Feminism, Wow! That word alone brings a varied assortment of thoughts and responses. It has been a subject of great conflict longer than I have been alive. However, in its first conception in the 1800’s women were voiceless and powerless. Its first wave was to secure women the right to vote and protect their children from harsh factories, and themselves from unfaithful husbands who could divorce them on a whelm, leaving them with nothing, but their own children to support. These problems were real and needed a biblical response. In the beginning, feminism was a response to severe injustice and inequality. These are issues the Bible deals with. The feminism of today goes far beyond what the original intent was, and I would not support their movement. Yet, we do need to look at the biblical role of women to determine where we stand on the issues of today.
God gave women equality from the very beginning. We have an equal opportunity to enjoy a full life in Him. In II Peter 1:3 he gives to all men and women, all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
II Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
We were all created in the image of God. All humanity, male or female, bears the image of God our creator. Because we are created in His image we have incredible worth! He gave us the rest of his creation to enjoy, take care of, and have dominion over. In Genesis 1:26-27, we see that it is not random that we are either male or female. It’s God’s design.
As a woman, we bear God’s image in two distinct ways. We are life-givers and we are to be a helper. In Genesis 3:20 Adam names Eve and the meaning of her name is “the mother of all living.” Only women are uniquely designed to bring life into the world. Author Jen Wilkin describes it as “life-giving in the face of death.” We live in a world where death is all around. The world is broken and cursed with sin, but in the middle of all this, we have the blessing of brightening this world by bringing life into it. Even if you can’t bear children you are a life-giver because God has given us the ability to nurture life in a broken world.
Genesis 3:20 “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”
God also gives us a definitive purpose as a helper that he made suitable, or compatible, to him. There was no one to complete him. We need to not bristle at the thought of being a helper. If we do, we have totally misunderstood the word. God knew that it was not good for man to be alone. He needed help in ruling over God’s creation and He gave us that role.
Genesis 2:20-23 “And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
The thought of being a helper is actually a beautiful thing. God identifies himself as a helper. In Isaiah 49:8, he helps in the day of salvation. He provided the method of salvation and He provided the sacrifice that made salvation possible. Without this help, mankind would be lost forever. Doomed to a hell prepared for the devil and his angels, not man or woman.
Isaiah 49:8 “Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;”
Psalm 46:1 teaches that God is our help in times of trouble. He is able and willing to be my helper when the world throws things at me that almost seem unbearable. There were many times in my life when the only one who had the power to help me was God. I’ve cried out to God when in distress and he has never once failed to help me.
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
The greatest help God gave us was sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. He dwells within me to comfort me, but also to refine me. I have the Holy Spirit to guide me through the process of sanctification. This is the process of being molded into the image of Jesus. It will not cease until I get to Heaven, but in the meantime, He’s working on me and helping me.
I don’t see God’s role for me as a helper, or the bringer of life, as demeaning at all. I see it as special. I am called to strengthen, encourage, shape, and serve, all the relationships God has placed in my life. I’m in very good company as a helper and the gender that brings life into this world. I’m in God’s company and he chose me to bear His image, especially in the role of helper and life-giver.
The movements that gave women the right to vote, protect themselves, and their children were necessary. God never intended for anyone to be treated as subservient. Paul plainly teaches both in Ephesians and in Philippians, that we are to yield our wills to others and think highly of them and not to think highly of ourselves. These commands were to both men and women. However, the movement of today is about taking things into our own hands, rather than going back to the Bible and doing equality in God’s way. As a Christian, I cannot support anything that distorts or is against what God teaches.
