What do the Scriptures say . . . About Feminism? Carolina Lectureships – Duncan, South Carolina April 4, 2007 – 3:00 pm Mickey Burleson, minister St. Andrews Road Church of Christ - Columbia, South Carolina Feminine – adj. 1) Of or belonging to the female sex. 2) Marked by or having qualities generally attributed to a woman. 3) Effeminate, womanish. n. 1) The feminine gender. Femininity – 1) The quality or state of being feminine. 2) A female trait or characteristic.          3) Women as a group. 4) Womanishness. Feminism – 1) A doctrine advocating for women the same rights granted men, as in political and economic status, 2) The movement supporting feminism. Introduction The question that is before us is simple.  What do the Scriptures say about feminism?   The answer to this question is far from simple.  In this short discourse I will speak about what is happening in our society, in the home, and in the church today surrounding this subject.  I will try to relate what I believe to be the cause or causes of what has happened and is happening.  I will conclude by sharing the Scriptures related to this subject in a context that is Biblically sound, balanced, and completely unprejudiced. When I say “feminism,” I mean the doctrine or movement that claims that there are no unique roles for men and women in society, in the marriage and in the home, or in the church.  This doctrine holds that there is no role of leadership that belongs uniquely to the male in society, that there is no role of leadership that belongs uniquely to the husband and father in the home, and that there is no role of leadership that belongs to the man in the church of Christ.  This doctrine or movement claims that men and women, male and female, father and mother, are equal in every respect without any distinctions or boundaries especially those boundaries written in the Scriptures.  But is this true?  I will say now that this statement is false, that there are indeed unique God-given responsibilities, duties and roles to men and there are also unique God-given responsibilities, duties, and roles given to women.  And it is true.  Men and women are indeed different. What has happened?  What is happening?  Why? Feminist ideas have permeated society for generations.  In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Darwin’s theories of evolution were widely debated and after World War II ended in 1945 his theories became the dominant influence replacing Biblical principles with secular humanism.  Humanism invaded public education and gave birth to existentialism (The philosophy that says that humane existence is not explainable, that the universe is hostile and indifferent without any order or plan) and egalitarianism (Another word for the equality of human beings in every area of political, economic, legal, and cultural life without consideration of unique roles or responsibilities) in the 1960’s and 1970’s. God, the Bible and the moral Biblical principles that founded our nation began to be viewed as oppressive, enslaving, irrelevant, and old-fashioned, and down-right anti-American.  Personal rights and freedom, social issues, and the propaganda of psychology have confounded the minds and confused the faith of millions in our world    Radical individualism became the god of many who decided that they were no longer morally accountable to any authority other than their own.  Unrestrained and unrestricted equality has become a “right.”   In religious circles some have stepped up to say, “I have my own way of interpreting the Bible.  Who are you to judge me?”  Some have said, “Many of Jesus’ teachings are more difficult and demanding so I want to pick and choose which commands I want to keep and which I want to disobey.”  Others have said, “Christianity is nice; but I’ m more into astrology, a little magic, and some sexual promiscuity.  After all it’s my body, my life, and my faith.”   Some have said, “I’m the “boss” at work and at school, why not in my faith?”  Some have chosen Sunday Night Football with friends to be on equal footing as Sunday at “church.”  Still others choose their own personalized brand of Christianity wherever, whenever, however they please, one that fits right in to their schedule and lifestyle. Let us open our eyes and look around us - more singles (An article in Time magazine recently stated that for the first time in history there are now more single-parent homes in America than traditional homes where there is a father, mother, and children.  This article has proven to be false since the data included those currently in the armed forces overseas as well those who work out of town and only live at home part of the time.), more divorces (and remarriages), a lowered idea of the importance of family, fewer children, “legal” abortions, an overemphasis on women’s rights, women who are more assertive, more independent.  Theories have replaced theology.  Positive mental attitude is now preached as Biblical faith.  In many of today’s pulpits, you hear psychology rather than Scripture. Those who do hold to absolute principles are labeled as intolerant, judgmental, mean-spirited, and narrow-minded.  We are seeing the result of the day to day, little by little undermining of the inerrancy and historical accuracy of the Bible. You may be saying, “Brother Mickey, how does the doctrine of feminism undermine or deny the authority of Scripture?”  