Articles
Appreciating Women
Since we have asked Tom Kinzel to speak on the subject of “Biblical Manhood” this weekend, I thought we would add a bit of balance by addressing women. Of course, the Bible is roundly assailed today by a culture that is desperately trying to erase all social, sexual, physical and other distinctions between men and women. In the growing vacuum of common sense, Scriptural principles and nuances concerning the balanced, complimentary roles of males and females are labeled quaint and ignorant. Worse than that, the truths and guidelines set forth by God are accused of being demeaning, dehumanizing and destructive to women.
While this subject will probably never get a fair hearing in such a polarized atmosphere, we must at least be clear in our own minds about these issues and inculcate them in our children who will face the full brunt of woke “progressivism.”
As a general observation, God’s laws, Mosaic or Christian, elevate women beyond their historical neighbors. God did not attempt to impose a 21st century model of gender equity in ancient times. Rather, He provided for the welfare of women according to the level of mankind’s then-present self-awareness. In a more primitive era of “might makes right,” when women were truly suppressed by male dominance, God included in the Law of Moses special considerations for wives, mothers and widows. While Jewish society was definitely patriarchal, reflective of the creation order and purpose of God, women were not to be downtrodden and disrespected.
As a modern example, contrast Christian teaching with how women are regarded in the Muslim religion. Scripture does not countenance wife-beating, the honor-killing of daughters who have shamed the family, keeping women in virtual slavery in the home, etc. Rather, Peter says to Christian husbands: “Dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers not be hindered” (1 Pet 3:7). Likewise, Paul counsels husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it … that He might present it to Himself a glorious church … so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies …” (Eph 5:25-28).
In a Christian marriage the husband, as the authorized head of the family, is to devote his affections and energies to the welfare of his wife and promote godliness in her. This rules out dictatorial, overbearing, inconsiderate mistreatment; it prohibits demeaning speech, faultfinding and undermining her confidence; it condemns hypocritical double standards, grudges and neglect. Positively, wives are to be cherished, seen as sisters of equal standing in God’s family, objects of nurture and service and protection against harm. The mature, secure, selfless husband will understand how valuable his wife is and treat her with utmost gratitude, honor and gentleness for the elevated quality of life she brings to him and the family.
Regarding spiritual standing and value in the family of God, Paul says “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:28-29). In that context Paul is not discussing leadership but status. Among the saved, males have no inherent excellence or merit based privileges. A woman’s service to God is not inferior or intrinsically less important than what a man offers. While their roles and service will be different, she is not a “second class citizen.”
Having said that, when it comes to authority in the family and in the church of God, God has stipulated that men exercise positions of leadership. Husbands and fathers are to lead their families (Eph 5:22-24; 6:4; Col 3:18). Men mature in family relations and spiritual stature are to be shepherds of local congregations (1 Tim 3:2, 4-5; Tit 1:6). Those specially designated as servants in the congregation (deacons) are also to be male (1 Tim 3:12; Ac 6:3-6). Men are to teach mixed classes and publicly preach (1 Tim 2:11-12; 1 Cor 14:34-35) and lead prayers (1 Tim 2:8). This pattern of male leadership carries through to the apostles, the traveling evangelists and church representatives named in the NT, the authors of NT books and the gender of the Lord, Himself (i.e., God had a binary choice but sent His Son, not a daughter; a King, not a queen, etc.).
This distinctiveness is not attributed to female inferiority, other than Paul’s note that “Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Tim 2:14). But this reference to Eve seems to be an additional consequence to her part in the fall yet also affirming the creative order (1 Tim 2:13; 1 Cor 11:12). Eve’s role in the fall further solidifies the pattern of leadership God invested in the male. Rather than human relations devolving into gender turf wars, inciting males to indulge their baser instincts to dominate by virtue of natural aggression and inherent strength, God’s assignment of leadership to the male and a subordinate, supportive role to the female is the blueprint for peace, harmony and fitted function. This, of course, is anathema to the modern female who has been conditioned to think that the apex of womanhood is the equal sharing of power with, if not total conquest of, men. But such ambition is hobbled by the stress, angst and emptiness such competitiveness produces.
Paul, the “male chauvinist,” commends Euodia and Syntyche as co-laborers in the gospel (though not stepping outside godly boundaries – Ph 4:2-3). He highly regarded the Christian duo of Priscilla and Aquila, “who risked their own necks for my life” (Rom 16:4). Phoebe is commended as “a servant of the church in Cenchrea” (Rom 16:1). Lydia opened her home as a base for Paul’s short work in Philippi (Ac 16:15). All the saints in Joppa were highly distressed upon the death of Tabitha, who “was full of good works and charitable deeds …” (Ac 9:36, 39).
As the adage goes, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” It is hard to overstate the blessing of women as wives, mothers, servants, advisors, counselors, teachers, elders’ and preachers’ wives, etc. Only misguided ambition would throw off the exalted mantle womanhood and seek fulfillment outside of God’s will and design. A woman cherished by her family or a church she has humbly served has a sense of her own worth unmatched by a six-figure salary, a corner office and a gold watch. Truly, her retirement plan is “out of this world.”
