Feminism and the Bible: Which view is right?

This is my Gileskirk paper. Hope you enjoy!

I - Feminism is NOT God's plan!

A. God created women to be helpmeets.

B. Some women point to Biblical examples who supposedly support the theory of 'Biblical Feminism'. (Proverbs 31 woman; Deborah; Priscilla and Aquila)

C. All of the women in the Bible who are pointed out as good role-models or lessons in character are humble, quiet, gentle-spirited women of the home.

II - I can do it, but ought I? Which side is right?

A. The feminist arguments are based upon a woman's fear of unimportance.

B. Biblical arguments are based more upon the true calling and purpose of a woman.

III - Demeaned or Glorified? The calling to be a homemaker, although "old-fashioned" and "demeaning", is a noble purpose.

A. A mother is also a teacher. The State-run schools are a way of claiming another generation of loyal advocates.

B. Nearly all Christian children abandon their faith while in highschool or college, but very few of those are children who have been schooled in the home by their parents.

A woman is like a crown to her husband. She is the queen of his castle.

In today's society, it is assumed that a woman should work outside of the home. Sure, you can stay home with your baby, maybe even the toddler, but when the child turns three, you begin to get questions like, “Shouldn't he be in a daycare? I can recommend an excellent facility.” Or perhaps, “She's kind of old to still be hanging on your skirts.” The Biblical position for a wife and mother is that she be in her home, tending to her family, not out in a nine-to-five job, working for "self-fulfillment." The feminist and careerist movement is detrimental to our society, and can even be found in today's churches.

Feminism - NOT God's Plan!

Although today the feminist lifestyle is common, normal, and unassailable, it was not planned to be this way. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and he proclaimed them good. (Genesis 1:31) This could not be true if women were bickering with their husbands over who was the major breadwinner, or who should make the financial decisions.

God created woman to be man's helpmeet, not his rival. God created woman out of man, for man. She was to be his helper and the mother of his children. (Genesis 2:18) In no way does this make her inferior to the man, as the feminists try to point out. She simply has a different role in the scheme of things. Women can do things that no man can do, and in the same way men can do things that no woman can do. We are very different, and this is no accident. The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam. Not made from his head to rule over him, not from his feet to be trampled, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved. (Henry)

Some women point to Biblical examples who supposedly support the theory of 'Biblical Feminism', but with a closer look, these examples are rendered void for the feminist side, and even more, as good examples for the anti-feminists. For example, the Proverbs 31 woman is used as a standard for the feminist cause. Proverbs 31: 13-14 says that, “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.” Some women eagerly point that out. “She brings her food from afar! She could be a traveling salesman! Or she could be a factory worker!” This is most certainly far from true. It probably only means that she knits, sews, or crochets items for her family's use, and that she selects the best produce for her family's consumption.

Can -- or Ought?

Just because I can do a thing does not mean that I ought. Mary Pride sums it up nicely when she says, "Just because Russia and America could bomb each other out of existence does not mean that they should." Likewise, although many women can do jobs as or more efficiently then many men, God has given them a higher calling. No man can give birth to children, nurture them, and teach them the way that God has designed a woman to be able to do. This is God's calling to us, and we would do well to heed his words.

Feminists are not concerned with what would benefit a woman more, to be a career woman, or a wife, mother, and worker at home -- rather, they are more concerned with their own sense of "self-fulfillment," what they want rather than what they can give. (Pride) This is a part of the curse that God laid on Eve. Genesis 3:16b states that "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." Since that day, women have wanted to rule. And in this modern age, aided by Karl Marx and the religion of Communism, they have succeeded.

Feminist arguments are often harsh, more based upon a woman's fear of being outclassed and unloved. They attempt to convince women that they are looked down upon, second-class citizens, and utterly useless in their capacity as housewives. They play upon the worries and doubts that a woman harbors, and encourage the beliefs that women can do things just as well, or even better than, men. They try to make the traditional role of wife and mother look like slavery for a man's selfish whims. And in this country, they have succeeded! Even in Christian circles, if a young woman is asked what she wants to be when she grows up, they expect her to give an answer that is "practical," such as a lawyer, doctor, computer technician, or something like that. If a girl were to answer that her goal in life was to be a "wife, mother, helpmeet, and supporter to a husband," even many Christians, not to mention most of the world, would look at her and wonder "What is wrong with her?"

