Should A Woman be a Magistrate, like the President of the United States?
Some Controversial Thoughts in an Election Year
Biblically, I believe the answer is an obvious, “No.” There are at least five categorical arguments:
Her Creation by God (The Design Argument)
The History of Israel’s Kings (The Historical Argument)
Biblical Precepts (The Lawful Argument)
Authority and Leadership in the Home and Church (The Jurisdictional Argument)
God’s Judgment (The Prophetic Argument)
As of this writing in September 2024, as the United States faces the real possibility of a female President, many Christians think it is perfectly fine for a woman to lead a nation. Although some of us would make the argument that a female Vice-President is judgment enough, many see much of life through feministic lenses, so such thinking is anathema to them.
Fear of being accused of misogyny would keep many pastors who think like me from speaking out. But, “I was raised in a middle class home,” mostly by my mother, whose memory I cherish with all my heart. I have a wife whom I adore and two daughters, for whom I want the absolute biblical best. No misogyny here! Just lots of love and a commitment to Scripture and the God of the Bible.
Her Creation by God
In the beginning, God created. Not only did He create the planet and the stars, but He created the first people. The first one He created was Adam. Later, God created a helper for Adam. Her name was Eve.
When you read Genesis chapter 2, you find out that God created Eve for Adam, from Adam, she was brought to Adam, and she was named by Adam. (Thanks Dr. Voddie!) Intrinsic in the nature of woman is the calling and command to be a helper.
When Adam and Eve fell into sin in Genesis chapter 3, we see that one of the struggles of woman would be to desire the authority of her husband. But from the beginning, women were not meant to lead; they were meant to help. And this mission is extremely needful to the dominion mandate given in Genesis chapter 1:
Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
A woman's very design speaks to this helping role. She is physically weaker. Her body is designed to grow and sustain life. She is more sensitive. She’s more agreeable. She is more prone to emotion. She is more nurturing. These are wonderful traits for managing the household and helping a husband, and terrible for leading.
Magisterial decision making is difficult. It requires not only a dependence upon logic, but an ability to take risks and accept responsibility. It includes commanding men into possible warfare, strategic, thinking to outmaneuver adversaries, and enduring many political hardships. It is inherently masculine.
The emotional and physical make up of men is more in line with these things. Scripture clearly outlines a woman’s necessary and needful sphere:
1 Timothy 5:14-15 (KJV) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Titus 2:1-5 (KJV) But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The 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.
The History of Israel’s Kings
From the time God's people decided they wanted a king leader, each lawful one was a man. So were the civil judges in the land, the heads of the tribes, and other princes among the people. Actually, there was one female ruler, but she was a usurper, not a rightful ruling queen, and killed her own grandchildren to ensure her own rule. (2 Kings 11)
What about Deborah? (Judges 4)
First, I’m not sure ANY of the Judges would be models for magistrates! But Deborah’s leadership, in the context of the whole Book of Judges, feels more like a judgment on weak manhood than a mandate for women rulers. Scripture is careful to highlight her femininity over and against Barak’s lack of manly courage:
She is more prophetess than magistrate.
She is mentioned in the light of her husband.
She rarely left her home; the people came to her to hear from God.
She tells Barak to be courageous and lead Israel in battle!
She warns Barak that the glory of battle would go to a woman rather than him due to his lack of courage!
Deborah is the exception that proves the rule. She was raised up because Barak would not lead. Interestingly, it is Barak who makes the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11.
The Biblical Precepts
The above thoughts are bolstered by the precepts of God for those who would lead magisterial functions, the actual commands of Scripture:
Exodus 18:21-22 (KJV) Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
Deuteronomy 1:13-17 (KJV) Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. 14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do. 15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Numbers 11:16 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.
Among the people of God, those who oversaw and led the affairs of the nation were always men by precept. This is God’s normative statute and standard. It is also true that men are the only ones God’s commands to go to war.
Numbers 1:1-4 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
Authority and Leadership in the Home and Church
There are three basic jurisdictions in the Bible: the home, the church, in the state. In Holy Scripture, men are to lead their homes and also lead the churches:
Ephesians 5:22-28 (KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
1 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV) This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1 Corinthians 14:33-40 (KJV) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Biblically, men are designed and commanded to lead and women are designed and commanded to help. This is good and precious in the sight of God! Yes, this is a far cry from the way society runs today, but the Word of God stands true!
Jurisdictionally then, is it plausible that women should be a nation’s President and Commander-in Chief, leading all the men in that nation?
God’s Judgment
In Scripture, women leading (or men leading like women) is a judgment from God!
Isaiah 3:12-17 (KJV) As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. 13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. 14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. 15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts. 16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
Nahum 3:13 (KJV) Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.
When a nation is so out of godly order that women lead in the home, the church, and the state, that nation is under the judgment of God. It has overthrown God's order to its own detriment. It is not lifting up women or empowering women…it is harming them!
Final Thoughts
Reader, women are the most beautiful creatures God created. They are the finishing touch on the miracle of creation. Godly men and godly nations do what they must to protect the women in their midst. They do not put them in as heads of state, on the front lines of war, in church pulpits as elders, as leaders of their homes, or in others places for which they are not designed. Love forbids such.
Biblically speaking, should a woman be President?
The scary part is that our nation deserves such judgment. We have methodically and arrogantly pursued sin, celebrated it, and attempted to codify such into our laws.
Oh LORD, please have mercy upon us. Call us to our knees in humble repentance!
May we confess Jesus Christ as LORD, and LORD of all.
