Feminism (Question Two)

Christians have a very distinct view on how "feminity" should be defined, and how it should be manifest in today's culture, as provided in the Bible. With this knowledge, Christians should be equipt with the right mindset when looking at feminism, so that they can respond in the right way. From the very beginning, God established gender differences in Genesis, when He commands man and woman to "Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves along the ground" (1:28, NIV). Also, in creating the "helper" for Adam, God set the distinuishing factors between both sexes. With htis celar commission, and in making woman (Eve) assume the necessary helper role, God does not exhibit a "sexist" viewpoint, but rather highlights the God-given role that is a gift to women.

God designed woman to be a completer, a helper, a rescuer and a warrior, and He is clear about women (and men), fulfilling their individual duties. Due to the fact that women are made especially to fit into these roles, it makes sense to say that a woman who ignores her given purpose, (and tries to find fulfillment in, for example, trying to take on man's responsibility as head of the household) will never find success; she will only be happiest in doing what she was designed to do.

This controversy about "women's rights" stems from the desire of women to be in control (effectively taking away the man's job as the little king), and has greatly influenced the feminist movement that is rapidly growing in our society. Our secular culture tries to speak to the fact that women don't have enough "rights", and should be able to do what men do. Furthermore, they say that anyone who does not agree is being demeaning to the female sex. While it is true that women, or anyone for that matter, should never be subject to unfair treatment, society (and feminists) have missed the point. Upon hearing the Biblical argument that sexes were created for different purposes, a feminist would likely say that we are being unreasonable; that men and women should be "equal". In promoting "equality", the culture does not realize that male and female can never be the same, and that fulfillment can only be acheived in performing the tasks that we, as male or female, were meant to do.

The Bible has such a logical argument that addresses the "feminist" question, that Christians should be prepared to explain why these roles are the answer to living as God designed us to live. As Christians, we need to explain that God does not intend for man to have a "higher" role that makes women "inferior". Instead, He has made it possible for each sex to have differing responsibilities that contribute to the whole of society. The idea of feminity in the Bible is positive, through and through. Our message to our culture should be clear: If we fulfill the God-given roles and tasks (for both males and females), we have the opportunity to glorify God, who designed us in this unique way. Moreover, if we rejoyce in what God has given us to do, and if we embrace our gender role, we will find meaning and purpose in our lives.

This is not about degrading people, or trying to replace what we were called to do with something else. To live in our culture, and to succeed in it, we must pursue what God has designed us to do, as through him, we have the potential to do anything.