From a common-sense perspective, I have difficulty understanding how anyone can believe – at least in this century – that men and women aren’t equal. Maybe, for me, it’s because my mom was given the opportunity to be educated and worked outside of the home my entire life. I was lucky enough to have a role-model who taught me to understand that men and women can do the same jobs and take on the same roles. The only thing men can’t do is give birth (and all the physical stuff that goes with it); we can, however, care for children – because we are human beings. For many people of faith, however, the Bible gives them specific guidelines about the roles of men and women. Some Christians I know try to soft-pedal this, saying that these different roles don’t make men superior to women – just different. What about the man being the head of the woman? Ummm…
The truth is that Scripture does, in many places, place men in authority over women. 1 Peter told husbands to “bestow honor on women as the weaker sex”, while 1 Timothy wrote, “women will be saved through childbearing, if (yes – if) they continue in faith and holiness, with self-control.” On the other hand, the Apostle Paul wrote a number of times that in Christ, there is no male or female. He wrote that husbands and wives have mutual responsibility to one another, that women can pray and prophesy, and that there were a number of women who led churches in their homes and/or were, like Junia in Romans 16, “prominent among the apostles.” Jesus regularly treated women the same way He treated men – they were welcome as disciples and sent out as evangelists/apostles (check out John 4). The fact that the 12 original disciples (the list varies) were listed as men isn’t something Jesus ever actually said – it’s what the writers of the Gospels recorded. I think we can question why, don’t you?
As far as transwomen and men, the closest the Bible comes to them is the eunuch, and Isaiah, Acts, and Matthew wrote of them in positive, inclusive ways. In fact, the church in Ethiopia is one of the oldest in the world, which is interesting, since the eunuch in Acts is Ethiopian! Again – each believer will interpret Scripture in their own way, but for me, it seems clear that sexism and misogyny are human constructs, created by weak, fragile, immature men who are afraid of strong women. Me? I like women who know their minds and use them. I like women who have strong opinions and defend them. I like transmen and women because they are people, just like me. And if the bulk of the New Testament treats all genders as equal, then I don’t think people who call themselves Christians should change that. Unless, of course, you want to disagree with Jesus. I hope that turns out okay for you.
Prayer – Holy God, You have created each of us as beautiful beings. May we see one another in the same way. Amen.
Today’s art is “Lady Justice” by Kolongi the Artist.