Women are not to be under house arrest - John Piper

[sword]

What do you mean do?
What do you suggest IFB churches do with them?

They are not treated equally with those who are married. People view single women as those who "need a man." They think single women have a problem. So, instead of minding their own business, church members treat them as a novelty to be introduced to every single eligible bachelor.

Churches, generally, are reluctant to allow single women to teach Bible studies (not just to single women Bible study groups), sit in planning meetings and be an active/viable part of the administration.

Please share with us what IFB churches are doing wrong and how they could fix their current system?

Unlike the society in which Paul lived, single women are not incapable of meeting their own needs. The Greco/Romans had an anthropocentric society. Single women struggled economically and socially.

Today, we have many successful single women in our churches who have careers and are able to sit in places of administration of their local cities/townships, but have zero voice in their own churches.

So... how can this be fixed? Start with the leadership. If they have a poor view of women, then get rid of them... until then... single women will find themselves locked into nursery duty, indefinitely.

Not sure the cupid problem is just a church issue.

This is very common at the company I work for. managers & co-workers are often trying to fix up the single guys on their staff with single girls they know. This happens at the secular organizations I am a part of and at the Club in which I?m a member. Parents often talk about their single kids and grand kids. Family members try to play cupid with nieces and nephews and grandparents often ask grand kids unwanted relationship questions. Remember most of us came up in a time when you got married by 30 or people assumed you had issues. Not sure this bad habit has anything to do with church but it has everything to do with human nature. People assume, sometimes wrongly, if you?re single at 25 you may want a little help meeting Mr. Right. If you tell them you are very happy being single then they will leave you alone.

On the issue of leadership, generally IFB churches do not select women (single or married) for major leadership positions. These views are old and deeply seated. At the church I attend and at many IFB churches pastors aggressively employee singles in all aspects of their ministry. Singles at all ages tend to have a lot more time, energy and resources to get the job done. IFB churches tend to be family centered but singles need to feel they have a place as well. 

 

[subllibrm]

They aren't under house arrest but they shouldn't get too worked up about getting slapped around a little from time to time.

-John Piper (paraphrased)