 1 Timothy 2:13-14

"But the Civil Realm is Separate from the Family and Church, So Why Can't Women Lead There?"

It is true that the family, the church, and the civil authority are distinct, but a look at Scripture will show that God's order is the same in each one.

First, let's look at the family, which was created by God in Genesis 2. Scripture makes it very clear that it is the husband, not the wife, who is to lead the family. "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:22-24

Now, let's look at the church. Once again, Scripture makes it very clear that women are not to have authority over men. "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says." 1 Corinthians 14:34

Finally, we have the civil realm, which is also a God-created realm. Examples of the criteria for civil leaders given in Exodus 18 and Deuteronomy 17 indicate that the positions are to be filled by men, and though there are no verses that expressly say "Women may not be civil leaders", we can go back to the divine order begun at Creation, as Paul did, and apply it to the civil realm. If God created the family and the church with one order, why would he create the civil realm with another order? He wouldn't, for He "...is not the author of confusion but of peace..." (1 Corinthians 14:33).

"But What About Women Like Deborah, Esther, Miriam and Phoebe?"

First of all, none of these women overturn the divine order so clearly established throughout Scripture. Each one is in an unique position, and must be looked at individually.

Esther, though used by God in a mighty way, was not a ruler of the land. She was simply the wife of the king whom she could not even go before unless summoned without putting here life on the line. She fulfilled God's destiny for her in her God-given role of wife.

Miriam, as Moses' sister, definitely had quite a bit of influence over her people. However, in Numbers 12, she and Aaron begin to openly question Moses' authority saying "'Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?'” (v. 2) Her desire for Moses' position as both religious leader AND civil leader stirred God's wrath and she was struck with leprosy.

Phoebe is mentioned once in Romans 16. Paul calls her a "...servant of the church in Cenchrea..." and "...a helper of many and of myself also." Phoebe is indeed a servant (deaconess) in the church, but not necessarily a leader or teacher. Wikipedia has the following to say regarding deaconesses in the early church: "The title "deaconess" appears in documents from the early Church period, particularly in the East. Their duties were different from that of male deacons; deaconesses prepared adult women for baptism and they had a general Apostolate to female Christians and catecumens." Once again, she was serving God in her God-given role.

And then we have Deborah, whose name I have heard more in the past few weeks than I had heard in my entire life. To understand the story of Deborah, we must look at the whole picture. At the time Deborah's story begins "...the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD." (Judges 4:1) and God delivered them into the hands of their enemies. The leaders refused to lead, and a time of judgment had come on Israel. Deborah herself is different from the other judges and leaders of Israel. She does not sit in the gates (the seats of the leaders), but rather under a palm tree. In "The Song of Deborah" (Judges 5), she is referred to as "...a mother in Israel" (as opposed to a father), and she even says at one point "My heart is with the rulers of Israel...". Finally, unlike the other judges, it is not she who leads Israel to battle, but Barak (who is punished for his fear by not getting the glory of victory).

On the flip-side of all this, there is one woman in the Bible who is held up as a model for Godly womanhood; the Proverbs 31 woman. Here we see that it is her husband, not her, who "...sits among the elders of the land." She, meanwhile, "...watches over the ways of her household...". It is only because she fulfills her role as a keeper at home that her husband is able to fulfill his role as a leader of the nation.

"We Can't Hold Our Secular Leaders to Biblical Standards."

What other standard is there? Should we instead apply the standard of today's culture? How about the standard of our own interests? Everyone has a standard by which they make their decisions. The question is, are Christians applying the correct one.

Besides, chances are you are already holding them to Biblical standards. Do you want your leader to be pro-life? How about anti-gay marriage? Those are both Biblical standards that you are holding them to. Just as either we accept that either all of the Bible is the inspired word of God or it isn't, we can't only apply part of the Biblical standard for leaders. It is all or none.

Conclusion

First I would say that none of this is an opinion of Gov. Palin personally. I am in no way qualified to judge her in the area of her parenting skills or her Christianity. I also believe that she is a very talented woman with wonderful ideas and convictions. However, because she is a woman, I cannot support her for the office of civil leader without going against the tenets of the Bible as well as God's divine order.

I would also address my fellow sisters-in-Christ. I am in no way suggesting that because God's divine order places us under the authority of men, He will not use us in mighty ways. The Bible clearly gives us examples of women who did amazing things in the roles that God had given them. Now, more than ever, America needs strong Christian women, not in the oval office or in the capitals, but in the homes of this great nation, supporting the leaders of today and raising the leaders of tomorrow. Ladies, we have the tremendous power to shape the leaders that our husbands, sons and brothers-in-Christ become. It is not an easy task, in fact it is probably one of the hardest things that we will ever be called to do, but it is the task set before us by the Almighty. Our decision is, will we reject this task and instead follow the culture's call to fleeting glory and fame, or will we obey our Father's call to eternal glory and an imperishable crown?

Finally, I will leave you with this verse, one that I think serves as a warning to us as we face the decision of who to support for civil office.

"For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of His glory. The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” Isaiah 3:8-12 NKJV