January 1999 Issue

Prejudices...

Biases Against
Women
By Charles Law

The Word of God has much to say about women and their role in society. Society, however, does not make it a practice to hearken to the words of the Creator. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. This is still very much true today in 1999. Woman was created by God and with a purpose designed by God. Mankind has sought to reject all this so that he might follow the imagination of his own heart.

Gen. 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Jer 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me.

There are grave and serious consequences in rejecting the will of God for our lives. We have been warned by God through the examples of the past .

Rom. 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Many of our problems in this society are traceable to man’s attempts to change and reject God’s ways.

It seems to me that there is a prejudice in our society against godly women, those women who seek to walk in the ways of the Lord. They are viewed as being out of step with the times in this modern age in which we live. We are talking about women that choose to be homemakers working in the home to make it what God would have it to be; caring for the children, as opposed to shipping them off to a daycare for someone else to nurture.

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

We are talking about godly women who love their husbands and love their children, who are in subjection to their husbands because this is the will of God. Our society’s philosophy undermines the family structure set up by God. They would have women to abandon the responsibilities of the home for a career. This in turn tears down the home, which in turn, tears down society. Our society today, with all of it’s ills, is a product of our modern homes which have abandoned principles taught by God’s Word. These godly women have to put up with accusations such as: being lazy, unable able to think for themselves, not well-rounded or fulfilled. Such ought not to be. The godly woman’s role is a position of honor.

Prov. 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Therefore women should not be degraded and should not feel degraded in her God-given role.

Another prejudice against women is that they are considered second-class citizens in the kingdom by some. This is not the teaching of the scripture. In spite of the fact that a woman has a different role than men in the kingdom, it does not make her of any less value than the man.

Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

God has established an order of subjection. This does not degrade the woman, or diminish her value, anymore than Christ, whose head is God.

1 Cor. 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

I Cor. 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Where would we be without women?

1 Cor.12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Each of us has his, or her, part to supply to the functioning of the body of Christ.

Another prejudice against women, toward wives in particular, is that some husbands think that their wives are nothing more than slaves to do their bidding. While the Word of God places women in subjection to their husbands, it also instructs husbands as to how they are to treat their wives.

Eph. 5: 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph.5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

This prejudice is overcome when husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Let us return to the pattern for women established by our creator so that God is Glorified.

1 Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us give the women the honor that God intended.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Charles Law for the thought provoking article! Women are NOT second class citizens! God's Word is our proper Guide for the scriptural roles of man, woman and child. God knows best. Charles can be reached via email at belindalaw@juno.com]

Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com