For whatever reason – algorithm or the shear amount of it – I have seen a lot of articles and videos this week of so-called christian men bellowing about women being silent and submissive. To be honest, many of the men were – actually – saying that women should just shut up. One preacher called women who speak up “mouthy broads.” Another said that women “aren’t smart enough to lead.” A couple of minutes ago, as I was opening tabs for the different social media sites I use for these thoughts, there was a post – from a woman – asking why there was so much controversy about women keeping silent and submissive, since the Bible is very clear that this is what God wants. Of course, I – and so many others – have been writing and preaching about this perversion of the Gospel for decades, and a lot of people have told me that I was going overboard. I guess I wasn’t.
The Biblical truth is that while a couple of the writers of the New Testament did promote this misogyny, Jesus didn’t. If fact, Jesus treated women the way God intended – as equal to men. Created together in God’s image, according to the first chapter of Genesis. And while Genesis 2 tells a completely different story about the creation of men and women, it seems significant to me that Jesus didn’t ever use the 2nd chapter, only the first. Paul and others didn’t use the first, only the second. This stark difference in theology happens a number of times in the New Testament, and when it does, I go with Jesus over the others. I figure that He had first-hand knowledge that His followers didn’t, so there you go.
Getting back to the misuse of God to demean and diminish women; I don’t know who these guys who are so filled with anger and fear hang out with, but they aren’t the women I know. The women I have known in my life are smart, courageous, and strong. Like the sassy, independent woman at the well in John 4, they are filled with questions and answers. They have had to be better than men because the male-created culture is stacked against them. They have to work harder and do more – they bear children while working full-time and still doing most of the work around the house. And as far as women who submit to this abuse, I am at a loss. Why would anyone want to spend their life with someone who thinks they are inferior? Why would any woman put up with that kind of disrespect? I’m bigger and stronger than my wife, but other than that, she kicks my butt in everything. Literally – everything. No person should ever put up with inequality, no matter what your scripture tells you. The Bible was inspired by God, but it was written by men. That should give us insight into why there so much misogyny, don’t you think?
Prayer – Holy God, we are imperfect beings who are trying to understand You. Give us wisdom and insight to do better. Amen.
Today’s art is a mural in West Bengal, India. This area is considered to be the epicenter of human trafficking in Asia.