a woman's place

Before we can reclaim the dignity and calling of living freely as women in Christ, many of us need a better understanding of what God's plans and expectations really are. Those outside the church are often disdainful of the standards they deem antiquated at best and oppressive at worst. Yet even after a generation of 'liberation,' some feel they have yet to achieve all they were promised. The majority of women in America (57%) continue to feel that women do not have job opportunities equal with those of men (1). Twenty-two percent say they are treated unfairly in public life or employment at least once a month. Most support affirmative action programs for women. Even as this is true, more women than ever before are optimistic regarding the societal position of women. Forty-two percent now say they never experience gender-based discrimination and the majority of women report being at least somewhat satisfied with societal treatment of women. A growing number of these women have begun to wonder why the larger goals of contentment and fulfillment remain elusive. They have begun to realize that it is harder than they were promised to "have it all." They are wondering why sexual intimacy outside of marriage isn't as satisfying and freeing as they were led to believe it would be. CS Lewis understood that "[t]the monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union." (2) As Christians, we know that going outside the Creator's purpose will only lead to frustration and pain. It is our calling and our privilege to have answers for the hope we have as women in Christ.

From the beginning, God's word is clear that women are valued and unique. Eve was Adam's partner, helper, and wife. She was created not to be exactly like him (God loves variety) but to complement him and to enable humans to relate in community as God the Father, Son, and Spirit do. I am not the first to point out that God did not remove a bone from Adam's head or from his foot but from his side. Eve was not to hold herself above Adam, nor was she to be a doormat. She was created to be his companion, walking with him.

While they are equal in value, God designed marriage to operate with husbands as the head of the home. (3) This, too, is first modeled in the trinity as the Son submits to the will of the Father. For wives as well as for our Savior, this is not a sign of weakness but of strength submitted (compare Ephesians 5:21-24 with Philippians 2:5-7). The Hebrew word that describes Eve as Adam's helper (Genesis 2:18,20) is also used of God in Psalm 121:2 and elsewhere. It reads, "My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth." We can hardly suggest that God is spineless or insignificant when He mercifully chooses to help humanity. Why would we assume the same of women?

During his time on earth, Jesus was intentional about affirming the worth of women. He entered a culture in which His original plan had been horribly distorted. (How much more is that the case 2000 years later?) Women were often viewed as property and rarely received formal education. Yet Jesus never failed to treat women, as everyone else He encountered, with respect and compassion. His first miracle at Cana was in response to his mother's request. He continued to honor his mother Mary throughout His earthly ministry. He scandalized church leaders and even His own disciples by speaking to adulteresses, prostitutes, and the Samaritan woman (who was doubly stigmatized in their eyes because of her race and her gender). He was not ashamed to accept the worship of women such as Mary (who anointed Him with costly perfume, wiping it with her hair (John 12:3)) and another woman who was recognized as having lived an immoral life (Luke 7:37-39, 44-50). John 11:5 tells of his deep love for this same Mary and her sister Martha. Even though He already planned to raise Lazarus from the dead, He was moved to tears Himself when He saw Mary grieving for her brother (John 11:33-35). I do not believe it was a coincidence that Mary Magdalene and not one of His disciples was the first to see Him after His resurrection (John 20:13-16). He was again underscoring the cherished and honored status of women, making it abundantly clear.

A Woman's Role

Both inside the church and out, there has been much debate and misunderstanding regarding the role of women within the Christian faith. Yet it is clear that women were full and active members of the early church (see, for example, I Corinthians 11:4-5 and Titus 2:1-10). It was not uncommon for the first convert in a city to be a woman (Lydia is one example, see Acts 16:14). Older women are called to mentor younger women in life skills and spiritual truths (Titus 2:1-10). Women are also named as hosts/leaders of house churches in several cities either alongside their husbands or, in several cases, as single women (see Colossians 4:15 and Romans 16:1). A house church is similar in structure and purpose to what we call a community group. In fact, Paul boldly proclaims that men and women are equal in value and honor. Galatians 3:28 states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus ."

It is also clear that women in the church were called to uphold Godly order without confusion. As in marriage and the Godhead, God ordained a structure of authority. Men are designated, as the firstborn of humanity, to uphold positions of headship. In I Timothy 3:1-7, it is men who are called to the position of overseer or elder. However, I Timothy 3:8-13 indicates that deacons may be either men or women. In reality, the early church appears to have been served by deaconesses as well as deacons. Whether men or women, the important point was that they be people of good character who were faithful to the Truth and above reproach in their behavior.

