A Woman's Role

[Balugon]

My major question lately has been a woman's role. In the church especially. There are verses that say that women should remain quiet and should wear veils, verses I've very much been aware of but I've always brushed them off thinking maybe they don't apply, God can't expect me to know everything. However, the Bible is timeless. Its supposed to apply even today. Not just some of it but ALL of it. In today s world it seems so crazy that I'm just supposed to remain quiet and let the men do all the work of proclaiming God's word. I don't think I CAN do that. God has called me to do His work. He has chose me, a woman. But it makes no sense.

Lately I've been trying to do everything that I can to truely understand what God's role for me is. I've even begun to cook! Yikes!

I suppose this may have been a good topic for the woman's area but I'd like to hear guys' ideas too.

What do you feel a woman's role is?

i dont think everything in the Bible is timeless. AND THERE IS PROOF. Matthew 19:1-8

It is the story of divorce, how Moses, in his Bible time had it allowed, but later when jesus came, he outright banned it except for marital unfaithfulness. The Bible and laws in Moses' day changed when Jesus came. At least in that respect.

I have heard more than one time that the reason that women were suppose to be quiet in the church in Paul or Peter's time or w/e was because the women would sit on one side of the church and the husband's on the other. And if the women had a question, they would scream to the other side of the church to their husbands to try to find out the answer. That is why Paul wanted women being quiet and asking their husbands at home- Because it was disrupting service.

Since we dont have that problem now, at least, i dont hope so, we dont need that regulation.

A similar debate, but one that is less straightfoward is the one about tattoos being okay or not. The argument for them being okay now is that in Moses' times, getting a tattoo meant doing stuff to the skin that EASILY could get infected, and i guess there was a strong chance of death or something. Obviously, if that were so, God would have been smart to ban it.

anyway, i am a little leering about women being top pastors at churches. Seeing as how the man is suppose to be the head of the household, for decision making reasons so there isnt endless arguing and such. I dont know if women should be leading churches but not leading the households.

Not saying women cant be youth pastors or whatever, but im just a little leering about the top shepherding spot.

anyway..

 

[princessellie]

i have spoken about this with my SO and he made a good point, culture would have been a big influence on those verses and that when you are reading a letter within the bible you must concider the context it was in, certain things may have had more emphasis put on them because of who the letter was intended for

just a thought

 

[Amilala]

I would say we were equals, When you look at how Jesus defended women it was really quite radical in such opressive times,

 

[Sketcher]

let's take a look at 1 cor. 14: 34-38

First of all women are allowed to speak in church, they are allowed to prophesy. But They were not permitted to teach, to be a teacher is an authoritive level, and in God's governmental ordination, women are not permitted to speak w/ authority over men.

Also we have to look at these historically, women at that time had very little or no education. Here in this chpt paul is giving women a chance to learn! He tells the women to stay silent and when they don't understand something (we can speculate that maybe the women spoke out and interrupted the meeting everytime they didnt understand something). Paul is giving advice to women who want to learn, he tells them to go home and their husbands can give them a lengthy explanation.

You see v34 and 35 is different. 34 tells us that women cannot teach for they need to be subject under men (reason why women shouldn't be minister, pastors and such), it's in God's governmental odination. look at 1 Tim 2:12 35 tells us that women shouldn't speak out and interrupt meetings when they don't understand something (keep in mind, tehy had no formal education), they need to go and ask their husbands at home.

It is not saying that women cannot prophesy, look at Acts 2:17-18 and 21:9. We all need to phophesy for the edification of church

I agree with this. The way I see it, unless Scripture specifically says a woman can't do something, I assume she can.

Personally, I'd sit with Jesus' teaching on women rather than the pastoral epistles...

Since it's all Scripture, the responsible thing to do as a Christian is to find the harmony between what Jesus said and what Paul said.

And why are we ignoring the head covering bit? Are we supposed to have our heads covered?

Based on what I've read, the "head covering" meant long hair. You don't have to wear a hijab to church.

In the context of the day, if you didn't wear a hat in Corinth, you were a prostitute. And it certainly wouldn't do to go to church looking like a prostitute, would it?

 

[bliz]

I recall the Bible saying that women should minister to other women...

...but I have no memory of anything in the Bible that says that women are to teach children other than their own. Can someone point me to a passage? And at what age does a boy become too old to be taught by a woman? Does anyone have scripture on that?

