Even though the Scriptures never portray women as secondary to men, our male-dominated religious system still promotes a warped view of female inferiority. Women are tired of this, and as a man, so am I—because such demeaning attitudes don’t reflect God’s heart.

Jesus challenged gender prejudice at its core when He directed so much of His ministry toward women. In a Middle Eastern culture that considered women mere property, He healed women, discipled them and commissioned them to minister. Yet today we spend much of our energy denying them opportunities—and using the Bible to defend our prohibitions.

I’ve identified 10 erroneous views about women that for too long have been circulated in the church, preached from pulpits and written in the study notes of popular Bible translations. I believe we must debunk these lies if we want to see the church fully released to fulfill the Great Commission.

Lie #1. God’s ultimate plan for women is that they serve their husbands.

How sad that so many Christian men view women from a selfish perspective. This view is often promoted by misreading the account of Eve’s creation in Genesis 2:18-25, in which Adam is provided a “helpmate.” The Hebrew word used here often is translated “companion,” denoting intimacy and partnership. But through the centuries it has been used to imply that Eve was some type of domestic appendage.

We men have assumed that God gave Eve to fulfill Adam’s sexual needs as well as to serve as his cook, laundress and maid. But the Genesis account does not say this.

The Hebrew word for help meet is “ezer” and it means help, one who helps.  It doesn’t mean companion.

After Eve’s creation, God did not tell her: “You are Adam’s helper; I command you to serve him well.” She was not created for servitude; she was fashioned to be a co-laborer with Adam so that they might rule together over creation as God commissioned them to do (see Gen. 1:28).

Gen 1:28 was stated to Adam before Eve was even created.  So God was addressing Adam alone. This is stated before the fall as well.  After the fall, God said in Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Lie #2. Women can’t be fulfilled or spiritually effective without a husband.

This is obviously not scriptural.  1 Corth 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

From the time she was released from a German death camp in 1944 until her death in 1983, Corrie Ten Boom taught the world about a Savior who could forgive the cruelest Nazi. Yet she never married. Did the fact that she did not have a husband make her less “complete”? Some Christians would say yes. 

We have spent so much energy defending the concept of the biblical family that we are guilty of idolizing it. We’ve preached that a woman’s primary responsibility is to find a godly husband, have lots of babies and stay home to raise them for Christ.

But marital status is not a qualifier for ministry. The Bible does not even state whether certain key followers of Jesus, such as the 12 disciples, were married or not.

The highest calling of all believers—married or unmarried—is to develop a relationship with Jesus. Any other earthly relationship is secondary, and Christ Himself warned us never to allow people we love to become idols that distract us from Him.

The highest calling of all believers is to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ through obeying His word and prayer.

Lie #3. Women shouldn’t work outside the home.

Many evangelical churches have preached that women who work outside the home are breaking a scriptural commandment, but this conclusion can be reached only by distorting the biblical record. The woman described in Proverbs 31 is often used to bolster a traditional view of the June Cleaver-style matron who spends her day baking casseroles while her husband is at the office. But a careful reading reveals that the Proverbs 31 woman, in her ancient Middle Eastern context, functioned as a real estate agent and ran a textile business.

Titus 2:5 instructs women to “take care of their homes” (New Living Translation). But most scholars would agree that this passage simply exhorts married women not to forsake their children.

Which scholars?  There are true Bible believing scholars and there are “Critical” Scholars who are unsaved, support the critical text (corrupt manuscripts) which underlie the modern Bible versions and are critical of the very words of God. They do not accurately interpret the scriptures.  The word of God states a wife’s primary responsibility is being “keepers at home” and “obedient to their own husbands.”

KJV:  Titus 2:5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Keepers at home means:  1) caring for the house, working at home  a) the (watch or) keeper of the house  b) keeping at home and taking care of household affairs c) a domestic

If a man works 8-10 hours a day, he doesn’t have time to cook, clean, do laundry and take care of children.  If the man doesn’t have time, and the wife is pursuing her career, who else is going to do it? 

In Proverbs we read: Proverbs 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.  Proverbs 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.

Proverbs 31 indicates that the wife provides food, clothes to her household which includes everyone in the house (including her husband).  If these things were secondary to her career resulting in her not taking good care of husband and children, her children wouldn’t call her blessed and her husband wouldn’t praise her.

