Mrs. Weisbecker labors for the Lord with her husband, Jim, at Camp Iroquoina near Hallstead, Pennsylvania. In recent years in their travels, and in her speaking to women, she has become increasingly burdened about the biblical role of women in the church. This is her personal testimony because, she writes, “I think that we, as women, need to encourage each other to continue to obey the Lord. There are too many voices out there telling us otherwise.”
Over the last few years, there has been much talk in Christian circles about the role of women in the church. A controversy seems to have arisen resulting in confusion among women as to what is expected of them in the assembly. Acts 19:32, although not speaking of the church, says words that are so very true today: “Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused.” In areas where there is clear biblical teaching, there should be no confusion, for God has spoken. It has been said that if God says it, then that settles it. But we, like the serpent of old, still question, “Hath God said . . . ?” (Gen. 3:1).
The two main areas of confusion among women today in the assembly are the head covering and the woman’s silence in the assembly meetings. Although many women are familiar with the words in 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 about the head covering and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 about the woman’s silence, it seems that many look at these commands of the Lord as a burden to bear rather than a privilege to perform.
Early in my Christian walk, our family had the delight of sharing a meal with a lovely elderly missionary couple from Korea. Our dear brother expressed his insight that the worship of women in the meeting of the saints must be a very special thing to the Lord, for He keeps it all to Himself. How many women today realize that although their worship is not vocal, it is still pleasing to the Lord and that it is He alone who hears it? Whenever anyone questions if it bothers me to be silent in the meetings, I first share that what I am doing is in obedience to the Lord, and His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), And then I share the insights of our dear brother from Korea.
I have come to view the head covering in a very similar manner. Not only is it a command of the Lord, it is also a testimony not only to men but also to the angels (1 Cor. 11:10). When we women can look at this as pleasing to the Lord and a privilege that we have, to be a witness to the angels, it is much easier to obey the Lord when others encourage us to put this aside.
As my husband and I travel in our work for the Lord, it saddens me deeply to hear women saying, “My conviction has changed” concerning the woman’s role. That is much the same as saying that our conviction about adultery or lying or stealing has changed. Saying that “my conviction has changed” is just another way of attempting to justify our actions. Let us remember that neither God nor His Holy Word change.
Dear sisters, there will be many who will criticize and tell us that we don’t need to go to such extremes. It is not always easy to stand in obedience to the Lord, especially in these last days. But neither was it easy for Mary of Bethany to anoint the Lord Jesus with oil and then suffer ridicule for this act of worship to Him. When those who criticize us or encourage us to abandon our obedience to the Lord in the biblical role of women in the church, let us remember what the Lord Jesus Christ said to those who ridiculed Mary: “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work on Me” (Mark 14:6). Let us always be mindful that we do it for Him because He has asked us. Do we need any other reason?