Book Review
Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction
By Kevin DeYoung
I expect that, for at least the next generation, issues of gender and gender definition will continue to be the most significant point of struggle between biblical Christianity and the world. All the struggle on these issues out in the world are now fully bleeding into the church. This past year at the Southern Baptist Convention, issues of complementarian gender definition and gender roles in the church was the most significant topic of the convention. The Bible speaks regularly of gender, sexual ethics, and gender roles in the church. Some of these passages are difficult to interpret, and some of these passages are outrageously offensive to our non-Christian culture. The offense of these passages relates to how far we have drifted from what God designed and intended within Christian marriage and then leadership in the church.
To help define, clarify, and explain most of the key issues facing gender roles in the local church, I strongly recommend this book by pastor Kevin DeYoung. As with all of DeYoung’s books, his writing is very clear, but also serious and careful. He begins with basic interpretation of scripture, beginning with Genesis and the creation purposes of God. He then surveys the Old Testament, bringing us to the time of Jesus. He helps the reader understand what Jesus changed in the New Covenant and what remains the same from creation. I believe chapters four through seven are the most valuable of the book. Here DeYoung dives right into interpreting and explaining some of the most thorny passages in the New Testament concerning the roles of men and women in the church: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:33-35, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:8-15, and 1 Timothy 3:1-13.
Based on these helpful interpretations and theology, DeYoung moves into the second half of the book addressing particular, practical outworkings of these teachings in the local church today. His insight comes from a pastor that has been in the trenches for a long time and understands what it means to first honor the Lord, but also to have a passion for people. There is a necessity to explain truth, convince people of that truth, and then lead them to walk in that truth. This type of leadership results in clarity and harmony in the church on difficult issues.
I recommend that you read this book and wrestle with what is being said here. You may agree already, or these things may be highly offensive to you. If this book offends you, I suggest you spend the most time reading the first half related to biblical foundations – then let’s get together and talk some. The further our world slides toward the complete perversion of transgenderism, the more counter-cultural a biblical church will be. However, our goal is not to be controversial, but to be faithful. As we live faithful Christian lives there will be harmony in our homes that will carry over into harmony in the church. May the Lord Jesus be with us in this time, strengthening the marriages and families at Redeemer and strengthening our love for each other. May we learn and grow in what it means to be Christian men and women, and how we should live out our gender in the local church.
Encouraging you to read this book,
Pastor Vic