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Biblical Feminism

Biblical Feminism

This is a LOADED title and maybe it will become a series. We'll see.

But today's post will touch on two things.
Patriarchy and women in the Bible.

People say that the Bible stresses a patriarchal society. I agree and disagree. In today's society men use their power to crush and abuse women and children in their care. When you look at patriarchy biblically what you find is that yes, God did put men over women and children. Not to abuse them but to protect them.

Abraham, I'll be talking about Abraham a bunch today because he was one of the clearest examples of what the man's role in his household was.

Abraham was in charge of his whole household from his wife on down to the child of his maids and servants. They were all from the House of Abraham. He was responsible for their shelter, their food, their well-being and their safety.

That's a huge deal.

Unfortunately a lot of that responsibility has now been put on women when they never were supposed to have that burden.

I do need to stress though that responsibility does not equate tyrannical rule ability. The Bible is clear about how a husband is supposed to treat his wife and children. It says to love you wife as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for it. To love your wife the way you treat yourself. To not bring your children to wrath. God knew he had to lay this out for men and it's no surprise they gloss over these parts because they require selflessness. It also means that when these things don't happen the responsibility rest squarely with the man.

When Abraham slept with Hagar and she had his baby (see Hagar: The Side Chick) the ensuing chaos was his fault and God didn't tell Sarah to fix it though it was her idea, he told Abraham to fix.

And as a woman I'm glad I don't have that responsibility. I feel a great deal of protectiveness over my family. But the level of responsibility my husband feels for our protection, our happiness, our provision is on another level. As it should be. If he is supposed to love me as Christ loved the church I would expect that.

Notice: I don't have a monetary expectation. We teach girls, incorrectly that a man who can buy you stuff is a good provider. But that is not what the Bible says. I can make money but I need a heart protector, I need a burden sharer, I need a person who will protect my secrets. A person I can entrust my life to. Money can't provide that, only character can.

In God's Economy the man being the head doesn't mean that God didn't see value in women. It means that He equates us to His church. Something He loves dearly, cherishes and seeks to protect not rule and lord over.

In fact, in God's Economy we know he saw value in women. Deborah, Sarah, Esther, Rahab, Rachel, Mary, Anna and many others. Strong, powerful women who God entrusted his people, his family line and his Son to. If that's not valued I don't know what is.

And last time I checked there were no weak women in the Bible. They stood up to kings, sacrificed for their families, took leaps of faith as death stared them in the face while the men hide in fear. So stop listening to the interpretation of the Bible and read it for yourself.


The Unlikely Missionary
DHW

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