Are women to remain silent in assembly, keeping their points and opinions to themselves until afterwards, and then speaking to their husbands at home?
ANSWER:
There are several different views on this. There is the side that advocates women being speakers and leaders in the assembly, and then there is the side which believes that women are to be "silent" to the point of never even speaking about spiritual things. Perhaps we could call these two sides the left and the right, flanking the sides of the straight and narrow upon which we really want to be traveling.
"Let your women keep silence in the assemblies, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but to be under obedience, as also saith the Law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the assembly." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) If we will take a closer look at this verse, we will see that the subject matter really is not whether or not a woman is teaching in the assembly. It clarifies, "And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home." In other words, what this verse is really saying is that a woman is not to go into a public assembly asking others to tell her what to believe, do, etc., when really her husband is her authority, and she should be asking him. We have known of situations where a woman will go and ask the pastor, "What should I do? My husband said such-and-such. But what do YOU think?" These women then honor the "pastor's" advice above their own husband's guidance and direction. According to the Scriptures, each husband / father is the shepherd and pastor of his own home, and should be a higher authority to them than any other leader in the assembly. "For I know him, that he shall command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahweh, to do justice and judgment, that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him." (Genesis 18:19) "Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16b) "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto Yahweh." (Ephesians 5:22) "And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home" (1 Corinthians 14:35a)
As far as women expressing their points and opinions, Scripture does reveal in the above verses that women are to be in subjection, and that they are not to be the assembly's leaders or their husband's leaders. However, Scripture also points to examples of righteous women who were prophetesses - Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Deborah (Judges 4:4); Huldah (2 Kings 22:14); Isaiah's wife (Isaiah 8:3); Elizabeth (Luke 2:36); and Philip's four virgin daughters (Acts 21:8-9). "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy...." (Joel 2:28) These verses seem to indicate that it is acceptable for women to share the Scriptural insights which Yahweh has given to them through their upbringing, through study of His Word, and through His Spirit.
However, it is important that women never assume the role of being their husbands' or parents' teachers, or being the assembly's leaders. The things we do share should be in feminine meekness and humility.
Also, when sharing, we should be in obedience to our husband or parents. (In other words, we should not be going about speaking things which are in opposition to what our Yahweh-given authorities believe.)
While women are not the assembly leaders, Yahweh did give women the ability to think intellectually; and the idea that women are never to discuss spiritual matters is incorrect. Yahweh wants all of His children, women included, to be fully persuaded in their faith and able to defend it. This does not mean that women are the leaders, and it certainly does not mean that women are to go around trying to convince men to see things their way. We must remain in our place as the weaker vessels, being submissive to our human authorities (be it parents or husband). By being well equipped to defend the faith, though, women actually are able to be better helpmeets and moral supports for their husbands / parents.