The topic of women in the church, whether in roles of leadership or women’s ministry, can be a dicey one. There has been a lot of ink spilled on this topic over the decades – even centuries. It has caused church splits, family division, and not the least, heated arguments between women in the church. Why is there such animosity about this particular topic? Why do we tend to draw back from this – especially in the Reformed circles?  Historically, in our churches (Canadian Reformed) there has been a mostly unwritten rule: women are not to be in leadership.  Coffee break came with some hesitation a few decades ago – women teaching women. We did not have women on committees or boards. In short, women were relegated to fellowship and hospitality roles, colloquially known as pink spaces – preparing coffee, providing baking, babysitting, doing VBS etc. There is no doubt that those things are important.  Yet, the prevailing belief was simply that men were in roles of leadership as head – in the homes and church. Only men are to be in official offices of minister, elder and deacon. And men certainly didn’t help out with fellowship and hospitality duties. (thankfully that has changed!)  Regarding the offices of the church, our Reformed churches have remained faithful to the biblical instruction that only men are called to those tasks. And I do believe that only men are called to the office of minister and elder, Scripture is clear about that.  But we must ask: where does that leave the women of the church? Does it matter? If so, why does it matter? If not, why not?

Before we can answer those questions, we need to start with our identity.  This is something that has not been prevalent in our thinking until recently. And in order to do justice here, we need to go right back to the beginning in Genesis 1 and 2. Our identity as women is firstly rooted in being made in God’s image – alongside men. In Genesis 1:27, Moses writes, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” There is no talk of leadership, or headship. It’s about our sameness and equality as image bearers. Full stop. The creation mandate which follows, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”, is for both men and women. But not just the command to be fruitful and multiply. Both are called to that, and both are called to reign and rule together.

God starts with sameness.  In respect to the creation mandate, the question to be asked is that if the mandate to be fruitful and multiply only referred to procreation, we’d have to ask ourselves: how do single, widowed, or women unable to have children fit in this? If we think of it more along the lines that we are called to multiply God’s image – that is, who he is – then we can say that being fruitful is being creative and productive in our lives.

Next thing to notice is that after God created things he said, “and it was good.” After he created his image bearers, God said “it was very good.”  Genesis 1 is widely considered the zoomed-out view. Genesis 2 is considered the zoomed in view where more details come to light. Details are provided once more about creation itself. But there is a stronger focus on God’s image bearers and our differences. Here we learn that God created Adam first. “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”  After the description of the garden and how God placed Adam in Eden to work it, we read a jarring statement from the Lord. In Genesis 2:18 we read, “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (my emphasis). 

It is not good? How could that be? And no, because our God is eternal, infinite, all knowing and all wise, it wasn’t a mistake. This was part of his plan. He gave Adam the task of naming all the animals. Imagine how much work that was! And he notices – “hey, none of these is like me!” So, there is no suitable helper. God then creates woman. While Adam fell into a deep sleep, God did surgery and “while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.”

By now you might be thinking, ‘Where is she going with this?  I know the creation story!” Remember, we’re looking at our identity.  First, look at where on the body God removed a piece of Adam.  From his rib – or as can be better translated: from his side. God could have used any part of Adam’s body. Something from his head, or his feet, or anything in between. But he chose a rib – the side- because Adam’s helper was to come alongside him as his partner in being fruitful and subduing and working. Not from Adam’s head so he could lord it over her and squash her into slavery like submission, nor from his feet so he could walk over her. From his side.  God didn’t create all kinds of other people so Adam wouldn’t be alone.  He created Eve. From Adam – to be like Adam, but also to be unlike Adam!  Women were made to be women, not a different kind of man. And what was Adam’s response?  Well, when God brought her to him, he must have been taken aback in amazement and stood there slack jawed! She was perfect!  And he breaks out in poetry: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.”

In God’s eyes, both are indispensable. We are both heirs of God’s salvation. (1 Peter 3:7) We are all “sons (and daughters) of God”, through faith as we see in Galatians 3:26.  We need a theological vision of brothers and sisters working side by side, together for the sake of the gospel. Bible study and theology in the church together. Together – that’s how God created us to work. Our God given gifts are meant to be used together for the health of the church and with the same goal of God’s glory. Our identity as image bearers comes before our roles and differences.

Now let’s look at the word translated as ‘helper’ or ‘helpmeet’.  “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper fit for him.”

There are two Hebrew words in view here.  Ezer and kenegdo. We’ll start with ezer.

Ezer = helper. Or it can also be translated as ‘strength’ as it is in Psalm 89:17, “For you are the glory of their strength (ezer); by your favor our horn is exalted.”  Ezer is not the picture of an inferior, or less equal woman!

The word ‘ezer’ is used 21x in the Old Testament.

Twice it refers to woman – Genesis 2:18,20.

Three times it is used for nations to whom Israel asked for military aid – Isaiah 30:5; Ezekiel 12:14; Daniel 11:34. 

And 16x ‘ezer’ is used to describe Yahweh as Israel’s helper. Exodus 18:4; Deut 33:7, 26, 29; Psa 20: 2, 33: 20, 70:5, 89:19, 115: 9-11, 121: 1-2, 124:8, 146:5; Hosea 13:9.

