The main focus of “the ministry of women” from Titus 2:3-5 is that the word of God should not be blasphemed.  The aged women with qualifications ought to train the younger women in church.  Titus 2:3-5 says, “3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

As I have read this passage a few times, there is one particularly explicit lesson from the nature of Paul’s instructions for women in church – it is about relationships.  Young women’s relationships with their husbands and children and their relationships with others are mentioned in the passage.  In the broader context, it is their relationship with others in church.  They are trained by the aged women in church.  Let us consider more from the passage we have been looking into.

Women’s ministry – unique and distinct ministry

The pagan culture has permeated into our minds to lead us to think that there is no distinction between male and female.  Somehow the equal rights movement for men and women has devolved into no distinction between them.  Contrary to this, the Bible promotes “complementarianism.”  Man and woman are to complement each other.  There are wonders and splendours of gender distinctiveness between men and women, and it reflects the wisdom of God’s plan and purpose.  This thought comes from Genesis 2:18, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”  Gender distinctiveness in God’s creation justifies the necessity of the ministry for “women.” 

One of the reasons why some people do not like the complementarian view is that they think understanding women as help meet (“helper fit for” or “helper suitable”) for their husbands considers women to be inferior to their husbands.  However, it is a misunderstanding.  The Hebrew word for “help meet” in Genesis 2:18 is “‘ezer.”  This word is frequently used to refer to God as our helper.  Examples are many including Exodus 18:4, “And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”; Psalm 10:14, “Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless”; and Psalm 33:20, “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.”  Who will say that God is inferior to us because He is our helper?  Wives are in a very special position in relation to their husbands as helpmate. 

Let me go back to the gender distinctiveness between men and women.  If man and woman are equal but different, then they must be respected equally and ministered to differently according to their differences or rather distinctiveness.  As J. Ligon Duncan writes in her teaching material, “Women’s Ministry in Local Church” (p. 40), “We ought to have an intentional, deliberate approach to female discipleship because men and women are different, and these differences need to be recognized, taken into account and addressed in the course of Christian discipleship.”  If anyone is still not convinced that specific “women’s ministry” is necessary, I need to remind him/her again of Titus 2:3-5, “3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”  It speaks of “women’s ministry” by women for women.  Women’s needs are different from men’s.  Younger women’s needs are different from older women’s.  The WoH ministry is to meet the needs of a specific group of women in church. 

Women’s ministry – vital ministry

At this point, we need to go back to our origin in the book of Genesis.  Adam and Eve sinned against God and came under the burdens of the divine curses.  It changed lots of things including women’s ability to be true helpers and men’s ability to be true guardians of God’s creatures.  At this point of hopelessness, God gave hope.  He promised that the woman’s offspring would crush Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15).  After this promise was given, Adam renamed his wife Eve.  Genesis 3:20 says, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”  The Hebrew word for “Eve” comes from “living” or “life.”  Thus, Adam called her the “mother of all living.”  Through her sin, she became a life-taker in the first place, but through the promise of God she became a life-giver.  Through her a Saviour was to come.  The Hebrew word for “Eve” is translated as “Zoe” in the LXX.  Mother Eve brought life through the coming Messiah to His people.  I feel that this is the life and ministry of all Christian women.  They are not just Christian but Christian women.  They bring vitality into their homes and churches.

Women’s ministry is vital because it is a part of the whole ministry of God’s church.  Women’s ministry does not exist as an entity unto itself.  Instead, it is an integral part of the ministry for the whole church.  It recognizes the authority of the church and acknowledges the unity of the body.  It acknowledges that various ministries in church do not exist in isolation.  Each person in the WoH is a part of the whole.  The church is to equip each member to use her gifts for the common good.  The WoH’s members should understand the meaning of Ephesians 4:7-16 and know their roles, privileges, and responsibilities within the body of Christ: “7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Then, there are a few qualities for the ladies of the WoH to have to fulfill the purpose of its ministry.  I’ll explain next time. 

Lovingly,

Your Pastor

More Lively Hope

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