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 Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:47 pm
Answer: Sexism is one gender, usually male, having dominance over the other gender, usually female. The Bible contains many references to women that, to our modern mindset, sound discriminatory towards women. But we have to remember that when the Bible describes an action, it does not necessarily mean that the Bible endorses that action. The Bible describes men treating women as little more than property, but that does not mean God approves of that action. The Bible is far more focused on reforming our souls than our societies. God knows that a changed heart will result in a changed behavior.
During Old Testament times, virtually every culture in the entire world was patriarchal in structure. That status of history is very clear—not only in Scripture but also in the rules that governed most societies. By modern value systems and worldly human viewpoint, that is called “sexist.” God ordained the order in society, not man, and He is the author of the establishment principles of authority. However, like everything else, fallen man has corrupted this order. That has resulted in the inequality of the standing of men and women throughout history. The exclusion and the discrimination that we find in our world is nothing new. It is the result of the fall of man and the introduction of sin. Therefore, we can rightly say that the term and the practice of “sexism” is a result of sin. The progressive revelation of the Bible leads us to the cure for sexism and indeed all the sinful practices of the human race.
To find and maintain a spiritual balance between the God-ordained positions of authority, we must look to Scripture. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old, and in it we find principles that tell us the correct line of authority and the cure for sin, the ill of all humanity, and that includes discrimination based upon gender.
The cross of Christ is the great equalizer. John 3:16 says, “Whoever believes,” and that is an all-inclusive statement that leaves no one out on the basis of position in society, mental capacity, or gender. We also find a passage in Galatians that speaks of our equal opportunity for salvation. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” [Galatians 3:26-28]. There is no sexism at the cross.
The Bible is not sexist in its accurate portrayal of the results of sin in both men and women. The Bible records all kinds of sin: slavery and bondage and the failures of its greatest heroes. Yet it also gives us the answer and the cure for those sins against God and His established order—a right relationship with God. The Old Testament was looking forward to the supreme sacrifice, and each time a sacrifice for sin was made, it was teaching the need for reconciliation to God. In the New Testament, the “Lamb that takes away the sin of the world” was born, died, was buried and rose again, and then ascended to His place in heaven, and there He intercedes for us. It is through belief in Him that the cure for sin is found, and that includes the sin of sexism.
The charge of sexism in the Bible is based upon a lack of knowledge of Scripture. When men and women of all ages have taken their God-ordained places and lived according to “thus says the LORD,” then there is a wonderful balance between the genders. That balance is what God began with, and it is what He will end with. There is an inordinate amount of attention paid to the various products of sin and not to the root of it. It is only when there is personal reconciliation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ that we find true equality. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
It is also very important to understand that the Bible’s ascribing different roles to men and women does not constitute sexism. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God expects men to take the leadership role in the church and the home. Does this make women inferior? Absolutely not. Does this mean women are less intelligent, less capable, or viewed as less in God’s eyes? Absolutely not! What it means is that in our sin-stained world, there has to be structure and authority. God has instituted the roles of authority for our good. Sexism is the abuse of these roles, not the existence of these roles.
gotquestions.org
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:25 pm
I do not believe that the Bible is sexist as well for the fact that we were all meant to be equals in the beginning. If men and women weren't meant to be equals then woman wouldn't have been made from man. That shares equality in itself, which some sadly fail to see.
If anything, I believe that there are some versions of the Bible that are sexist or more in favor of a certain gender because of the person who wrote a different translation. I believe that if we look at the King James Version, and most importantly the original text of the Bible, it will help us understand this issue more. Also, in some of these versions, people fail to see that the word "man" is often used to describe everyone - including woman.
It's amazing how many times woman appear in the Bible to anoint others or are put in a position of high authority and yet people of today ignore it. This is definitely a controversial topic that isn't discussed enough in Christianity, sadly.
I highly recommend the book "Why Not Women?" for anyone interested in digging deeper into this topic. It's important to look at the historical context, original word meanings, and writing structure that was more commonly used in those days and this book explains why. It shows how society acts towards both sexes and what the Bible actually meant by some controversial verses people commonly take out of context today.
P.S.: Thank you for posting this topic. It is indeed a strong topic and I grew up in a church that didn't believe in women in ministry at all. My view changed later in life after I met my husband who grew up in a family that believed men and women are equal and after reading the book "Why Not Women?" and had the Bible sitting out with me - I truly gained a better understanding. It helps, especially since I feel called to be a preacher and if/when my parents find out, they'll probably want nothing to do with me.
