Women In Worship
Women In Worship
The church's Christian women are to be treated with the highest levels of respect, dignity, honor, and deference. They are to be given the loftiest places in the church; and they are to be regarded, in one sense, as being "above" men. Adam was made of the dust; Eve was formed from Adam's rib.
And though it is true, that God constituted men in such a way that they are to lovingly shepherd His church--this "difference" does not make men better, or higher, or more important than women, (the women that belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, in particular).
The fact that uniquely-called and -qualified men are to do the preaching of the gospel in the church's convocated Sunday (Sabbath) Worship Services, does not make them superior to women. The same may be said of the administration of the sacraments of the church; and the leading in her (the church's) prayers and confessions of faith/catechisms/and/or creeds; and the handling of vows.
Women, just like men, are to worship God in and through Jesus Christ with hearty adoration--not only in the Sunday Services, but throughout all of life. In the Sabbath Worship Services, they are to participate in the sermons (by praying for them, and receiving them with faith); in the prayers, by praying along with the officer enjoined in this duty; by reciting the Lord's Prayer, and the confessions of faith, etc.; and by singing with heartfelt devotion the hymns and psalms of the church.
With all this in mind, let us ask ourselves this question, "Why is it, then, that Christian women are *not* to preach in church, lead in prayer, or participate in administering the sacraments?" This is a fair question. The answer is, "Because God has not constituted them [in their very being, as women] to do these things." . . .
The truth is, that when we humans (or even angels) leave our "proper abodes," and break with God's order of things, we actually degrade ourselves, and make ourselves something less (not more) than we would be, if we stayed within our assigned places.
When men in the church insist that women do what they (the men) are called to do, they (the men) are doing a horrible disservice to (the women). This is actually a form of abuse. I fully-comprehend that not all men understand this; and that sometimes their policies are not based in gross rebellion. I also know that there is tremendous pressure on some congregations to violate God's order. This may (especially) be true in large cities, and in college communities.
What I am sharing here, I (personally), only apply to the church's convocated Sunday Worship Services. There is a fundamental difference between this covenantal gathering, and every other aspect of the church's ministry.
Let us remember, that true freedom, pleasure, and joy, is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord; and that only those who accord with God's very-perfectly-conceived order of things attain to the highest levels of happiness and fulfillment. When we deviate from our Creator's perfect ways, we hurt ourselves, and abuse those whom we are to be loving and serving.
The Christian faith, church, and gospel is the greatest beacon of hope and liberty for all people--and women have been at the very top of this list. Let us all worship God well, appropriately, and wholeheartedly--and do it all in and through our faith in and love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #76
28 February 2026
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