However, as they submit to the authority of their husbands (if married) and their pastors or elders women are free to teach, to prophesy, and to pray in the church. As already pointed out, older women are called to teach the younger (Titus 2:3-5). In I Corinthians 11:5, women are described with approval as praying and prophesying before their congregations. The Greek word for prophecy used here refers to speaking truths under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It can refer to prediction or foretelling but also to simply declaring the truth of God as revealed in Scripture. Further, multiple prophetesses are named in Scripture who were used by God (see Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, II Kings 22:14, Luke 2:36).

Much is made of the passage in I Corinthians 14:34 in which women are commanded to "keep silent." What is often overlooked is that the teaching, prophesying, and praying women are exhorted to do could not happen if they were actually expected to remain speechless. What is more, in I Corinthians 14:28, men are required to "keep silent" themselves when no interpreter is present. When the entire chapter is read in context, it becomes clear that the real point being made is that worship is to be orderly and God-honoring rather than filled with the confusion and turmoil that characterized the Corinthian church at that time. The issue was not "men versus women, but...confusion versus order." (4) According to the Biblical scholar Zodhiates, "In God's sight, it makes no difference who causes the confusion. It is a shame for any woman to bring confusion into the local church (v. 35), even as it is for any man to do so." Looking at the whole counsel of God's word makes it clear that the command for women to remain silent was not absolute but specific to the situation and to the sort of speech that was being done. Women in the Corinthian church were speaking (5) in ways that were incoherent or impossible to be understood by the hearers and were thus disruptive. "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." (I Corinthians 14:33).

A Woman's Heart

Women, especially, are called to demonstrate modesty and pure character both within the church and outside it. We are exhorted to dress "modestly and discreetly" and to let our godly behavior shine more than our jewelry or hairstyle (I Timothy 2:9, see also I Peter 3:1-4). It is vital to place these writings in their historical context. In Ephesus, for example, scantily clad priestesses of Artemis (Diana) were respected as they 'ministered' in the two-story brothel where the goddess was worshipped (6). Some of these women had begun to accept Christ as Lord and were leaving behind what amounted to prostitution. However, they had not yet changed their manner of dress. They had become children of God but still looked like priestesses of Artemis . They needed to be transformed in every part of their lives including what they wore. Our challenge as women in this culture is no different. It makes no sense to worship with pure hearts and to dress and carry ourselves provocatively at the same time. Christ gave Himself up to set apart a church, a Bride, that was, "in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing...holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27). As women, we have the distinct privilege to lead in this by our purity and restraint.

One of the things I love about being a woman is the opportunity to unite the heart with the mind. Of course men feel and of course women think rationally (no matter what Freud may have believed). And yet, women are often especially gifted at being tuned into and expressing the heart even as men are often wired to be more focused on logic and rationality. God gave women the honor of upholding compassion and mercy in some unique ways. It is no accident, for example, that we are the childbearers, the ones who nurture and sustain our offspring for the nine months before their birth and in the earliest days of theirs lives. In the postmodern world compassion has become a lost art. This has much to do with misguided notions of feminism (7) that have sacrificed mercy and a servant's heart for a self-centered quest for status, power, and wealth. It is my hope that our generation, who has begun to question this mantra, will reunite heart with mind and restore Godly compassion among men and women. "Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth; and righteousness looks down from heaven. Indeed, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him, and will make His footsteps into a way." Psalm 85:10-13.

--terra mcdaniel (8)

-----------------------------------------------

1. Data from a Gallup poll conducted in June 2003. For more, see http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/ pr031009.asp

2. Mere Christianity, p.104-105

3. Chapter 6 of Mere Christianity addresses marriage, giving a clear, rational explanation of this design.

4. Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study New Testament, p. 576.

5. The word "speak" in I Corinthians 14:34 is laleo "to talk at random." Again, the issue is order versus confusion.

6. Kay Arthur, International Inductive Study Bible notes on Ephesians, p.1903. The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Silversmiths made their living selling statues of the goddess and of the temple. This explains their violent anger at Paul's preaching the gospel there: he was endangering their source of income (Acts 18-19).

7. There are many strains of feminism. The most vocal feminists seek to erase any and all distinctions between genders but there are others who simply desire more educational opportunities, comparable salaries, and the like. There are even Christian feminists (see link here) with a women's studies program at Vanguard University.

8. Email me at terra.mcdaniel@genref.org with questions or comments.