Book Review
Why Can’t Women Do That? Breaking Down the Reasons Churches Put Men in Charge Vinati Press, 2021 By Philip B. Payne and Vince Huffaker Reviewed by Kristin S. Lassen We long for connection. We are drawn to love. The book Why Can’t Women Do That? Breaking Down the Reasons Churches Put Men in Charge introduces the reader to two conversation partners—an uncle who has changed his mind about women’s roles and a nephew who is curious yet cautious. The book delivers content from NT scholar Philip B. Payne in the succinct style of computer programmer Vince Huffaker, who condenses Payne’s 500-page exhaustive exegetical book, Man and Woman, One in Christ (Zondervan Academic, 2009), into a 175-page readable conversation. I am amazed at the high-level content packed into so few words, all in the style of personal and respectful conversation. Communication characterized by love leaves the door open for entry and retreat, with an invitation to stay. Payne and Huffaker hope the reader will reexamine commonly held ideas about what women “can’t do.” A pervasive scriptural undercurrent of the Holy Spirit’s gifts, a call to humble unity, freedom in Christ within the preeminence of Christ, and the imperative to spread the gospel— these combine to form their outlook (16). In addition, the authors are concerned that the church loses credibility when women lead well in “every possible role in society” outside the church yet are “ignored, or even limited” in using their gifts to advance God’s kingdom (16–17).
What Is the Book Like? This review will comment on the book as a whole before walking briefly through each section. The prologue eavesdrops on letters between “Theo” and “Uncle Johnny.” Theo has sincere concerns about women leading at Johnny’s church, given the Bible’s “plain” teaching of male responsibility, the “slippery slope” of compromise, and the “natural” leadership gifts of men. Uncle Johnny sets the premise by explaining his own path for change and affirming their shared faith in God and the inerrancy of Scripture. “Nothing I write matters if it contradicts the Bible,” assures Uncle Johnny (47). The biblical interpretation presented serves to position the church to live out God’s truth in a way that best advances God’s kingdom by fully employing the gifts of women as well as men in God’s mission (16). The book is inviting, not intimidating! This breath of fresh air summons busy people and others who simply prefer concise reading to take a quick glimpse into a view of Scripture that may be new to them. The manageable length, short chapters, uncrowded layout, and easy-to-read language leave the reader feeling they can both understand and finish the book quickly and conveniently. This is a different book from Payne’s Man and Woman, One in Christ—especially regarding extensiveness and readability—
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yet surprisingly equal in soundness of content. Footnotes provide page numbers from Man and Woman, One in Christ in order to guide readers who desire detailed Greek-based exegesis. Each book has its place.
Part One: Leadership Concerns and Church Tradition The book first addresses cultural and scriptural ideas as well as the “slippery slope” related to sex and gender. In response to assumptions about men as naturally better leaders, facts are presented based on data, leadership traits, and socialization into leadership. While respecting hesitancy to change, examples where women in leadership have enhanced the church’s perspective are given “from Peter’s ministry in Acts to the modern era” (35). Just as Part One answers sincere questions, short chapters on Gen 1–2, Gen 3, Deborah, Gal 3, Eph 5, 1 Tim 2, and Titus 2 conclude with answers to common objections. Some common questions are answered by straightforward explanations of key Bible passages. As an example, the book explains that the NT teaching that Christian men and woman comprise a “kingdom of priests” had been foreshadowed in the OT (65–66). In some cases, the book’s characters go further, proposing or pondering common objections to egalitarian teaching. For example, Uncle Johnny counters a common objection when he writes, “But if [Priscilla] explaining something more accurately is not teaching, what is?” (143).
Part Two: Old Testament Passages Proper exegesis begins at the beginning. As the book approaches Gen 1, the authors provide this foundational statement: “Let me start by stating clearly that I believe that the original text of the Bible, properly translated and interpreted, affirms the shared leadership, authority, and gifting of both men and women” (51). Genesis 2 highlights the woman as man’s “helper suitable.” “A strength corresponding to him” would be a more apt translation of the Hebrew phrase, for “helper” is used of God’s action “as his people’s rescuer, strength, or might” sixteen times in the OT (53). In Gen 3:13–16, God directly addresses the woman regarding her sin using the same word meaning “desire” in 4:7. Payne explains that this desire will be “to master, control, or manipulate”—both Eve to her husband and sin to Cain (57). Various patriarchal interpreters agree with this aspect of Payne’s view. Respectfully, in light of the intersection of my experiences as a woman and my study of the Hebrew text of Genesis, I believe this “desire” is to grasp the full attention and devotion of the other. In the case of woman to man, it is to desire that he focus his full self
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