God uses the same word for us as he does for himself! And in these instances – with the nations and God – ezer is often used in a military context, meaning  to rescue or save.  Ezer isn’t just “helper” – it’s strong helper!  Carolyn Custis James calls us “ezer-warriors” for God’s kingdom, soldiering alongside our brothers in the Lord in the mission of building God’s kingdom. There is another Hebrew term that is military in nature used for women. Both Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman are called “women of valor” or “hayil”. And we know from Ephesians 6 that we, the Church of Christ, are called to put on God’s armor. Who puts on armor? Warriors. 

Isn’t that a much different view than has historically been taken of the word ‘helper’? 

Now, what about the word ‘kenegdo’? Kenegdo is translated as suitable or meet. (Hence the helpmeet it’s often translated as.)  However, “helpmeet” can give off a certain vibe if you will. A picture of the woman as the man’s assistant or aide, wife, mother of his children etc., which excludes almost 60% of women! (James, Half the Church,111-112) This focus has also led to the belief that God gave man the primary roles and responsibilities in the home and church, and secondary, supporting roles to women. This, as we know, has led to abuse in many different ways. But the term “kenegdo” indicates that the ezer is the man’s match – literally “as in front of him, what is in front of, corresponding to” and also, “counterpart”. James says, “Kenegdo suggests that what God creates for Adam will correspond to him. Thus, the new creation will be neither a superior or an inferior, but an equal…” (112)

Once again, doesn’t this give you a much different view of our identity and our roles alongside men? John McKinley prefers to interpret ezer as “necessary ally”, asserting that God has given us this analogy between himself as ezer and woman as ezer to focus on their functional correspondence. (Aimee Byrd, No Little Women, 25). This isn’t about inferiority. It’s about being equals as image bearers of God – our Ezer.

We often look at Genesis 2 from a marriage only perspective.  Certainly, it is about marriage as we read in Genesis 2:24, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”  Unity. An ‘other world math’: 1+1=1. Think of our God as the three in One.  1+1+1=1.  But as seen thus far, Genesis 2 is not only about marriage.

The creation mandate is for both men and women. That extends into the Church of Christ. The Church is the one body of Christ. As James’ book is called, women are “Half the Church.” The body cannot function if only 50% is working in God’s Kingdom. We are all needed.  We are all called to work. We must train women to prepare for our roles – both as potential wives and mothers, and as workers in the church. Since this isn’t a series about marriage, I will be focusing on women in the church. 

How do we strengthen ourselves as the “ezer warriors” we are? We need to be in the Word. We need to know theology; we need to know God and all he’s done for us through Jesus Christ. Doctrine is important. And it’s not just for men. Not just for those who go to seminary. Not just for pastors and other authority figures. What we do not need is what James refers to as “cotton candy theology”.  Fluff. Kathleen Nielson speaks about women’s bible study authors who aim to: “pay attention to who they [women] are, release their God-given potential, listen to their longings for significance, embrace their doubts, dream the dreams in their hearts, and so forth.”  (Article, What is Word-Based Women’s Ministry?)  God has given us minds to use – and the entire Scripture is inspired by God, breathed out by God for our instruction and benefit. (2 Timothy 3:16) 

In the church, it is not good for man to be alone. God never intended men to do the work of the church alone! We were created to work with them. In Titus 2:3-5, Paul tells him, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Aimee Byrd writes (in explanation of those verses), “to invest in the women of the household of God so that they may be instructed with a healthy doctrine that bears fruit in their personal households. Why does Paul say that he wants the older women to teach the younger women about personal holiness and relational care in the home? Well, he tells us why: ‘that the word of God may not be reviled.’” (No Little Women, 27)

Older women – or perhaps better called mature women, are responsible for helping the next generation of women understand the truth of God’s word. Specifically, as it applies to being godly wives and mothers, but also concerning their interactions with other people in their lives at home, at work, in the neighborhood, in a book club, etc. They need to know these things. And older women have a special place for this.  Yes, a man can teach everything to the women of the church. And that’s what corporate worship does in the preaching of God’s word, in prayer, Bible reading and the sacraments. But the leadership in our churches – elders, pastors, deacons – are already heavily burdened by the unique callings they have. Ask their wives – their husbands are busy!  Women are half the church. Women teaching women makes sense. Why? Because we are “ezer warriors” in God’s Kingdom, in marriage if she is blessed with that, but also in the work of the church. Side by side with the men. 100% of the church.

In conclusion, I believe that there is one more very important part of our identity. The overarching truth over all these matters such as offices in the church, roles, biblical womanhood – is our union with Christ. Our identity as women – and men, of course – is completely wrapped up in that union!  I’ll end with this quote from Herman Bavinck:

“As the church does not exist apart from Christ, so Christ does not exist without the church. He is ‘the head over all things’ (Eph 1:22; Col 1:18) and the church is the body…formed from him and from him receives its growth (Eph 4:16; Col 2:19), thus growing to maturity ‘to the measure of the full stature of Christ’ (Eph 4:13). The union between Christ and the church is as close as that between the vine and the branches, between bridegroom and bride, husband and wife, cornerstone and building. Together with him it can be called the one Christ (1 Cor 12:12). It is to perfect the church that he is exalted to the Father’s right hand.” (Reformed Dogmatics, p.474)

Next post: Women in the Bible.

Grace and Peace!