This doesn’t belong here…but i didn’t know where else to put it…I was wondering if you could look at the comments left on Justin Taylor’s blog regarding John MacArthur

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2007/09/interview-with-john-piper-and-john.html#comments

If you have time, could you either comment on here via blog on demeanor in worship or direct me to something you might have already written on the subject? (that is, demeanor of individuals in the congregation, not the demeanor of the worship leader/band) If you have time for neither, that’s fine, too.

I’m very thankful for your music. At the DG conference this weekend, they played several Sovereign Grace songs and they were excellent. So…I thank God for everyone at Sovereign Grace Music.

My home church has barred women from reading scripture in worship services and some families have pulled their children from Sunday school because women were teaching the children.

All that to say…there doesn’t seem to be much complement there…how would you nuance the discussion on how men and women’s roles are “complementary” within the church context?
-Sam

Thank you for your response, it is helpful as I struggled with whether or not I was overdoing it. I agree that our cultural confusion requires visible and felt male leadership.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Thanks for the helpful comments and personal illustration. Yep,a complementarian view isn’t exactly popular these days.

If others are interested in Kostenberger’s article on Women in the Pauline Mission, they can view it by clicking here.

Thanks for your question. I attempted an answer in an earlier post. You can find the post and comments here.

To address the specific situation you brought up…Because of the confusion about gender that exists in our culture and in our churches, I think it’s always wise and biblical to have a man who is obviously leading the gatherings of the church. That’s not to say that some women couldn’t do a better job at times. But leadership isn’t simply a matter of gifting, but of obedience. We’re committed to God’s design for order. If women step in to lead, men rarely find reason to grow in their God-given responsibilities.

You said that you stood beside the woman leading the congregation and “took over” where you felt appropriate. This might just be semantics, but maybe not. I wouldn’t use that phrase. My goal is to serve others by leading, teaching, and pastoring. It’s totally appropriate to have a woman lead the musicians while you lead the congregation in the other ways I just mentioned. But rather than viewing it as “trading off,” I’d see it as two different kinds of leadership.

Let me know if that helps.

I am greatful for the work of the CBMW and highly respect SGM’s commitment to apply these scriptural truths in the life of the Church. I am a young pastor and want to apply complementarity in the function of the worship service. My question, in that regard, is this: is it appropriate for a woman to lead worship in the Church? By leading I am assuming two things: 1. Her voice is the primary voice keeping the congregation on pitch and with the tempo, etc… and 2. She ultimately determines how the music is played and what happens between songs, repeats, etc…

My motivation in asking this question is I have been in this situation. When we started as a church plant we had little talent and gifting in the area of music, but we had a woman who played the piano and sang well. She pretty much led our worship services, but being convicted about manhood and womanhood I didn’t know what to do other than stand there next to her and taking over where I felt appropriate. Would this be being over-reactive or micromanaging? Sometimes I felt like I was worried about nothing, and other times I felt that there could be confusion over roles in the church.

Your thoughts…

The most valuable piece I found were on the site you mention (loving both Grudhem’s and Piper’s stuff as well) was Kostenberger’s Women in the Pauline Mission pdf. The best NT analysis I have seen of both Paul’s doctrine and praxis.

(side note: When we work in some of our missional contexts, we have to weigh the “conflicting commands” to not let a new believer teach. So we have to really reflect if we have only a mature woman believer and brand new male believers. Obviously, we would try to grow the males as quickly as possible to a point of maturity. Just and interesting tension point.)