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"There are few subjects today that evoke greater emotion
and polarization in the evangelical church than Christian feminism."
[1] Indeed this subject is not limited in tenderness to the world
of Christianity, for our secular society is filled with the voices
of the feminist movement which has waged a massive assault on
the world of men and women. In fact, in the past two decades we
have seen a phenomenal rise of this movement to influence every
facet of our homes, churches and societal life. However, the feminist
movement with all its ideas on sexual identity, vocation and roles
still has to come to terms with the truths and teaching of the
unchanging Word of God.
As a Christian minister, the one thing I have observed that has
had a strong negative influence on traditional Christian values
of men and women is the feminist movement. For centuries, unchallenged,
men and women have fulfilled the traditionally satisfying roles
of gender while gaining great joy and satisfaction in being who
they were meant to be. But all that changed in the early sixties
when traditional roles, values and morality was cast to the wind
in favor of the new morality that was blowing through the nation.
This new wind was clearly a rejection of almost all the Christian
tradition that made our nation stable and great for centuries.
The feminist movement brought us the abandoning of the home by
mothers and wives, the rejection of traditional morality, and
the role and gender of the sexes were cast off in the pursuit
of new freedom.
Yet now thirty years later what has it brought us, what has been
its fruit? The answer is broken homes, rampant adultery and divorce,
suicide, violent crime, hostility, abuse, promiscuity and sexual
perversion such as homosexuality and lesbianism. Yes, this is
the fruit of casting off the as the Bible says is "the old
path wherein is the good way."
Now all of this I believe was fueled by the feminist movement
that called for the obliteration of sexual difference of men and
women in every facet of life. The avalanche of feminist literature
and teaching that has permeated our society has indeed taken its
toll, as millions of young people are drifting aimlessly without
any moral, spiritual and sexual compass to guide them into a satisfying
and meaningful life.
I submit to you this travesty of humanity that is eating the heart
out of American life now has even entered the Church of Jesus
Christ. What's the answer? Well my friend it is always found in
the Word of God. Yes, God has an answer to the feminist movement,
and that is what I want to look at today. What does the Bible
say about the roles and relationships of men and women? The answer
is plenty! Although I won't have enough time to give this worthy
subject full consideration, let me take some of the main points
from God's Word and give you a handle to consider this important
issue.
To begin we go to the Old Testament and find that God has something
to say about gender and roles of men and women. Right at the beginning
of the Bible, God gives us the foundation of defining the differences
of the sexes. We read in,
Gen 1:27 (NIV) "So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created
them."
Notice the first fundamental truth God teaches! He says both men
and women were CREATED EQUAL, both inheriting God's image, neither
receiving more or less of it. So we see the Bible teaches
(1) THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES.
However, as the revelation of God goes on we find in Genesis
2, that God defines the differences He has created in us and the
purpose which the differing sexes are to play. God says,
Gen 2:15 (NIV) "The LORD God took the man and put him
in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." …
18 "The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to
be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." …
22 "Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib [side] he
had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man….
24 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."
Here God shows that even in the creative makeup of the man and
the women they had differing God-given roles. The man was to care
for the environment, to labor in the fields, while the role of
the woman was as a "helper." Though Eve was Adam's equal,
she was given a role of submission to him. Now I realize the idea
today of being a helper seems demeaning, but God never intended
that. In fact God delights Himself to be called, "the helper
of Israel."(Deu. 33:7;Psa. 33:20). Yet this beginning difference
is to be noted that it was instituted by the Creative order, not
the sin of the Garden of Eden. So two truths emerge at the beginning
time for humanity. (1) THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES,
but also we see the,
(2) DIFFERING ROLES OF THE SEXES,
WITH THE WOMAN IN SUBMISSION TO THE MAN.
Now today the tendency is to stress the equality of men and woman
by minimizing the unique significance of our maleness and femaleness.
But this depreciation by the feminist movement is a great loss,
as its taken a tremendous toll on generations of young men and
women who do not know what it really means to be a man or a woman!
We see today confusion over the meaning of sexual personhood which
has resulted in more divorce, sexual and physical abuse and of
course the rise of the evil sin of homosexuality - which all comes
with the loss of our God-given identity.
