The Disciples-as-Leaders Argument
for no women in leadership
The Argument: “If we’re basing our church’s leadership on Biblical principles, then we notice that throughout the Bible, God chose primarily men to be leaders of his people. The patriarchs, judges, and kings were primarily men. And look who Jesus chose for his disciples. Jesus didn’t choose any women. It seems like God is communicating that he primarily wants men to lead in his churches.”
Counterargument 1: This argument, if valid, does not support a men-only leadership model but only a primarily male leadership model. The Bible portrays God instilling women in places of leadership as well. Miriam co-led the Israelites. Queen Jezebel ruled Israel with King Ahab. Deborah judged Israel. Women were among Jesus’ witnesses and followers. Paul mentions a female apostle and women who fought alongside him for the sake of the gospel. God didn’t exclude women from leadership.
Counterargument 2: This argument would need to prove that the Bible is teaching us to replicate the governments and societies in the Bible, meaning that our church governments ought to be based on patriarchal societies, military-led societies, monarchies, and male-hierarchical Roman provinces.
Counterargument 3: This argument confuses the types of societies and governments in the Bible with what God revealed through these societies and governments. This is like confusing a specific judicial system with justice itself. When God uses a specific judicial system to reveal his justice, he isn’t teaching Christ-followers to replicate that judicial system, but rather to know God as a just God.
Counterargument 4: This argument would need to prove that Jesus chose his disciples for the purpose of having hierarchical positions in church government. However, Jesus says nothing to the disciples about a specific leadership task exclusive to them over the other believers. Historically, Jesus’ teachings have been applied to all Jesus’ followers, and they show how Jesus’ followers are to be like servants, not government rulers. (Matt 20:25-29; Luke 22:24-27)
Counterargument 5: If Jesus’ selection of disciples is a guide to selecting church leaders, then church leaders must also be primarily unmarried Jews under the age of thirty with blue-collar jobs. In addition to this, there must be twelve of them, and one of them must be a known traitor.
For more arguments and counterarguments, click on the links below: