Gender Roles in the Church

Read Titus 2:1-8

 

This week we finish our look at the roles of men and women in creation, marriage and now the church.  The book of Titus is written to a pastor.  Paul addresses in this passage the roles of men and women in the church.  Now today there is a lot of differing opinions about the roles of men and women in the church.  I simply this week want to address what the Bible says the roles addressed in this passage.  Today we will look at the roles of older men and women in the church.  The word “older” literally refers to people over 60 years of age or without child rearing responsibilities.  Notice that I did not say retired people, because no where in scripture will you find the concept of retiring, rather the changing of roles.  In this passage Paul exhorts Titus that the “older” men and women have definite roles in the church.  First the men are to lead by example.  Their very lives are to be an example of the very characteristics that later younger men are to be exhorted to be.  They are to be spiritually healthy so that the younger men can see by example what they are to be.  The older women similarly are to live by example also, but Paul adds the role of admonish to the women.  This refers to teaching the younger women in certain roles that they are to be doing.  As a young person you need to seek out individuals like this that can mentor and disciple you in being a man or women of God. To often the “older” generation is overlooked and often they advocate their responsibility to younger men and women.  Paul specifically gives this role to the “older” generation. We should pray that “older” men and women step up to fulfill their God-given roles.

Father thank you for Godly examples of how to live for you.  Help us to be willing to seek someone out who can help guide us down the path of living a godly life for you.