It is true that, because of ambition or materialism, some Christian women neglect their children even though the Holy Spirit has urged them to put their career objectives on hold. But rather than placing a legalistic burden on women by telling them that having a career is ungodly, we should tell both men and women to submit their career plans to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God.  Thankfully, the word of God gives clear instruction.  To learn the importance of the Word of God, just read Psalm 119 in the KJV.  Sadly, legalism has been misdefined by many these days.  For a proper definition of legalism, read:  http://www.wayoflife.org/database/youlegalist.html

Lie #4. Women must obediently submit to their husbands in all situations.

A distraught Christian woman who was regularly beaten by her husband finally gained the courage to seek counsel from her pastor. After she told him about her husband’s fits of rage, the pastor responded, “If your husband kills you, it will be to the glory of God.”

The pastor reached this irresponsible conclusion because of a distorted view of “male headship.” We often portray marriage as a hierarchy, with husbands on the throne and wives at the footstool, and we use Scripture to justify this view: “Wives...submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22).

This is an unfortunate and rather extreme example.  It is obviously sin for any husband to beat his wife and it is sin for any Pastor to condone it.   God’s word clearly exhorts a husband to love his wife.

We assume this verse means women have no say in family matters or that their opinion is second-rate. In extreme cases, women have been told to submit to abuse in order to honor male headship. But this is not a Christian view.

Paul also told the Ephesians, “submit to one another” (5:21, emphasis added). I have heard teachings by male clergy on the subject of male headship, but I’ve never heard a pastor encourage men to submit to their wives! Yet in a loving marriage, a man and woman will defer to one another as they make decisions.

In my 16 years of marriage, my wife and I have had plenty of disagreements. But when we reach an impasse, I don’t announce, “I am the head of this house, so what I say goes.” Rather, Deborah and I either agree to pray about the matter, or we choose to defer to one another.

The point is never who is in charge. I view my wife as an equal. I am not “over her.” We function as one. 

The above verses prove a wife is to submit to her own husband.  If there are two bosses in a business with different business goals, this would confuse the employees.  Who has the final say?

Christ set the example of submitting to authority.  The Head of Christ is God, the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man.  This is clearly stated here: 

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

John 6:38, 39 states Christ came not to do his own will, but the will of His father.  This is a wonderful example of submission.  While Jesus submitted his Father’s will, He said that He and the Father were one.  John 10:30   While they were one, Jesus didn’t claim to be equal to the Father.  Phil 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Lie #5. A man needs to “cover” a woman in her ministry activities.

This idea came from a distorted interpretation of the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “the head of woman is man” (NKJV). People have used these words to bolster the idea that women are subservient to men or that they cannot approach God without a male authority figure in their lives.  

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11 about head coverings is a difficult passage, and Bible scholars don’t agree on its meaning. However, most teach that Paul is addressing specific cultural concerns in first-century Corinth and that he is calling for propriety and order in a society where immorality and paganism had blurred gender distinctions.

Paul was not placing men in a position of generic rulership over women. Because there is “no male or female in Christ” (see Gal. 3:28), women can pray, worship, study the Bible or minister without a man present. How silly to think that a man, because of his gender, could add credibility to prayer or Spirit-empowered ministry! To believe this would be to trust in the flesh.

1 Corinthians 11:3 is pretty clear:  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.  This is a foundation verse for the beginning of the chapter.   The context of these scriptures says nothing about whether a man needs to be present for a woman to worship.  It goes onto give specific instructions for men and women.

Lie #6. A woman should view her husband as the “priest of the home.”

Search your concordance. Scripture never describes men as “priests of the home.” This man-made concept was popularized in evangelical churches in the last century. We have one priest, Jesus Christ, whose blood atoned for our sins. It is a mockery of the gospel to suggest that any human being needs an additional priest apart from the Son of God.

The Bible says all believers are priests (see 1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6); there is no gender restriction. Husbands function as priests when they pray for their families or when they minister the Word of God to them, and wives also function in this role.

My experience in marriage has been that God speaks both to me and to my wife. He doesn’t say to me, “Since you are the head of this house, I’ll tell you my plans for your family, and you can tell the others what I said.” Often God has revealed His plans to my wife before I heard anything!

