In contemporary society, women value their autonomy and self-reliance. A majority of women in today’s secular world view reliance on men as detrimental and feel it diminishes their worth. This collective mindset in modern women contributes to the rise of men impersonating women and dominating women’s sports while women remain silent. In this, women face a dilemma—they can either acknowledge this situation and concede the advantages to these men, or voice opposition, which would be an open acknowledgment of women’s perceived vulnerability.

Regrettably, this prevalent mentality, originating from secular feminism, has permeated the Church. Even Christian women resist submitting to the authority and direction of their husbands and male leadership within their congregations. As a growing trend in contemporary churches, women have forged their own path by leading other women, authoring books, and preaching to other women, in a manner entirely detached from the Church.

And it isn’t that women are somehow less valuable, less intelligent, or less capable of carrying out the mission of God within the Church that should trouble us, it’s that God didn’t design the Church to function this way. And more importantly, this represents a failure in men to carry out their God-given roles as spiritual leaders—and this makes women especially vulnerable to being devoured by false teachers.

Wolves love to prey on women. This observation does not imply that women are less intelligent. However, as designed by God for their unique roles, women may exhibit a particular susceptibility to some false teachings, as they tend to be more emotionally-driven in general. This perspective aligns with a biblical understanding of gender roles where women are described in relation to their husbands as the “weaker vessel.”

The phrase “weaker vessel” is found in the Bible in 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV): “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” This passage speaks to the importance of husbands treating their wives with understanding, acknowledging their unique roles and differences, and allowing them to carry out their roles under his protective shield.

This is particularly relevant in the realm of theological study and learning. Women have been entrusted with the distinctive role of raising and nurturing children, frequently serving as the primary source of introducing young children to fundamental Christian beliefs. It is equally important for women to possess a strong understanding of theology as it is for men. However, when men do not fulfill their responsibilities as spiritual leaders in their households and churches, women may become more susceptible to the emotional allure of false teachings.

The idea of women being more emotionally susceptible to false teachings is further connected to passages like 2 Timothy 3:6-7 (ESV): “For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” This passage warns against those who exploit others’ vulnerabilities, specifically targeting women who may be more emotionally driven. The focus is on the importance of discernment and vigilance in the face of deception.

This explains the prevalence of false teachers on daytime television and the abundance of purported “Christian” television channels. These false teachers and televangelists target women by manipulating emotions, presenting sentimentalized and sensationalized messages that resonate with the nurturing instincts of mothers. For instance, televangelists such as Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer often promote their ministries as “messages of hope” for impoverished children in Africa, connecting their misleading teachings to issues that easily captivate women emotionally.

However, these are extreme instances and only serve as glaring conspicuous examples. Regrettably, even women under the guidance of otherwise reliable church leadership are still susceptible to such tactics, often being swayed by emotionally-charged false teachings within mainstream Evangelical circles. Women tend to be drawn to authors like Sarah Young, who wrote Jesus Calling, due to the appealing concept of a “personal connection” with God. Similarly, other figures like Ann Voskamp and Beth Moore resonate with less discerning women for the same reasons. The unfortunate truth is that many men, particularly husbands, are failing their wives by not being aware of who their wives are reading, listening to, learning from, or studying. This can be attributed to either misplaced trust in the subculture of women’s teaching or a lack of concern.

Scripture is very clear about the responsibility of men to protect their wives from false teachings and to actively engage in their spiritual learning and growth. In Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV), it states, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” This passage serves as just one illustration of the role of husbands as shepherds, caring for and guiding their wives in spiritual matters, in the same way that Christ loves and cares for His bride.

By being actively involved in their wives’ spiritual education and growth, men can help protect them from the influence of false teachers. Passivity in this responsibility can lead to detrimental consequences, as it leaves room for deception and the spread of misleading teachings. So men, love your wives, protect them from wolves, and be willing to go to spiritual battle against the false teachers that influence them, lest you lose her to such nefarious figures.