In the Bible, we can find scriptural examples of this mindset. Proverbs 29:9 states that "If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages or laughs, and there is no quiet." Although the feminists should be happy and content-they have, after all, succeeded in gaining equal footing with men, and broken out of the "traditional" mindset of the home-maker-they are not. They are bitter and always seeking for more.

Biblical arguments, on the other hand, focus on the true purpose and destiny of women. That a woman's natural instincts dictate that she is a woman, helpmeet to her husband and father. However, if a husband does not trust his wife enough to give her "guided free reign" within the household, than their marriage is not fully founded upon the trust, love, and mutual respect that spouses are designed to share.

Feminists are never truly fulfilled, happy, or whatever else it is they strive for. Indeed, they often go through divorce and separation because their husbands are not supportive and do not regard the feelings of the women enough. Far from it, the truth is more like that they have been ignored, their needs put aside, relegated to little more than a roommate. Is it any wonder that they become depressed or unsupportive, when their wife's career is more important than them? Dr. Laura supports this vehemently, often chastising young wives for wondering why their husbands are unsupportive when they are spending all of the time and energy on their careers.

Another painful fact is abortion. Career moms have no time for children, and therefore birth control is used constantly, whether or not there is need for it. If, by any chance, methods of birth control are unsuccessful, then abortion must be resorted to, because mommy is too busy being a one man -- err, woman -- show. Children are regarded as a nuisance, a hindrance, not a blessing from God, not a wonderful miracle that is absolute proof that there is a living God, and that he does care about those on Earth.

Homemaking -- Demeaned or Glorified?

The calling to be a homemaker, although so-called "old-fashioned" and "demeaning," is a noble purpose. It is the job of a helpmeet, and it is the job of (maybe mention helpmeet, as some women are childless but still of value at home) raising Christian children. This could easily be classed as one of the greatest ministries of all, and yet some women say that they cannot have many children because they must minister to others. A mother is the role- model to her children. If they see a hurried, worried, tired career woman, whose greatest interest is what is going on at her workplace, then this is often the image that they will emulate. However, a mother, who, though tired and busy, is there for her children, to help them (or teach them) with school-work and the problems of life, is a much more Christian example.

A mother is also a teacher. One of her responsibilities is to tutor her children in the ways of God and the Bible, as well as any academics that are necessary. Teaching your child to know God is the greatest task any person could ask for. Who needs to go to India or China to be a missionary when you can evangelize right in your own home? Who could want more than to discuss theology or Biblical truths with your entire family? Genesis 18:19a states that, "For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice." Deuteronomy 6:7 elaborates on this by saying, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." It is clearly written in the Bible that it is very important to teach your children Biblical truths and the ways of God.

Additionally, State-run schools are a way of claiming another generation of loyal advocates. Anything that is spouted at you for seven hours a day becomes a way of thinking. If in biology, history, life-sciences and social studies, the statement that "Global Warming is a fact, and it is very dangerous to all human life!" is heard repeated and in infinite variation, it will become a part of your belief system. A study by CBN shows that while 75% of public-schooled American youth brought up in Christian households disown their Christian faith by the first year of college, this is only true for less than 4% of homeschooled youth. This is nothing if not a recommendation for Christian home-schooling. (Haverluck)

However, despite the feminist arguments for "self-fulfillment," "freedom," and "sexual equality," God's place for women is in the home, taking care of their families. This is far from a degrading and embarrassing toil, this is a labor of love for which we are equipped by God's Word. From the beginning, women have been viewed -- and have viewed themselves -- as childbearers and mothers. In fact, the Greek word for "woman" means literally to give suck, or to nurse. I suppose that this would mean that women were looked on primarily as mothers. (Pride)

In conclusion, it is not hard to see that a woman's place is in her home. If man is the head, she is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the visible creation. The man was dust refined, but the woman was dust refined twice, once removed further from the earth. (Henry). The Biblical stance on the place of a wife says that a woman should be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands. (Titus 2:5b) The Bible should be our standard in this, as in everything else.

Works Cited

Pride, Mary. The Way Home. Crossway Books, 1985.

"Wikipedia - Feminism". Wikipedia. 3/01/10 .

The Holy Bible. Thomas Nelson Bibles, 2001.

Haverluck, Michael F.. "Socialization: Homeschooling vs. Schools". CBNnews. 3/21/10 .

Henry, Matthew. "Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible". 3/24/10 .