It is true that all believers are Priests, but straw man arguments shouldn’t be used to try to get men to submit to their wives.  1 Peter 3:1, 5-7 states:

 ¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  ⁵For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: ⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  ⁷Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Christian men need to stop being defensive and recognize that God has called us to function in unity with our wives. We need to listen to their counsel, consider their opinions, and pray together for the mind of the Lord rather than putting our foot down and shouting, “I am the leader of this family, and what I say goes!”

It is agreed that women are a great “help” to men with counsel and opinions based on the word of God but the man still has the final say. 

Lie #7. Women are not equipped to assume leadership roles.

The most common mistake we make in biblical interpretation occurs when we take one isolated verse and build a doctrine around it—even if the verse seems to contradict other passages. This is often what we do with 1 Tim. 2:12, “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man” (NASB). 

It is agreed not to isolate one verse and build a doctrine around it.  That is why it is confusing that this author does that quite often throughout this article.  See a few paragraphs down for examples.

Most theologians believe that this passage was addressing an isolated situation in Ephesus. They came to this conclusion after studying the myriad of references in the Bible to women in spiritual authority. The Old Testament records that Deborah was a judge over Israel—and God blessed her leadership in battle (see Judg. 4-5). Other women who held authority over men include Miriam, Huldah and Noadiah.

Again, which theologians?  Critical scholars that are critical of the Bible? Deborah is not a pattern for the NT churches.  God has given clear instructions against women leaders today.   1 Tim 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.   There were not female apostles, pastors, or deacons in the early churches.  (Didn’t have time to address Miriam, Huldah and Noadiah)

Jesus issued His first gospel commission to women (see Matt. 28:1-10), and both men and women were empowered to preach on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Matt 28:1-10 has nothing to do with the gospel commission.  It has to do with the angel telling the women to go tell his disciples Christ has risen.  The disciples were then to go tell his brethren. 

Acts 2:1-4 does not indicate women were preaching.  Read the context in Acts 2:8 which states And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Priscilla, Chloe and Phoebe were leaders in the early church, and one woman, Junia, is called an apostle by Paul (Rom. 16:7).   

Priscilla was helper of Paul in Romans 16:3, Chloe was never mentioned as a leader, and Phebe was a servant of one church, the church at Cenchrea, which was near Corinth. Junia is “noted” as a kinsmen and fellowprisoner “who are of note” to the Apostles.  In other words, the Apostles noted Junia in a good sense. 

The Apostles were all men.  The qualifications for the Bishops (or Pastors) 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6 are to be the “husband of one wife” and the same for deacons, 1 Timothy 3:10.  The Bible doesn’t say “the wife of one husband”.

The promise of the prophet Joel was that “sons and daughters” would prophesy after the Holy Spirit was given to the church (Joel 2:28, emphasis added). Yet we have taken one misunderstood verse from Paul’s writings and used it to negate hundreds of other passages that support the full release of women into ministry.

Lie #8: Women must not teach or preach to men in a church setting.

Since 1 Timothy 2:12 obviously contradicts the overall biblical endorsement of women in authority, how are we to understand it? What is Paul actually saying in this passage?

Previous verses stated clearly show that 1 Timothy 2:12 lines up that women are not to be in authority of men.

In their book I Suffer Not a Woman, Richard and Catherine Clark Kroeger explain that certain cultic worship practices involving female priestesses of Diana had invaded the first-century church. These priestesses promoted blasphemous ideas about sex and spirituality, and they sometimes performed rituals in which they pronounced curses on men and declared female superiority.

What Paul was most likely saying to the Ephesians was this: “I do not allow a woman to teach these cultic heresies, nor do I allow them to usurp authority from men by performing pagan rituals.” He was not saying, as some Christians have assumed, “I do not allow godly Christian women to teach the Bible.” In his day, Paul would have been thrilled to have had more skilled women who could teach the truth!

To assume what Paul was “most likely saying” is adding to the word of God and distorting what the context of the verses are clearly saying.

Lie #9. Women are more easily deceived than men.

This idea has been taught by twisting the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:14, which says, “It was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression” (NLT). Some have suggested that because Eve was tricked by the devil, women have a stronger propensity toward deception. Others have gone so far as to insist that women are to blame for all the evil in the world and are therefore under a greater curse than men.  No respectable Bible scholar in the church today would promote such a view.

Yes, women are not to blame for all of the evil in the world.  While Eve was deceived, Adam sinned willing.  Again, which Bible scholar?  A critical scholar who doesn’t believe the Bible? 