It's interesting that people are often very quick to say that women can teach children, but the Bible does not say this.

 

[horuhe00]

It's interesting that people are often very quick to say that women can teach children, but the Bible does not say this.

Hmm... I wonder what parents would think if they left their little girls in pre-kinder with a bunch of male teachers...

 

[Daniel1985]

My thoughts on women's roles in the church?

I think that men need the support of women in the church, both on "sundays" and the rest of the week.

Helping out at sunday school, big church, youth etc.

I do think that men are called to be the spiritual leaders of a household- but we still need the help & support of women.

what about Joyce Meyer?

 

[Amilala]

LOL
For such a young man you think awfully backwards !

 

[Cordy]

The role for each of us is to answer our own unique calling to glorify God.

The way God calls one person differs from another. I think dividing us up into little boxes, depending on our gender, race, upbringing, social-status etc. in how we can serve is limiting and artificial. God can use whomever He wants to do whatever He wants.

I suggest not worrying how well you fit into the “woman’s role” (whatever that “role” might be – for it greatly varies from culture to culture and group to group, even among Christians). Don’t think, "should I do this as a woman?" "Should I not do this as a woman?" I think that can often serve more as a distraction to our purpose here, than help us in serving God.

I think the better attitude is seeking to honour God wherever He puts you, reguardless of your gender (or other factors).

 

[Followers4christ]

Men and women have different roles,but are equal in the eyes of God (Galatians 3:28).Men are told to be the head of church and marriage.Men are told to never be harsh or deprive their wives,but to love their wives as Christ loves his church (1 Peter 3:7,Ephesians 5:25,Colossians 3:19,1 Corinthians 7:5,1 Timothy 5:8).Submission does not mean that a wife does not have input.Sarah, (the example of submission in 1 Peter 3:6) gave Abraham input which God said he was to follow (Genesis 21:11-12).A Godly wife is worth far more than all the rubies and treasures of this world (Proverbs 31:10-12).God Bless


1 Corinthians 11:3"Now 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."

Colossians 3:18"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

1 Peter 3:5-6"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."

1 Timothy 2:11-14"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.For Adam was formed first, then Eve.And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."

Ephesians 5:22-24"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

Titus 2:5"to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

1 Corinthians 14:34-35"women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.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."

 

[Johnnz]

You should recognise that all those scriptures you quoted are capable of a different interpretation from the traditional, patriarchal line you adopt. That the NT teaches male leadership over a wife is not nearly as clear cut as you imagine. It is easy to overlook the basic fact that 2000 years have passed since they were written. Context is basic to any accurate intepretation. We need to really understand what the original readers of those letters actually understood in their time before we assume that our present day, western culture bound interpretation is correct. For example my post 14 on this thread looks at the 1 Timothy verse you quoted.

I am happy to share my understanding of those verses with you if you want to PM me. I am not interested in provoking some of the unreasoned responses that this topic invariably produces from some domestic despots, so I won't debate them here again.

John
NZ

 

[Followers4christ]

The Bible is the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21) and the word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).


1 Peter 3:5-7 tells us about holy women in the past how they used to make themselves holy was by being submissive to their husbands but in the last part of that scripture it says "You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." it is talking to the women readers who are reading this.As you see it says you are her daughters not you were or anything that is past tense, but the first part of the scripture was using Abrahams wife as an example how women today should live.There is no way to twist that scripture because it states it so clearly that there is no way you could misinterpreting it unless your doing it to fit your agenda.The Bible is not sexist God loves men and women equally but we each have our roles to do.We can't just take the part of the Bible that we like and follow it and disregard the parts that we don't as false or out of date,you either take the Bible as a whole and follow it or you shouldn't follow any of it because there is no middle-ground we have to take the Bible as a whole and apply it to our lives.Regardless if you find those scriptures sexiest or consider God sexiest,At the end of the day your still going to have to ask yourself "am I going to follow my own ways or will I lay down my pride and follow Christ?

 

[bliz]

We can't just take the part of the Bible that we like and follow it and disregard the parts that we don't as false or out of date,you either take the Bible as a whole and follow it or you shouldn't follow any of it because there is no middle-ground we have to take the Bible as a whole and apply it to our lives.

