A Biblical Answer to Complementarianism vs Egalitarianism
Are you tired of churches that refuse to preach the hard truths of Scripture? You're not alone.
New evangelicalism sounds appealing on the surface. These preachers say things that sound right, quote Scripture, and pack their buildings with people who feel good about themselves. But here's what they won't do:
Preach plainly against sin
Expose false teachers
Practice biblical separation
Deliver offensive truths that people need to hear
The philosophy is purely pragmatic: "Let's find what works to get people in the door." Hot chocolate, bounce houses, entertainment-style programs – anything except the confrontational truth of the Gospel.
Why the Gospel Must Be Offensive
Here's the uncomfortable reality: if the gospel isn't offensive, you're not preaching the gospel.
As Romans 4:3 declares: "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Notice it doesn't say Abraham's works were counted – it was his believing that mattered.
The most important covering any of us need isn't long hair, special clothes, or good works. It's the covering that comes from the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Every Roman Catholic nun can put on special clothes, every priest can wear his robes, but "nothing that we put on will save us, nothing that we put on will cover our sins and our iniquities."
Biblical Distinctions That Modern Christianity Ignores
The Justification Distinction
Romans 4:2 shows us something crucial: "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God."
There's a distinction here that most churches miss:
Before God: We're justified by faith alone
Before man: We're justified by our works (what people see)
How will anyone believe you're a Christian if you're out drinking, tearing up the town, posting wickedness on social media, then trying to tell them about Jesus? Your message might be biblical, but they won't believe you because you're not justified by works before man.
The Covering Distinction
"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered" (Romans 4:7).
Your long hair can't cover your sins. What you wear can't cover your sins. Your good works can't cover your sins. There's only one way to have your sins covered: through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Equality vs. Distinction Balance
Galatians 3:28 says: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Egalitarians grab this verse and run with it, claiming there should be no gender-based restrictions. But they're missing the point entirely. This verse is about our equality in Christ – our spiritual standing before God.
This doesn't eliminate the distinctions God has established:
In the home
In corporate worship
In society
Complementarianism recognizes these God-given roles. Women serve in complementary roles to men's leadership – teaching children, supporting ministry, but not usurping authority in the church.
Christ: The True Head of All Things
The real issue isn't about movements or external conformity. It's about headship.
Acts 4:11-12 makes it crystal clear: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Jesus Christ is the head – not preachers, not denominations, not church councils. If He's not the head, you're just running a social club.
Ephesians 5:23 tells wives: "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."
Ladies, your submission isn't ultimately to your husband – it's "unto the Lord." That's how you can handle an imperfect husband. It's not about following rules to please men; it's about honoring the Ruler.
The Danger of Building Movements on Obscure Passages
Here's where churches get into trouble: they take obscure passages and build entire movements around them instead of focusing on the clear, doctrinal truths of Scripture.
Acts 2:38 says: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Some build a doctrine around this, claiming water baptism saves you. But verse 41 shows they "gladly received his word" first – meaning they were saved, then baptized.
We need to be careful in 1 Corinthians 11 not to fall into the same trap. The clear passages about salvation, the Gospel, and Christ's headship must remain our foundation.
True Biblical Christianity: An Inward Working
Colossians 3:5 commands us to "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Where does all this come from? The heart. It's an inward problem that manifests outwardly.
Verse 12 tells us to "put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."
Notice "bowels of mercy" – that's internal. It's mercy permeating from the heart. True biblical Christianity is an inner working.
Don't Lose Christ in the Details
I've seen churches where the pastor's wife would sneer at women who weren't dressing the way she thought they should. Sure, she had something on her head that others didn't, but she was mean and nasty. There was an attitude that drove Christians away, whether they agreed with her position or not.
What's more important – the external conformity or the heart? It's the heart. If we lose that, we lose true biblical Christianity and are left with nothing but what we do, what we wear, and what we put on outwardly.
The Bottom Line: It's All About Christ
"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
Are there distinctions made in Scripture? Absolutely. But Christ is all. Our affections must be set on things above, not on earthly things.
Whether you're at home, in corporate worship, or in society – Christ must be your head in all things. You can't live three different ways and claim He's your head.
Back to Biblical Truth
The new evangelical movement offers comfort without conviction, growth without godliness, numbers without transformation. But God's Word calls us to something higher.
We need expository preaching that doesn't shy away from hard truths. We need verse-by-verse Bible teaching that reveals both God's love and His holiness. We need churches that will declare "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) without apology.
The most important covering you need isn't external – it's the blood of Jesus Christ covering your sins. Everything else is secondary to that life-changing truth.
🎧 📖 Want to dive deeper into this biblical exposition? This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful message on biblical distinctions and Christian living. Listen to the complete expository preaching session for the full verse-by-verse Bible teaching and discover more insights that will strengthen your faith. Click here to listen to the entire sermon and experience the depth of God's Word through faithful biblical exposition.