Woman, If You Love Jesus Why Do You Teach Men?

1Tim. 2: ^11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. ^12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. ^13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ^14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. ^15 But women ^ will be saved ^ through childbearing—if  they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

1Cor. 14: ^33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, ^34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. ^35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. ^36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ^37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ^38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

I think this sentiment below, is pretty much that of many professing Christians and so I want to use it to address the issue of women teaching men, especially in light of Beth Moore teaching in an upcoming "Passion" Conference this year.

Quote:

A number of blogs written by women, sadly, criticize Moore for allowing men to be present for her conferences because this means she is a woman who might teach a man. Great Scott! Head for the hills! What is she supposed to do? Have guards who forcibly remove anyone who has a “Y” chromosome? Can’t these big, strong, manly men police themselves? I believe that Scripture does allow women to teach men so I find this criticism to be unimportant....

....She makes a big point to say that she only teaches women. She addresses men who attend her conferences by stating, “I have no desire to have any kind of authority of you.” 

I do not think Moore has to take care of the feelings of any guy who wanders into her lectures. This statement strikes me as a sort of apology. Why does she feel she needs to take responsibility for anyone’s actions? It is the man’s choice to be there. But, I would love this Bible teacher to define what in the world she means by having “authority” over a man. How do you speak with and without authority? 

I would like to end on a positive note. I am gratified to see a compelling woman teacher who is drawing women and men to listen to her speak. She emphasizes that all of us should be reading the Scriptures and growing in our understanding. But, it is also important not to make an icon out of Moore. She is imperfect like the rest of us and has some issues that warrant closer scrutiny. 

~The Wartburg Watch

Others don't see a problem either, with Moore teaching men, like John Piper, John Frame, Mark Driscoll  and Tim Keller.

How often people also say how someone like Beth Moore loves Jesus (the mantra can be said of Rick Warren too, or any number of infamous teachers). But what does Jesus Himself say about loving Him?

1Jn 2:3  By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

1Jn 2:4  The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 

1Jn 2:5  but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 

1Jn 2:6  the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 

Joh 15:14  "You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Luk 6:46  "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

Mat 7:21  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of

heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Mat 7:16  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes

nor figs from thistles, are they?

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie

and do not practice the truth; 7  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we

have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

So Jesus repeatedly states that if a person loves Him, he or she will obey Him. It was God who 

said that women are not to be elders or teachers over men, nor have authority over them within the local church and marriage.

What’s so hard about showing love to Christ by not teaching men?

Unless you love the sisterhood more than Christ.

What’s so hard about making sure to ONLY teach women, by setting up a system of checking in women ONLY at the doors? Christ gave His LIFE up for us, why can’t we give up a little inconvenience for HIS sake?

I mean, if you are going to have security check bags (as they do at Moore's larger conferences), then you can check for gender. How hard is that? Oh wait, that might hurt someone’s feelings, right? Might be embarrassing? Finding a weapon (the reason for security checking all bags) wouldn’t be embarrassing but finding a man who is violating Scripture and thus also “causing” a woman to do so as well, would be embarrassing?

Ensuring obedience to Scripture just on the audience gender is too embarrassing? Might hurt feelings? Might be perceived as what, legalistic? Sorry, but that’s God’s law so it’s not legalistic. It’s pure and holy. Who are you oh man (or woman) to question your Maker? We serve a King and therefore do not live in a democracy called "Christianity". We live in kingdom with  One Ruler. We get no say. We don't dare change the King's dictates.

It’s no little thing to violate His command.

And it’s no little thing to blame another for one’s sin.

So yes, it can be done. You can sift out men from the audience if you are a woman teacher. I know of a well known speaker who actually puts up a sign on the doors to her conferences that state brothers are not allowed in while she’s teaching. That’s a woman who actually takes seriously the command of God. That’s a very honorable thing indeed and pleases God. It won't rake in the vast numbers of fanatic followers nor their money, but that's not what a true woman of God desires. Ever. HE must increase, I must DECREASE. 

“She makes a big point to say that she only teaches women. She addresses men who attend her conferences by stating, “I have no desire to have any kind of authority of you.” ‘ There’s a problem here as well. 

First of all I think really, it’s become an urban legend to keep saying that Moore “makes a big point that she teaches only women.” Or worse, she keeps it a bad secret that she proudly teaches men and has done so for 17 years, which is dishonest and underhanded.  The FACT of the matter is that she has historically nearly always taught men, starting in her own church inHouston since 1997, both in “Bible” studies and in the pulpit on Sunday evenings. That was quite a thing of pride for her and her old pastor/mentor. 

Even now, she still teaches men. The infamous “Passion” conferences, along with preaching at Lou Giglio’s church is continuing evidence of her feminism and rebellion against God’s clear command.

If she really loves Jesus, she’d repent and stop teaching men. But that would mean giving up the popularity, speaking tours, book tours, fan clubs, and money.

Telling men “I have no desire to have authority over you” and then proceed to teach with authority over them is just silly and dishonest (which I think was Wartbug Watch's point and one which I actually do agree with). Saying a mantra doesn’t clear her violation of God’s command to not teach men, especially when she systematically does teach men.

Titus 2: ^11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. ^12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. ^13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ^14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

Scripture is clear that a woman is NEITHER to TEACH NOR have authority over men. She still violates that passage because while she's not officially most of the fans' pastor, she is indeed teaching. The prohibition is against two things: having authority over men and teaching men.

Lastly any woman who claims to teach Scripture  and yet knowingly teaches men as Beth Moore (or Priscilla Shirer, Kay Arthur and others does) is a hypocrite because it is Scripture that says she's not to teach men, and thus points to her and calls her out as being in rebellion and sin and is to be ignored, rebuked, and silenced. It's a dangerous thing to play with a double-edged sword. It can even be deadly.

Her awful handling of Scripture bears out why Scripture states this.

So when a teacher who is clearly in consistent violation of God's clear commands is hailed as a person who "loves Jesus" we must reject such a claim (which is merely a conversation stopper) because Scripture is very clear: the one that loves Christ will obey Him. That means a teacher, no less, will not be teaching heretical doctrine nor will they practice consistent rebellion against Scripture.