So, what about this part? Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

 

[Followers4christ]

So, what about this part? Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Marriage is not a dictatorship,As I said regarding Sarah, (the example of submission in 1 Peter 3:6) gave Abraham input which God said he was to follow (Genesis 21:11-12).Men should take womens advice and sometimes summit to his wife.The man should not be stuck up as he knows everything,For in some stuff the woman might be wiser than him.For a man to not take his wife's advise when it is needed is out of pride.The husband has the finale say so,but a husband is wise when he takes his wife's advice when he needs help.God Bless

 

[Amilala]

The Bible is the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21) and the word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).


1 Peter 3:5-7 tells us about holy women in the past how they used to make themselves holy was by being submissive to their husbands but in the last part of that scripture it says "You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." it is talking to the women readers who are reading this.As you see it says you are her daughters not you were or anything that is past tense, but the first part of the scripture was using Abrahams wife as an example how women today should live.There is no way to twist that scripture because it states it so clearly that there is no way you could misinterpreting it unless your doing it to fit your agenda.The Bible is not sexist God loves men and women equally but we each have our roles to do.We can't just take the part of the Bible that we like and follow it and disregard the parts that we don't as false or out of date,you either take the Bible as a whole and follow it or you shouldn't follow any of it because there is no middle-ground we have to take the Bible as a whole and apply it to our lives.Regardless if you find those scriptures sexiest or consider God sexiest,At the end of the day your still going to have to ask yourself "am I going to follow my own ways or will I lay down my pride and follow Christ? God Bless sister

*smiles* But the bible is full of wars, stonings, rapes and many things, If we all wanted to live the way You seem to want to we would be backwards

 

[Sketcher]

I recall the Bible saying that women should minister to other women...

...but I have no memory of anything in the Bible that says that women are to teach children other than their own. Can anyone point me to a passage? And at what age does a boy become too old to be taught by a woman? Does someone have scripture on that?

It's interesting that people are often very quick to say that women can teach children, but the Bible does not say this.

Hmm. You may be right about that. But since Scripture doesn't say they can't teach children, I would assume they can. Remember, Paul wrote against women teaching and having authority over men. Young boys are not men.

Scripture doesn't say at which age a boy becomes a man, but I do believe that around puberty at least he should definitely be having a lot more positive male influence in his life as opposed to female. Mothers are still needed very much in those years, but fathers and male teachers are needed more desperately IMO.

 

[Tuffguy]

Women are of course equal, that does not mean men and women are equally equipped for every role out there.
A perfect examply is witnessing in the church. Men should be the authority figures and work with the formal education of adults. Women should work with the other ladies and kids. Each role is very different but each is extreemly important. Neither is more or less valuable.
On the head dress issue,,, thats an OT law. I don't see how that really applies to us now. I think the idea is that women should dress modestly, not that they need to cover their heads.
Sometimes people read a little too much into things. Some things need to be taken very litterally, and other this God is winking at you going,, "you know what I'm saying here, don't you!"

 

[Tuffguy]

*smiles* But the bible is full of wars, stonings, rapes and many things, If we all wanted to live the way You seem to want to we would be backwards

Jesus was straight up violent to the money changers in the temple. He didn't spend His life putting the proverbal flowers in gun barrels.

Thats life. God is a violent and jealous God. Deal.

 

[bliz]

The husband has the finale say so,but a husband is wise when he takes his wife's advice when he needs help.God Bless

This notion of the husband having the "final say" is fairly recent. Do you have any scripture that speaks to that point?

If the husband has the "final say" then the husband is not submitting to his wife, as per Ephesians 5:21

 

[Followers4christ]

This notion of the husband having the "final say" is fairly recent. Do you have any scripture that speaks to that point?

If the husband has the "final say" then the husband is not submitting to his wife, as per Ephesians 5:21

As I said a good Christian husband will take his wife's advise and sometimes summit to her,Just as abraham did for sarah.But If he does not take her advise she should summit for the husband is the head.When he does not follow her well-considered advice, she accepts his decision with good will. If it turns out that she was right and he wrong, she does not gloat. In other words, she pulls her own weight and yet shares his burdens in true obedience to Galatians 6:2- 5. When she lives out her life as her husband's true helper, seemingly receiving no glory or favor of her own, she will be abundantly blessed, and she will never be alone. Her family will praise and bless her as with the godly woman of Proverbs 31, whose price is above rubes. Nor will she lose her own creativity but it will rather abundantly bloom and bear fruit.God Bless sister



1 Corinthians 11:3"Now 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."