I'm old enough to remember that the generation I grew up in clearly
taught the differences of the sexes, so that the vast majority
of boys and girls growing up knew who they were and were glad
of it. Today we are telling young people that sexual uniqueness
is not inherent, rather a choice. This is wrong for "our
sexuality penetrates to the deepest metaphysical ground of our
personality." You and I unless we have been corrupted by
the feminist movement's teachings have always been aware of ourselves
as himself or herself. And that is because this is the way God
made us. It matters not how masculine or feminine we look by birth,
what matters is what God made us by genetic makeup. If I'm a man,
I'm to be a man, if you are a woman, you are to be a woman and
enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of it.
The problem we face today is that our humanity is unhappy with
God's assigned roles and sex. Yet this unhappiness was predicted
in the Bible. We read that after Adam and Eve sinned against God,
He revealed to them the full effects of their choice to reject
God. The Bible says,
Gen 3:16 (NIV) "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.""
Part of the curse was that women who were created to bear children
would now do so with greater suffering and pain, and in addition
God says, the woman's "desire," will be for her husband
but he will "rule" over her. In Genesis 4:7 Moses uses
the same Hebrew word for "desire," with the meaning
of "excessive control over." What
God is telling us is that because of sin, the woman's corrupted
nature would reject her God-given role of submission, and seek
to rule, subdue and exercise control over her husband or the men
in her life.
But, God also said, in response, because of the man's sin, his
corrupted nature would strike back and forcefully subdue her by
exerting undue authority over her. Wow, there it is! God explains
all the problems we suffer between the sexes down through the
centuries. As this corrupted sin nature in both sexes abuses its
role and seeks to usurp the other, the fighting continues to this
day.
And, because of this sinful rejection of God's roles and relationships,
man has come up with an answer - the feminist movement. Seeing
the abuses of the men, and seeing the often unfair subjugation
of the women - God is blamed and His Word rejected as the source
of the trouble. In place of turning back to God and following
His ways, sinful humanity devises new concepts that are simply
additional forms of rebellion to God's creative order. The Feminist
Movement is such for it rejects God's order for the sexes. By
teaching that all differences of the sexes be eliminated, and
that women reject any role of submission - many think they are
free from the shackles and restraints of traditional roles.
However I want to illustrate the fallacy of this so called freedom.
For example two woman can jump out of an airplane and experience
the thrill of freedom of free-falling to the earth. But there
is a difference. One is encumbered by the straps of a heavy parachute,
while the other has none, she is totally free from the burden.
However, may I ask you, which one is really free? The one without
the parachute feels absolutely free they have removed the constraints
of the parachute. But she is not free, for she is in bondage to
the force of gravity and to the deception that all is well because
she feels unencumbered. This false sense of freedom is in fact
bondage to calamity which is sure to happen. This is the way many
women today calling for the new found freedoms of abandoning the
home, and the role of submission to the man, think of freedom.
They judge it on the basis of what feels good and give unrestrained
independence.
But God's ways are always the best way. The Bible affirms the
equality of the sexes, but calls for differing roles, especially
the support role of the man in the home. Now contrary to popular
secular opinion, Christianity has always been the driving force
to free women from true bondage of sinful male domineering, and
abusive and oppressive situations. If you look at the Gospel in
the New Testament, you'll find that Jesus Christ rejected the
oppression of women. The Greek, Roman and even Jewish world of
his day viewed women on the level of possessions, but Jesus upheld
the dignity and value of women. The Bible reveals He showed love,
respect for them and included them in His teaching sessions. The
Jewish men never taught the women.
In addition Jesus spoke personally with them, and even tenderly
touched them (Luk. 13:10; Mat. 5:25). Moreover Jesus gave a woman
the very first privilege to see Him in the resurrected state,
and commissioned Mary Magdalene to announce His resurrection.
Thus by God's directive, a woman became the first ambassador for
Christ!(John 20:1-18).
Yes the Lord Jesus set the example of what a true man was to be
like and how he was to treat women. Jesus raised the standard
which the true church has uphold for centuries. In fact, the Lord's
attitude toward women as equals with the men, was clearly carried
into the New Testament epistles. Paul the apostle, although maligned
today for certain statements supposedly against women, also gave
woman their place of honor. He worked along side of them, commissioned
them for ministry service, and graciously allowed them t minister
their spiritual gifts on behalf of himself ad others. Yes even
from the beginning the Church gave woman a high standing of mutual
respect and care, and only in this day has the ungodly voice of
feminism rejected God's rightful roles.
