God’s View of Woman

 

The Essential Woman.

Genesis 5:1-2 is too often overlooked. “He blessed THEM and called THEM man”. This teaches us that humanity cannot express or fulfil His image we are made in, without feminism. Theologically no one can fully understand the nature of God the Father without a feminine side, even the apostle Paul dealt with Christians as a ‘nursing mother’, 1st Thes. 2:6-8. Without Mary, there would have been no Saviour, without Joanna & Susanna the Apostles would have been destitute (Lk 8:2-3), without Lydia the first church in Europe would have been homeless, without sisters in the church today we would be uncouth and even unlovable. Why? Because men in general have a bad habit of hiding the most important ingredient in the church, love. The church is commanded to show affection and generally our sisters teach us best by example, 2nd Peter 1:7.

 

The Dilemma of Importance.

Everyone needs to feel needed, it is innately human. Sisters in the church may feel unimportant and even abused, if we do not practice the command of outdoing each other in honouring  people more so than yourself, Rom. 12:10,  and equally important the task of showing concern for one another in promoting love and good works (Heb. 10:24)  We must never forget God’s viewpoint of our sisters in Christ, they are equally important, equally loved, equally talented, equally one and united with us in Christ, Galatians 3:27-29. In marriage we should be equally yoked, 1st Cor. 7:39, 2nd  Cor. 6:14.

 

Sanctity of Feminism.

In creation God made woman to be a “helpmeet”, the basic idea was that she surround the husband and children with care. The same Hebrew word is used to describe King David’s mighty men of valor, as surrounding the King with security, (1st Chron. 12:1 & 2nd  Sam. 21:17) Numerous times in the Psalms, God Himself is praised as our ‘help-meet’.  Now in the church, Jesus elevates the role of subservient work to the role of master. John 13:1-17. It is the attitude of sacrificial service which Christ had that we all aspire to, Php 2:5-8. Generally, Sisters seem to be more apt in fulfilling this command, thereby setting an example to us & laying up treasures in heaven more abundantly. We should never confuse the error of Martha with the role of women in the church, Lk 10:40. Martha’s error was in ‘complaining’, not in serving. The multiplicity of duties women are called to do, and the multi-tasking Martha did, was no doubt one of the qualities that caused Jesus to love her, Jn. 11:5. This was what motivated God’s Spirit to live with Martha and God sanctifies servants more readily than Kings. Her fruits of righteousness were more numerous than many other disciples of Jesus combined!

 

Leading Sisters can…

1.  teach the younger sisters in love, discretion, chastity & goodness, Titus 2:3-5.

2.  teach children The Faith., 2nd Tim. 1:5.

3.  teach the public in dress, 1st Tim. 2:9, “modest, decent & good sense”

4.  devote themselves to prayer & good works, 1st Tim. 5:5-10, Col. 4:2.

5.  lead in the house. 1st Tim. 5:14, “oikodespoteín - manage”.

 

Prayer pointer for the week:  Are we devoted to prayer? Why are sisters generally more prayerful than brothers? Does the world mock what God exalts in a woman? Pray for our sisters leadership and devotion in holiness, 2nd  Cor. 7:1, 1st Tim. 2:15, Titus 2:3.