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:26 pm
Aquatic_blue I do not believe that the Bible is sexist as well for the fact that we were all meant to be equals in the beginning. If men and women weren't meant to be equals then woman wouldn't have been made from man. That shares equality in itself, which some sadly fail to see. If anything, I believe that there are some versions of the Bible that are sexist or more in favor of a certain gender because of the person who wrote a different translation. I believe that if we look at the King James Version, and most importantly the original text of the Bible, it will help us understand this issue more. Also, in some of these versions, people fail to see that the word "man" is often used to describe everyone - including woman. It's amazing how many times woman appear in the Bible to anoint others or are put in a position of high authority and yet people of today ignore it. This is definitely a controversial topic that isn't discussed enough in Christianity, sadly. I highly recommend the book "Why Not Women?" for anyone interested in digging deeper into this topic. It's important to look at the historical context, original word meanings, and writing structure that was more commonly used in those days and this book explains why. It shows how society acts towards both sexes and what the Bible actually meant by some controversial verses people commonly take out of context today. P.S.: Thank you for posting this topic. It is indeed a strong topic and I grew up in a church that didn't believe in women in ministry at all. My view changed later in life after I met my husband who grew up in a family that believed men and women are equal and after reading the book "Why Not Women?" and had the Bible sitting out with me - I truly gained a better understanding. It helps, especially since I feel called to be a preacher and if/when my parents find out, they'll probably want nothing to do with me. A lot of churches seem to not get the value a woman has, and it is sad. Like you mentioned many women in the Bible were given great honors. Mary, our Lords mother for example. Sexism has ruined a lot for the preaching of the cross. People think the Bible is archaic, and backwards because of people who a few verses to fight for their own views which are usually based on a feeling of superiority. My reason for making the Bible available like this is because too few Christians read, or even know the Bible. How can you avoid the flaming darts of the enemy if you can't see them?
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:35 pm
Garland-Green Aquatic_blue I do not believe that the Bible is sexist as well for the fact that we were all meant to be equals in the beginning. If men and women weren't meant to be equals then woman wouldn't have been made from man. That shares equality in itself, which some sadly fail to see. If anything, I believe that there are some versions of the Bible that are sexist or more in favor of a certain gender because of the person who wrote a different translation. I believe that if we look at the King James Version, and most importantly the original text of the Bible, it will help us understand this issue more. Also, in some of these versions, people fail to see that the word "man" is often used to describe everyone - including woman. It's amazing how many times woman appear in the Bible to anoint others or are put in a position of high authority and yet people of today ignore it. This is definitely a controversial topic that isn't discussed enough in Christianity, sadly. I highly recommend the book "Why Not Women?" for anyone interested in digging deeper into this topic. It's important to look at the historical context, original word meanings, and writing structure that was more commonly used in those days and this book explains why. It shows how society acts towards both sexes and what the Bible actually meant by some controversial verses people commonly take out of context today. P.S.: Thank you for posting this topic. It is indeed a strong topic and I grew up in a church that didn't believe in women in ministry at all. My view changed later in life after I met my husband who grew up in a family that believed men and women are equal and after reading the book "Why Not Women?" and had the Bible sitting out with me - I truly gained a better understanding. It helps, especially since I feel called to be a preacher and if/when my parents find out, they'll probably want nothing to do with me. A lot of churches seem to not get the value a woman has, and it is sad. Like you mentioned many women in the Bible were given great honors. Mary, our Lords mother for example. Sexism has ruined a lot for the preaching of the cross. People think the Bible is archaic, and backwards because of people who a few verses to fight for their own views which are usually based on a feeling of superiority. My reason for making the Bible available like this is because too few Christians read, or even know the Bible. How can you avoid the flaming darts of the enemy if you can't see them? Indeed, it's a tradition of man that has plagued many churches and some days that I even grew up with those beliefs ever since I was a kid sometimes makes me feel guilty even though it isn't necessarily my fault. I'm glad I turned around and got more educated on the topic. It truly makes me excited that men, women, and even children can witness to others and we're all equal. It's also hard to tell someone about women in the Bible and the right context of some of the verses they use that think that makes them "justified" to believe that way. Sometimes they change, but other times they are unwilling. I've educated myself enough on the topic because I know those who I used to go to church with will try to justify why they are right and I don't want to fall prey to that again. I can now see those flaming darts and am now able to block them with a shield, which is the word of God! Praise the Lord! =] I love reading about women in the Bible over all. It's become a topic of interest and I love how Deborah was a judge and told a man to go and kill Sisera (I believe that's who it was, please correct me if I'm wrong) and he was hesitant to go without Deborah and instead I believe it was Jael that killed Sisera. A woman took the victory. There was also a man in the Bible who killed almost all of his siblings and during battle, a millstone fell on his head and cracked his skull and told one of his fellow men to kill him quickly so that a woman would not gain the victory of killing him (because she had sent down the millstone). Those two show such high honor and show that they are part of God's plan, too. There are many other examples, but those are a couple of my favorites!
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