Together for the Gospel Affirms Strong Complementarian Position

The much-anticipated Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference concluded Thursday with over 5,000 attendees committed to the advancement of the gospel.

Attendees were treated to an incredible banquet of Gospel-centered, Christ-focused teaching and expository preaching from T4G leaders Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney and R. Albert Mohler Jr., and their friends, Thabiti Anyabwile, John MacArthur, John Piper and R.C. Sproul.

We are pleased that the leaders of T4G have made a clear proclamation and defense of the gospel as well as on biblical manhood and womanhood. Dever, Duncan, Mahaney and Mohler have spoken unambiguously on manhood and womanhood in Article XVI of T4G's Affirmations & Denials.

"We affirm that the Scripture reveals a pattern of complementary order between men and women, and that this order is itself a testimony to the Gospel, even as it is the gift of our Creator and Redeemer. We also affirm that all Christians are called to service within the body of Christ, and that God has given to both men and women important and strategic roles within the home, the church, and society. We further affirm that the teaching office of the church is assigned only to those men who are called of God in fulfillment of the biblical teachings and that men are to lead in their homes as husbands and fathers who fear and love the Lord."

"We deny that the distinction of roles between men and women revealed in the Bible is evidence of mere cultural conditioning or a manifestation of male oppression or prejudice against women. We also deny that this biblical distinction of roles excludes women from meaningful ministry in Christ's kingdom. We further deny that any church can confuse these issues without damaging its witness to the Gospel."

Piper made clear his feelings regarding the place of godly women in the church, calling churches to cultivate female sages who take seriously both the close careful study of God's Word, while serving as wise, theologically-informed mentors for younger Christian women. In one of the most unforgettable lines of the conference, Piper expressed his deep love for women who live and labor fearlessly for an invisible kingdom and the glory of God. Piper answered his own question about where these women can be found:

"Where are these women? The single women and the married women and the pastor's wives like Esther, who, when Mordecai came to her and said, ‘you have to do this because your people are perishing,' [she said], ‘Tell them to fast and I will go into the king though it is against the law, and if I perish, then I perish.' Where are those women? Our church is crawling with them. I love them....I married one of them."

Audio from the entire conference is available here.