I would like to consider just a few ways that I believe feminist views do just that!   Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 1.        Denying the authority or the truthfulness of Genesis 1-3 saying that the words of this text have a patriarchal meaning that God did not intend. Some feminists claim that some of the statements in the Genesis account of the creation of man are not historically accurate, that Moses simply used “present categories” such as patriarchy (the creation of man first, then woman) to describe the past and thus accommodating the readers so as to not confuse the main point. Let us take a look at the Genesis account of creation.  God created man and placed man alone in the garden (2: 8).  He place man alone in the garden to cultivate it and keep it (2:15).  God commanded man alone to eat of every tree in the garden but not of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:16-17).  God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helpmeet” (2:18).  God brought all the animals to man alone to see what he would name them (2:19).  Man alone named every living creature (2:20).  There was not found one comparable to man alone (2:20).  God made for man alone from one on his ribs a helper, a female (2:21-22).  Man called his helper, woman (2:23).  In order to find some foundation for their claims of gender equality where there are no unique roles for men and women in society some feminists claim that this account of the creation of man first and then the forming of woman second is not historically accurate. They claim that Moses was merely using a literary device and that the Biblical account of the creation of man and then woman did not actually happen. When a theological argument has to deny any portion of Scripture for its support, the argument must be rejected by any who hold to the authority of the entire Bible as the Word of God.  Of course we know why feminists are troubled with Genesis 2 and Paul’s use of this passage in 1 Timothy 2:11-14, because these texts show male headship in marriage before there was any sin in the world.  These texts show that male headship was God’s plan for us as a society. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 2.        Saying that the Apostle Paul was wrong in his advocacy of female subordination in marriage and in the church, that his rabbinic teaching cluttered the “truth.” Some feminists claim that Paul’s interpretation of Genesis 2 in 1 Timothy 2:11-13 was correct for “his day” but incorrect for “our day,” that Paul was simply incorrect in his interpretation, and that with caution, with careful study, and with prayer we should not assume that Paul’s interpretation be ours. Brethren, if the Bible is the Word of God (And it is!), then we must conclude that these passages are not just Paul’s interpretations; they are God’s interpretations of His own Word.  If I believe the Bible to be the very words of God written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit then I must accept that Paul and all the other writers of the Scriptures made no mistakes in their interpretations.  In Acts 10:19-20 we read concerning the teaching of the apostles; “But when they deliver you up do not worry about how or what you should speak.  For it will be given you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Even Jesus, the One and Only begotten Son of God spoke concerning His words in John 8:26-28, and I read; “I have many things to say to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.  They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” In 2 Peter 1:20-21 we find that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Again we see why feminists simply cannot accept Paul’s interpretation of Genesis 2 in 1 Timothy 2:11-13 because the Scriptures affirm male headship in the church as rooted in the way God created men and women from the very beginning. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 3.        Claiming that some passages that are in every ancient manuscript of 1 Corinthians are not really part of the Bible. In order to evade subjection to the authority of the Word of God some feminists use sophisticated procedures that seem scholarly.  One such evasion is found in the idea that since a particularly difficult Scripture text (In this case 1 Corinthians 14::34f) seems to contradict another Scripture text (1 Corinthians 11:5), the difficult text can be rejected or simply “thrown out” even if the text in question is found in every manuscript that exists today. Of course those who accept the authority of the Word of God can see why these feminists have trouble with 1 Corinthians 14:34f.  This passage shows God’s teaching through the apostle Paul that in church meetings “in all the churches of the saints” (v. 33) male governance is required. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 4.        Interpreting the Bible by a process called “trajectory hermeneutics” (OT to NT to …today) claiming that our authority is not found in the Bible but in developments that came later. The word hermeneutics simply means “a method of interpreting the Bible.”  The term “trajectory hermeneutics” means a method of interpreting the Bible in which the final authority is not found written in the Bible, but is found at the end of a “trajectory” along which the New Testament was progressing at the time it was being written. This view goes something like this:  The Old Testament and Judaism at the time of the apostolic age was male- oriented, male-dominated, and biased against women.  