There is a question rising up in
our society. It’s a difficult one and EVERYONE seems to have an answer.
Different brands of Christianity have approached the subject and handled it in
different ways, but as for me, I’d like to share how I view the challenge of
what it means to live out, “Biblical Womanhood.” I can’t promise I have the
right answer, but I’ve done my research, and this is what I have learned.
Firstly,
I focused my research on two passages from the Bible about conduct for women,
and then researched the passage further. The first of which, was 1 Corinthians
14:24-35 which comments on women speaking in church. In my research, I came
across an article by Andrew Spurgeon (not the infamous Charles Spurgeon). With
his understanding of Greek, he explored the passage within its context. I am a
huge fan of looking at the historical context of Bible passages. Now, this may
have something to do with the fact that I love history, but when we study the
Bible, its important to distinguish what is History, what is Law, and what is
Prophecy. Sometimes, there is a mixture. But in his study, Spurgeon suggest
that Paul, in his writing, is using what is called, “Permissive Imperative,” to
address the women of Corinth. This means, in essence, that he allowed a behavior
to continue.
“Women
should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but
must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to
inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is
disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”
For
the Corinthian women, it was embarrassing for them to speak aloud, interrupt or
assert themselves. In this case, Paul MAY HAVE BEEN saying that if they felt
that way, and it seemed respectful to them, then they ought to continue to
listen, learn, and save their questions for later. (I will include a works
cited list should anyone wish to read up on Spurgeon’s possible understanding
of the passage).
Now,
on the subject of submission, what on earth does that mean? Well, Merriam-Webster
Dictionary defines, “Submission,” as: the state of being obedient/ the act of
accepting the authority or control of someone else. Sounds a lot like something
you might have heard in the Bible. But you probably never finished reading.
Something
I find interesting is that God is a god of order and not of chaos. And to
everything in His creation, He has attributed a structure… and all of it, He
considered good. So take Genesis 2:20-24, “But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a
deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and
then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he
had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his
wife, and they become one flesh.”
This is what God created. In the image of
Himself, He created them. Male and Female, He created them. And so, because
we shouldn’t profane what God made good. Let’s proceed on the premise that God
loves both men and women equally because they are His creation. But since God
also created order, He has also paved the way for relationships.
But I want you to realize that
the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head
of Christ is God… man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither
was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this
reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the
angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent
of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came
from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8-12
Husbands, in the same way be
considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the
weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life… 1 Peter 3:7
“The wife does not have authority
over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband
does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” 1
Corinthians 7:4
These three
verses offer some interesting insight into what God created the relationship
between women and men to be like. In Israeli culture, there is the rule of the
firstborn. This is very much like the way Adam was created first, and in this,
is the firstborn. As the firstborn, Adam inherits many privileges, but also
many responsibilities. True, he is “in charge,” but he is also responsible to
care for what he has been placed in charge of (1 Peter 3:7). And I love the way
1 Corinthians 11 not only describes men and women, but traces both back to God.
Man is not sovereign. In fact, he answers to God. Then there is this beautiful
reminder of men and women functioning together in 1 Corinthians 7. One might
assume that the Bible makes man’s word over his wife law, but this passage
suggests that they are making decisions together and not one without the
other’s participation. Partners.
Now, realize that even partners
must let one’s idea prevail over the other. But without one another, nothing
can be accomplished. Take Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 for example, “Two are better than one, because they have a good
return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other
up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie
down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one
may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not
quickly broken.”
Let me explain myself very quickly,
I’m not very passionate about feminism or women’s rights. However, I am
disappointed in the way men have been trampled on in the process… “Boys go to
Jupiter to get more stupider, Girls go to Mars to get more candy bars?” What is
with this awful mantra? This said. I am in awe of the symbiosis of men and
women functioning together in their fullest capacity, using their gifts and
talents, and not tearing one another down. Neither outweighs the other.
The other passage I would like to
take a look at is 1 Peter 3:3-5 which reads,
“Your beauty should not
come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of
gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of
your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of
great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy
women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.”
I
mentioned earlier that different “brands” of Christianity have taken this verse
to mean different things. Some, read it quite literally and choose to not wear
any kind of jewelry, fancy clothing, and put their hair up in a very demure,
uninteresting style. But when I read this verse, I am reminded of Romans 12:2, “Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his
good, pleasing and perfect will.”
You
see, in ancient Greece, it was the habit of the people to dress fashionably and
decoratively in order to draw attention to their social status. With the case
of Jewelry and fine clothing, this would mean the wealthy and the temple
prostitutes. And so, by not dressing like them, the women were choosing not to
associate themselves with the vanity of the rich and the immorality of the
prostitutes, or in other words, “not conforming to the pattern of this world.”
And
then of course, there is Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in
and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and
vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So why on earth try please
men? As Paul said in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of
human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still
trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Now,
it does say in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, “I also want the women to dress modestly, with
decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or
gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate
for women who profess to worship God.” Modesty can also refer to the word,
“clean.” After living in their “work clothes” all week, it was appropriate for
the people to change into clean clothes before going to worship.
So,
this does NOT MEAN that women ought to avoid nice clothing altogether, but that
they shouldn’t seek to gain the approval of men by what they wear, but rather,
dress cleanly, and place value on how God thinks of you, not people.
So
how was that for a short cruise through womanhood? And if all else fails, go to
Proverbs 31. I love that passage. Here is a woman who is loved by her husband,
respected by her children, wise, creative, hardworking and an ENTREPRENEUR of
all things! She’s a businesswoman.
Personally, I
think that God will use you in how he has gifted you. Not all of us are cutout
to be entrepreneurs. I’m not. But I would really love to be a wife and a mother
someday. Writing is my passion… I believe God has a use for that.
So don’t be the
lazy, wicked servant in Matthew 25. Put what you have been entrusted with to
work for God’s glory. If you submit yourself to God’s will, He will use you and
bless you.
But also
remember what Paul wrote in Romans 14, “whoever has doubts is condemned if he
eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from
faith is sin.” So if your sister in Christ feels that she is sinning by
venturing beyond her conservative lifestyle, then do not pressure her to
exchange her dress for a pair of pants. By this, you are causing her to
stumble. Let her read and learn for herself so that she may live her life in
faith, trusting that what she does is pleasing to God.
Spurgeon, Andrew B. "Pauline
Commands And Women In 1 Corinthians 14."
Bibliotheca Sacra 168.671
(2011): 317-333.
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 31 July
2014.
