Who Is Authorized to Preside Over and Serve The Lord's Supper?
In order to worship God and assume our God-given roles acceptable to Him, we must do everything as authorized by the Lord by abiding by His word. If we love Him, we will humbly submit to that will (Colossians 3:17; John 14:15). The question before us is: Who can preside over and serve the Lord's Supper? Can Christian women preside over the Lord's table? Can it be the case that a Christian man leads the prayer for the emblems, yet the women be able to serve the emblems? Does the Bible answer those questions?
1. The Bible teaches that men are to be the spiritual leaders in the home and in the spiritual life of the church (1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Corinthians 14:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:8-15). This is not to say that women are inferior or of little worth. They are very precious in the sight of God and are joint heirs of salvation (Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Peter 3:1-7). God has given different rank and roles to men and women to fulfill in the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 11:3). Women have a work to accomplish in God's kingdom (Titus 2:3-5). Since presiding over the Lord's Supper is a spiritual leader's position, then a woman is forbidden from occupying this position. To do so would be to violate 1 Timothy 2:12, because the woman would be assuming authority over the man.
2. The Bible teaches that men are to be the spiritual prayer leaders in the church of the living God (1 Timothy 2:8; 3:15). This would forbid a woman from offering the prayer over the Lord's emblems.
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