(Patriarchial Traditions, Feminism & the Word)
First, I’d like to say, I’m still in the learning process about this particular subject. Some parts of the argument gave me a new perspective on things. Hopefully, it will give you guys something to think about as well.
The equality of men and women. What does this mean? and, maybe more importantly, is it biblical? There are two bible passages that are most often noted when we talk about this area.
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Dominion & Headship.
Reading Galatians, it seems that men and woman are considered equal in the body of Christ. Both are equal heirs to eternal life and redemption. But then, contrast this against what is said in Timothy: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.”
From people I have spoken with, some women consider this passage as a note about the historical context. At this time, men were considered heads of households and women… well, almost property. So consequently, this passage can be ignored, since we are now in the era of sexual equality. I’d have to argue back with the second verse: “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” This seems to be used a scriptural backup for the previous verse. And even as we have progressed into a sexually equal society, the fact remains that Adam was formed first… followed by Eve.
Galatians does say that both genders have equality within the body of Christ. However, if we are to examine the analogy further… we have to admit that the body is made up of different body parts. Each part of the body is made for a different purpose and is equally necessary for the body to function properly. The liver cannot say it is more important than the lungs, nor the eyes more useful than the ears. So in this, both genders are equal within the body of Christ.
But when you read Timothy, it is not addressing the equality of the body of Christ, but rather the relationship between men and women. This may bring up thoughts of jim crow laws… seperate, but equal. This passage doesn’t say that women are not to teach. It doesn’t say women cannot hold positions of authority. It does seem to say that it is wrong to give a woman headship above a man. Right after this, it refers to the Fall of Adam & Eve into sin. Try reading that passage in terms of lack of leadership from the man… I think when you do that, the sin of Adam was one of passivity… instead of stepping up and leading, he is following Eve into sin.
Now I’m not one to say that woman’s place is at home, barefoot and taking care of the children. But I am saying there is some sort of line between the genders. Something that is appropriate for a woman is not appropriate for a man… and vice versa. This argument of leadership can be easily polarized by mentioning two ideas: Domination & Ability. Take care to note that I’m not advocating domination of male over female. I’m advocating servant-leadership similiar to Christ as the head and the church as His body. Leadership is taking the intiative and setting an example. Jesus never dishonored women. Even when talking to strange women was taboo, Jesus reached out to a Samaritan woman. But also note, Jesus picked 12 disciples… and none of them were female. Yet in the story of the gospel… the resurrection is first witnessed by a pair of women. As a leader, both the responsibility of consequences and the power of decision-making falls upon you. It is not simply a matter of the woman submitting to any man… It is also calling the man to servant-leadership. A man answers to God for what goes on in his family… because that is his responsibility… regardless of where the fault lies. Just like how CEO’s are now being held responsible for what goes in the entire company… regardless of actually who does it.
The other polarizing area is the idea of ability. When I advocate the idea that men should lead when both men and women are present, there is this idea that I am making woman less than a man. I can’t say that woman make bad leaders. Some of our world leaders are women. Even our church has many women in powerful positions. I’ve known good and bad leadership from both sides of the gender divide. But it really boils down to this: Just because a woman has awesome leadership skills, does it mean she can use it any way she wants? (In other words, is God-given ability the only way to figure out our proper roles?) I’d say no. You have a gift from God, but in addition, you must learn how to use the gift properly. I’m actually making a point that God meant men to lead and women to be helpers when the genders mix. The bible refers to a woman as a “suitable helper”… But I think this is where the english language fails to properly describe exactly the kind of “help” God created when he made the first woman. The closest I analogy can find is when God is called our “helper”. So don’t even try to make “helper” someone lower than you in ability or skill. God’s skill set would blow anyone out of the water. A man is called to servant-leadership, whether it be with his family or with the church. A woman is called sometimes to leadership among women and sometimes to follow male leadership.
Even among those who say that men should be leaders and represent the headship of Christ, there is yet another kink in this twisted tale. When men are the heads of households and women are not allowed to teach or hold authority over them… There is an idea that women must do this to appease a man’s pride. In other words, if women lead, it makes the man sin. Like the analogy of eating food sacrificed to idols…. it doesn’t mean anything to a strong Christian… but if eating food sacrificed to idols causes a weaker Christian to stumble… the strong Christian should abstain. The verse usually used to back this argument is noted below:
To the woman he said,”I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
This is the consequence of eating the fruit. That childbearing will become a more painful experience. And wives will desire their husbands… yet their husbands will rule over them. When I think of ruling, the first idea that comes to mind is tyranny… or dictatorship. This bumps again into the difference between leadership and dominion. However, I believe you can clarify it using the alternative idea of how marriage portrays/ represents God’s love for his people.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
…
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
I believe this verse clarifies exactly how husbands and wives should relate to each other. Wives are called to submit to the husband’s authority. And husbands are called to love their wives as they love themselves. Now the problem is whether one can make a reasonable leap from male-female relationships within marriage… and male-female relationships outside of marriage.
There’s more ideas that I haven’t covered… but given that I’ve spent 3 weeks on this puppy… I’m toast. Hopefully it gives you guys something interesting to gnaw on for awhile.
Stalemate in decision making?
Democracy & Equal Partnership?
Rights & Responsibility
——- Online Tidbits ——-
Puppies used for smuggling…
Doing good… anonymously.
A lower interest CC can be more expensive?!?
More than just kissing your pooch…
90 y.o takes on a thief… WWF-style.
Momma was right… tie your shoelaces!!
Freedom of press vs Being PC in a religious context.
Rising wedding costs
That’s an interesting way to increase your net worth…
10th Planet… or Belt object?
Can following government policies be evil?
Obesity is in itself a risk…
And the deaf will hear..
Martial Arts… at work.
I never remembered middle school being like this…
Drinking… beneficial & deterimental effects.
SUV’s and starvation…
Internet: useful in building & maintaining social networks
Bats: Brains or Balls?
Engineering prowess… minus common sense?
Addressing political bias within academic circles
A japanese invasion… of an alien sort.
Don’t trust everything you read on the internet..
Katrina: Insurance Hell…
Prisons go Big Brother style
Would you buy this game??
Love… twisted.
The humiliated burglar
A-message-in-a-bottle story…
Pimp-my-ride gone awry…
Japan get a whale to study… Greenpeace-style.
A little Scooba parable
Pray for John Piper…