Now the confusion that has come into the churches about the role
and distinctives of men and women, is the fault of poor Biblical
interpretation. Biblical feminists today read what Paul wrote
to the Galatians,
Gal 3:28 (NIV) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave
nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
This is the foundation of all feminist teachings on the equality
of the sexes that calls for the removal of all sexual distinctives
and role relationships. If men and woman are equal before God,
then they should have the right to equal roles and responsibilities
in the church, home and society. But this is not so. Equality
before God does not require the elimination of all role distinctions
in society, nor does it rule out authority and submission. Even
our society today recognizes authority and submission without
depreciating the value of an individual. God is revealed as a
Trinity but there is submission and authority among the equality
of the Godhead. The president of the U.S has great authority,
but he is no less equal to any citizen of this nation, who in
effect has the role of submission to his leadership and direction.
Likewise an employer and his employees, a parent his children,
husband and wife, or elders in the church and its members. All
are equal in personhood, but different in roles. Indeed there
is a difference!
Now, how can we define the difference and role relationship? I
think I have an answer for you. John Piper a prolific author today
defines it this way. He says the meaning of masculinity, "is
a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and
protect women in ways appropriate to a man's differing relationships."
Thus for a man to return to God's biblical standard of the creation
this expresses itself in the following ways,
(1) Mature masculinity expresses itself not in demand to be served,
but in the strength to serve and to sacrifice for the good of
woman. Jesus said,
Luke 22:26 (NIV) "But you are not to be like that.
Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and
the one who rules like the one who serves." A truly
biblical man is one who lovingly cares for women because that
is how God made him to watch over them and serve them in their
needs.
(2) Mature masculinity does not assume authority nor presume superiority over a woman, rather mobilizes such strength to help others and meet their needs. Indeed this is the Biblical view that no woman would have trouble with submitting to. However what about the woman? A Biblical definition of a mature woman would be as follows,
"A freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture
strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to
a woman's differing relationships" In this way a woman
delights to experience the leadership of a man, and draws her
joy and fulfillment in enabling him to do it to the best of his
ability, as he care naturally for her. Such a woman is not looking
to rule over her man, nor is he desiring to be free of him either.
The feminist movement today that calls women to its kind
of freedom is the same kind as jumping out of an airplane without
a parachute. But God's true freedom comes in obeying the Word
of God, following His ordained ways of life and living and fulfilling
them accordingly.
How sad that today the unisex movement that tries to de-feminize
the woman and de-masculinize the man is simply a mentality based
on the godless world view of relativistic humanism. Those who
call for an end to all distinctions based on sex have brought
us the evil fruit that now is destroying our society. Abortion,
homosexuality, divorce, broken homes, all have come upon us for
denying God's ordained roles and distinctives for the sexes. Oh
friends, let's get back to the ways of the Bible that served humanity
for millenniums, and let us turn away from the feminist movement
that seeks to destroy us. The Bible says, "God created us
male and female.." there is a difference! Let us live it,
and let us teach it to our children and grand-children that they
may enter into the fullness of its blessing and promise. For herein
will our nation find its way out of our moral, spiritual and social
chaos.
So, I say with confidence God bless our women! They are our societies
most precious contributors, as God made them to help us men carry
out God's call and purpose. I for one want to be on record that
I will treat all women with the utmost respect, do everything
I can to provide for them where able and called, utilize their
spiritual gifting and talents for the Lord's work, provide protection
from all danger and harm as I am able and capable and called,
and most of all set the example of my sexual role and distinction
for others boys and men to follow. For herein I will pass on to
the next generation, the rightful vision of their being and purpose
for God and His glory.
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REFERENCE:
[1] Jay Kesler, Christian Counselor, quote.
Emil Brunner, quote, "Recovering
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood" page 34. Crossway Books,
Wheaton IL.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(wwyfin@sparc.isl.net) or visit our webpage at THE WORLD, THE WORD & YOU! BROADCAST [ http://www.isl.net/wwyweb.html ]