"I Could Pastor Better, But I Submit" Still Misses the Mark

 

In our talent-obsessed culture, people often judge church leadership by skill and results. Gifted women like Allie Beth Stuckey sometimes say things like, "I could probably pastor better than most men—but I submit to Scripture." It sounds humble and reasonable. Yet it quietly opens the door to compromise. Back in 2023, Allie Beth said, "Even though I know I am… capable of… delivering a more biblically sound… sermon than many male pastors… I can’t do it because that is not the realm to which God has called me as a woman." That's the first step in the wrong direction... down the wide path that leads to destruction.

People love to point to Deborah in the book of Judges as proof that women can and should lead. But in context, the whole book of Judges paints a dark picture of total chaos. "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). It's certainly not a prescription for what should be going on. Deborah rose up during deep depravity and failed male leadership—not as God's ideal pattern for His church. It highlights the mess, not a model to follow.

The prophets saw women ruling over men as another sign of judgment and cultural collapse. When society flips God's order, it shows how far people have wandered from His design (Isaiah 3:12). In Amos 4:1 we read:

"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan… who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’"

God's Word sets a clear, different standard. From creation, He made Adam first, then Eve as his helper. Paul bases male leadership in the church on this order—not talent or cultural trends: "I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man" (1 Timothy 2:12). The qualifications for elder/pastor are unmistakable: "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2).

Many women are more articulate, organized, and capable than plenty of men. God gives women powerful gifts for teaching other women, raising children, and serving the church (Titus 2:3-5). But the office of pastor/elder isn't assigned by a performance review. It's assigned by the Creator who knows exactly what His church needs. It reflects the relationship between Christ and His bride (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Allie Beth’s statement falls into a category of subtle pragmatism that erodes biblical authority. It is a soft form of functional egalitarianism dressed up in complementarian language. She reaches the right conclusion (no women pastors) but builds it on the wrong foundation: personal capability and humble concession rather than joyful trust in God’s created order and explicit command.

This "I could, but I submit" approach measures God’s word against human talent instead of submitting to the Creator’s design in Genesis 2, 1 Timothy 2, and 1 Timothy 3. It treats male-only eldership as a difficult personal sacrifice or humility test, not as something inherently good and wise. That small compromise is often the first step that leads to further drift. It’s progressivism in humble clothing—affirming Scripture’s boundary while subtly questioning its goodness.

True obedience doesn’t sound like “I could do it better, but…” It simply rejoices and says, “God has spoken. His design is good. I trust it.”

This isn’t about women being less valuable. Men and women bear God’s image equally, share the same sin nature, and need the same Savior. But He assigned distinct roles for our good. Just as only women can bear children, God reserves authoritative teaching and oversight in the local church for qualified men.

The solution is straightforward. Let Scripture stand as written. Stop judging by human competence. Trust that the God who created us knows best how to order His church. When we do, men lead sacrificially, women flourish in their callings, and the body of Christ displays the beauty of Christ’s headship.

God’s Word isn’t up for negotiation—left or right. Our calling is to obey it fully, teach it clearly, and live it out for His glory.

Blessings & love,

Kevin M. Kelley Pastor

BigIslandChristianChurch.com