The Bible clearly states that Adam and Eve were both held guilty by God for their disobedience, and they were both punished. In 1 Timothy, Paul cited the creation account not to place extra blame on Eve but to refute a bizarre teaching that was circulating in Asia Minor.

In the first century, Gnostic heretics were mixing Christianity with paganism. One of their teachings stated that Eve actually liberated the world when she disobeyed God and gained secret knowledge from the devil.

Paul was not teaching that women are more prone to deception. He was explaining that what Eve did was not right, and that the Christian view of the creation was that Adam and Eve sinned when they listened to the serpent.

Women are certainly capable of spreading deception because they have a fallen nature as men do, but there is no evidence that they have greater gullibility. That view is rooted in demeaning stereotypes and prejudice.

1 Timothy 2:14 is pretty clear.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.  God said it, that settles it.

Lie #10: Women who exhibit strong leadership qualities have a “spirit of Jezebel.”

Once I was listening to Bible teacher Cindy Jacobs speak at a prayer conference in Colorado. When she approached the pulpit, two men who were sitting in front of me turned to each other and began to pray softly.

“Lord, we bind the power of the devil from bewitching this audience,” one man said, adding, “We bind the power of Jezebel in the name of Jesus.” These men believed that the crowd would automatically come under a spirit of deception when Jacobs taught them—simply because she was a woman.

How absurd! Was Barak “deceived” when he took orders from Deborah? (See Judg. 4:14.) Did baby Jesus come under a harmful influence when Anna prophesied over Him? (See Luke 2:36-38.) Was Apollos spiritually emasculated when he submitted to the teaching of Priscilla? (See Acts 18:26.) Of course not!

Priscilla was with Aquila her husband when they took him aside and “they” expounded unto him the way more perfectly. 

To associate godly women with Jezebel, a wicked Old Testament despot, is unfair and offensive, yet men in the church today often pin Jezebel’s label on strong, anointed women because they feel threatened by them.

Let’s stop the insults. If a woman is using manipulation to usurp authority or if she is spreading heresies, then she certainly deserves the Jezebel label—as do men who do such things. But women who walk in spiritual integrity and preach the Word of God with power deserve our respect.

Even though there are numerous scriptures already stated that refute this, here are a few more that provide wise counsel.

1 Peter 3:1-7 ¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; ²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. ³Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; ⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  ⁵For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: ⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.  ⁷Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

It would be difficult to maintain a meek and quiet spirit if one is preaching and teaching to men.  Teaching is to be done with authority as Christ did in Mark 1:22.   Women are clearly not given authority over men.

J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine, is the author of, Ten Lies the Church Tells Women (Creation House).

A few things to note:

1. Is it important to obey and live according to God's Word? 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.   God’s plan for this age is to save souls, establish churches and build them (the assembly of believers) so more souls can be saved and people can be ministered too.  We are to serve according to the word of God not man’s opinion. 

2. Are we to serve according to all of God's Word or according to man's wisdom? Can we mix the two? 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

3. If we live according to all of the God's Word, who provides the results?1 Corinthians 3:6-9 v6 but God gave the increase, v7 but God that giveth the increase, v8 and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. v9 For we are labourers together with God:

4. If we live according to man's wisdom, are there consequences? 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

If we don’t minister and serve according to the word of God, our works will be burned up.  There will be no reward.  That is very sobering.

Keep in mind the picture we are given of Jesus in Revelations 1:10-17.  ¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, ¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.  ¹²And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  ¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  ¹⁴His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; ¹⁵And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. ¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. ¹⁷And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Note from Christine:  I’m so thankful to not believe the majority of what is written by this author.  It is full of the doctrine of man, Mark 7:7.  By God’s grace, since I’ve submitted myself to our loving Savior Jesus Christ and to my husband, my marriage is such a blessing.  It’s the marriage I always wanted, plus more.  During the time when I lead our marriage, I remember trying to find my husband a greeting card.  It was difficult to buy because I despised him so much because I desired him to serve me. i.e. bow down and worship me.  And even when he did, it didn't make me "happy".  Because I now love the Lord thy God with all my heart, soul and strength, by God’s grace I love my neighbor which includes my husband.  It's a joy to serve him.  The way I know I love my God is because I obey his commandments and his commandments (anything that God says) are not grievous…. even submitting to my own husband!  Be blessed.