Jesus began to overturn this system and that the New Testament churches continued the process, and that we can now follow this “trajectory” to a point of full inclusion of all women in every aspect and role in the home, in the church, and in society. If this view of Biblical interpretation is accepted then our final authority is not the New Testament but our own feelings, ideas, and desires as to where the New Testament was heading but never quite reached. Clear passages of Scripture teach us that the New Testament is the complete and final authority for us today.   Galatians 1:6-10 teaches us that some would try to change the gospel, to pervert the gospel.  Paul warns that if anyone, even an apostle or an angel from heaven preached any other gospel, let him be accursed.  In 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 we find that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   To attempt to go beyond the New Testament which is the new covenant (1 Cor. 11:25) for us today and obtain our authority from somewhere in the future is to reject the authority of the Scriptures. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 5.        Teaching that the culture of any given age reflects what is ethical for that particular time. Some feminists hold that the New Testament was the authority for the lives of the people in its day, the first century, but that we do not have to obey that today.  In essence, we should follow what we perceive to be good in the culture around us.  For example, in marriage this philosophy would have us to simply obey the cultural expectations around us as our standard of living rather than obeying what the Bible commands. Of course we know that according to the Scriptures in Romans 12:2 teaches us; “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Paul instructed Timothy to “Preach the word…For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). In Galatians 1:6-10 the Holy Spirit warns of those who would “pervert” the gospel of Christ.  He declares that even if we (the apostles) or even if an angel from heaven preaches any other gospel than what we have preached and what you have received let them be accursed. And our dear beloved apostle Paul states in the context of women’s role in the church in 1 Corinthians 14 in verse 37; “If anyone things himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandment of the Lord.” Christians must never conform to culture. Every New Testament command was written for that time, the first century, later times, our time, and for any future time.  Christians must always endeavor to be transformed through a diligent study of, a belief in, and obedience to the Word of God. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 6.        Claiming that one’s position on the roles of men and women depends on which passages in the Bible we choose to prioritize. This view of Scripture claims that various parts of the Bible teach different, self-contradictory positions, so people can simply choose what position they want to take and take it.  When seeking to understand the Bible for today, I just decide which passages should take priority over other passages or which verses stand in charge or as the boss of others and then decide as to the meaning of a particular passage in order of hermeneutical priority. For example, feminists accept Galatians 3:28 as an instinctive preference passage having hermeneutical priority.   When they look at the passages in 1 Corinthians 14 or 1 Timothy 1 concerning the role of women in the church they falsely assume that these passages are inferior, self-contradictory, or translated incorrectly.  In the end, the Bible does not have authority over our lives.  We have authority over the Bible; because we can just read a particular Scripture text, decide what we want it to say by determining which texts have hermeneutical priority. The Bible is not contradictory in any way.  Every word in the Bible is God’s word and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Every passage of Scripture is to be treated fairly.  We are to be in subjection to the authority of the Scriptures.  We are to be in subjection to Galatians 3:28 as well as to 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12.  These passages do not contradict one another. Again we see that feminism claims that our understanding of the Bible depends on what texts we choose as “basic,” because that suggests that there are other passages that we can decide do not apply to us today or do not have authority over us today. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 7.        Silencing the most relevant Bible passages on men and women by claiming the particular passages are “disputed” or “mistranslated” misinterpreted, or defined incorrectly. Feminism would have us believe that some “difficult passages” are simply impossible to understand, that because we cannot all come to a consensus on a particular text we must then accept and support differing positions on the text.   This approach to the Scriptures leads us to conclude that since we all cannot reach a decision on the meaning of 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Timothy 2, and the passages in 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 1 that say elders are to be the husband of one wife; then those particular passages cannot play a role in the decision about the question of the role of men and women in the church.  