Do God's Instructions on the Roles of Men and Women Apply to Christians Only?
The answer is no. They apply to both Christians and non-Christians. For example, one of the reasons Paul gives for a female not to teach or have authority over the man is because "Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression" (1 Timothy 2:12-14). The roles of male and female have been a universal law applying to believers as well as non-believers ever since the Garden of Eden (as have murder, deceiving, disobeying God, etc.). This is true also under the New Testament as is indicated by these passages: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7.
It appears that brethren who have tried to argue that God's laws pertaining to divorce and remarriage do not apply to the non-Christian have influenced other brethren to apply the same false teaching to the God-given roles of male and female. Assuming our God-given roles is a matter of faith - a salvation issue (1 Timothy 2:15) and is part of the sound doctrine of Christ that we must NOT transgress (Titus 2:1-5; 2 John 1:9).
Not only is this doctrine false, but it defies common sense. For instance, if non-Christians are not held accountable by God's teaching on roles, then it would not be sinful for a denominational female preacher to serve in the spiritual position of authority over men because she is not a member of the non-denominational church that Jesus established in Acts 2 and neither are the men who are allowing her to be in this forbidden position. Furthermore, it would not be sinful for non-Christian women to refuse to be in submission to their non-Christian husbands. Finally, it would not be sinful for non-Christian women to be serving in the authoritative position of a Bible class teacher over non-Christian men.
Let it again be emphasized that the establishment of the roles of men and women are rooted in the creation account (Genesis 1 & 2; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:8-15).
Though believers, Adam and Eve were not Christians.
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