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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
Page 15 |
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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
Page 15 |
Editor's NoteBeth Johnson
Introduction
What are some of the roles that we’re expected to fill as girls and women,? What are some roles that are not typically thought of as women’s roles? How do people perceive women when compared to men? How do you feel about this? Have you ever thought it would be nicer to be a man than it is to be a woman?
Usually, women are perceived as the weaker sex. We’re the homemakers and the childrearing people, while the men are commonly given more prominent roles as breadwinners and leaders. Women in the last century have balked at this arrangement – demanding equal rights. So many women are rising to the top in the workplace, in leadership roles and in positions of authority. Gender lines have blurred, and so, we’re seeing more and more women take roles in traditionally men’s work. What does God say about these things? Why has God given both men and women specific roles to fill, and how should we view our role as women?
Remember God’s eternal purpose for us: to be conformed to Christ’s image so that we may reign with Him eternally. No doubt you have studied what our purpose is in this life: to have the heart of Christ so that we can be eternally faithful, as well as wise servants now (Romans 8:28-29; 2 Timothy 2:11-12).
God tries our hearts. “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3 NKJV). Remember how He does this? He tries us through observing us as we respond to the situations, at least some in which He places us, like He did Job. If we’re faithful in these earthly settings, He can prove how we will serve in the heavenly realm. “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:10-12). This earth’s experiences are our training ground for reigning eternally (2 Timothy 2:12).
Are we just randomly placed on the earth in our various environments, or could it be that God knows us before we’re ever born and places us, with His wisdom, exactly where we need to be for our good? Jeremiah 1:4-5 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.’” Note Romans 9:11-13, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
Could being in our station as females teach us some particular things or give us particular opportunities now that might be beneficial to us later on? On earth, the woman is given to the man as his suitable help. Genesis 2:19-24 reads as follows.
Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
“Help meet” (KJV) or “helper” (NKJV) means to aid or to help.
We’re not going to be marrying in Heaven. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven’” (Matthew 22:29-30). So, what’s the point of having marriage in this life if we’re not going to have it later? We can see how God works with us as He shows us His plans for the different members of the church. Each member has its own function for the body – the church – to work well.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
Marriage and the Home
So, exactly what role does God give us as women? First, let’s consider marriage and the home. Note the following passages.
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (1 Timothy 5:9-10)
Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (1 Timothy 5:14)
That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. (Titus 2:4-5)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18)
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. (1 Peter 3:1-6)
Husbands, likewise, 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 may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)
in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (1 Timothy 2:9-14)
To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)
The Role of Women in the Church
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. (1 Corinthians 14:34-38)
“Silence” means to keep silent. “Churches” (ekklesia) means a calling out or an assembly. “Permitted” means to turn over (i.e., to transfer). Permission to speak in the public assembly (i.e., with both brothers and sisters in Christ present for worship) has not been transferred to women. “Speak” means to talk. “Under obedience” (KJV) or “be submissive” (NKJV) means to subordinate oneself, to obey, to be under obedience (obedient), to put under, to subdue to, to make subject to, to be put in subjection to or under, to submit oneself to.
How would you summarize all the descriptions that these Scriptures define as our role as women? Servants? Submissive? Humble?
The Benefits of Our Role as Women
God put us in this position. If we use our role as a woman well, will God be pleased and reward us accordingly? First Timothy 3:13 presents a principle from which we can answer this question. “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” As God’s stewards, He grants us a very special privilege to quite possibly be first in Heaven by giving us lots of opportunities to grow in humility now.
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:33-35)
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:11-12)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
How should we view our subservient role? Should we view it as a put-down (shame) or as an honor? Sarah filled her position well and is called a mother of nations; she was held up for an example for all of us. “Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her’” (Genesis 17:15-16).
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. (1 Peter 3:4-6)
What about someone who thought a subservient role was a dishonor? Korah in the Old Testament is an example of such.
Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!” Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?” (Numbers 16:1-11)
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?” So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’” Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.” Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” (Numbers 16:19-34)
What about a people that just didn’t like who their ruler was and wanted to change the administration? The following example from Scripture illustrates this attitude.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:4-7)
Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.” (1 Samuel 12:1)
And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” (1 Samuel 12:19)
What about someone who thought they were “just as good” as the ruler, and were simply finding fault (with seemingly justified criticism) with their ruler? Note Numbers 12:1-15, which reads:
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?” So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!” So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!” Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.” So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again.
If we want to change the order of God’s authority (rulership), wish to be the authority ourselves or even just find fault with our rulers, are we any better than these people? Consider also the following.
Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (Acts 23:5)
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:12)
“Usurp authority” (KJV) or “have authority” means to act of oneself to dominate, to seize and hold in possession by force or without right, to take or make use of without right, to take the place of by or as if by force, to seize or exercise authority or possession wrongfully.
Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. (Jude 8-16)
These verses picture brethren who despise dominion, speak evil of dignitaries, despise and set aside rightful authority, disesteem, neutralize or violate authority, cast off, or bring to nought and reject dominion, mastery, rulers or government. They speak evil or blaspheme, vilify, speak impiously, defame, rail on and revile biblical authority (in this context).
Hebrews 13:7 and 17 say, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct… Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” “Submit” (KJV) or “be submissive” (NKJV) means to yield, to surrender. “Watch” means to be sleepless or to keep awake.
But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
Worldly minded people try to keep us pumped up by saying, “God has no hands but our hands, no mouth but our mouth.” This is extremely presumptuous.
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. (1 Corinthians 14:34-38)
and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (Matthew 3:9)
Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:35-40)
Since God ordained that women are to keep silence, then we should keep silence. We should not break His laws so that we can inform or teach some man in the church (i.e., worship assembly).
And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? – as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. (Romans 3:8)
Think of the example of Uzzah, who must have thought that to disobey the command of the Lord to save the ark was the only thing to do. He very well may have been the only one standing by to “save” it.
So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:3-7)
If we think we absolutely must teach or rule over a man, because otherwise he can’t learn and cannot do his job well, then we’re not trusting in God but trusting in ourselves, and that’s not meek! The same goes for being the ruler of our home or taking the leadership position over our husbands. If he simply won’t fulfill his role as the head of the house, should we step in? Will God bless us if we do?
[Editor’s Note: There is no greater distinction between God-given roles than the fact that women bear a couple’s offspring. “To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you’” (Genesis 3:16). “Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:15). Rather than teaching that every woman must bear children, the role of a mother is an illustration of embracing the God-given role overall designated by God to women.
Indeed, women are forbidden to speak in the public assembly of the church for worship (1 Corinthians 14). However, a woman may participate in a religious discussion or study with a man outside of worship (Acts 18:26). At no time ought a woman dominate Christian men religiously or in the home (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
Incidentally, if a man overhears a woman teaching God’s Word (e.g., to women, Acts 21:9) or reads (i.e., or sings psalms, hymns or spiritual songs, Ephesians 5:19) a religious article written by a woman, she is not the active person under those circumstances, but the man is.
Finally, some things did not change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The subjection of women to men and of wives to their husbands has not changed (1 Corinthians 14:34), despite popular views within culture today that distorts God’s instructions. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