This means that the passages from the Bible that speaks most directly to the question of the roles of men and women in the church are silenced and excluded from the discussion on the very question. How difficult can these texts mentioned above be?  1 Timothy 2:12 simply states that I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.  She is to remain quiet.  1 Timothy 3:2 simply states that an elder is to be above reproach, the husband of one wife.  Titus 1:6 simply states that a man must be blameless, the husband of one wife…  How can anyone claim that these passages are impossible to understand? What happens when people read a particular passage concerning the role of women in the church and say, “I don’t know what these verses mean.” God’s word:  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a men…” Feminist:  Sorry, I do not know what that means.  We do have women teaching and exercising authority over men in our churches.  That is because we do not know what you mean when you say not to have a woman teach or exercise authority over a man. God’s word:  “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” Feminist:  What does that mean?  I don’t understand.  By the way, we do have women who are overseers (elders).   That is because we cannot understand what you mean when you say elders should be the husband of one wife. What happens when people accept God’s word as the final authority for faith and practice? God’s word:  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a men…” Christian:  We will obey your word.  We will not have a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man when Christians assemble for worship and hear the Bible taught. God’s word:  “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” Christian:  Thank you God.  We will obey your word and have only men as overseers (elders). Let me say again in 2 Peter 1:20-21 we find that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 8.        Claiming that women have special authority without restriction as long as they are “under the oversight” of the elders or leaders who are men. Think about it.  Could it possibly be true that a woman is obeying the Bible if she preaches a sermon or accepts special authority without restriction as long as she is “under the authority of the elders or other men in the church?” The real question is, what does the Bible say?  The Bible does not say, “Make sure you have some kind of male authority in the church.”  It does not say, “Women may not teach or exercise authority over a man unless she is under the authority of the elders.”  The Bible does say, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12). No one can give anyone permission to disobey the teachings of the Bible.  We do not have the authority to change what the Bible says and then obey some new “general command of the Bible” that we have made up. Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 9.        Saying that “church tradition” has more authority than the Bible (Gal. 1:6-10). Some feminists hold that citing verses from the Bible cannot resolve some theological questions in general, that the Bible can be read in different ways, and several interpretations and conclusions are possible.  Thus, church tradition must be used to determine the meaning of various “difficult” passages of Scripture. This view is frightening because with this view; appeals to what the Scripture says has no effect.  One might say, “Well, you are right that the Bible says this or that, but other interpretations are possible.”  Of course, feminists claim that the tradition of the church at any particular time in history can be used to determine the meaning of a particular passage in question. Of course we know what the Scriptures say in 2 Peter 1:20, “…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Feminism undermines, denies, or rejects the authority of Scripture by: 10.        Saying that “giftedness” or “calling” has more authority than the Bible (1 Cor. 14). “I don’t care what you think…I don’t care what the Bible says…this is what God has called me to do…and I’m going to do it!”   Does God actually “call” some women to preach and teach His Word to men and women alike?  Does God “call” some women to be elders, deacons, and preachers? God never asks someone to disobey His word.  God never “calls” someone to act against His written will.  Our understanding and obedience in this question must be based on the Bible not on some person’s subjective experience, feeling, giftedness, or “calling.”  This is true no matter how godly or sincere that person may be.  The final authority always rests in God’s Word, the Bible. It is true that many women are gifted in many ways to serve in the church of Christ.  God has provided many ways for women to use their talents and abilities to serve Him.  God does not ask a woman to be an elder, deacon, or preacher, or to exercise authority over men in the church.  Women who dismiss any Scripture-based objections with a claim of subjective experience, giftedness, or “calling” undermine, deny, and reject the sole authority of the Bible. What DO the Scriptures say about feminism? There is absolutely no doubt about what a woman’s role is; there is no doubt what a man’s role is in society, in marriage, in the home, and in the church.  God has laid out His standards in the Scriptures, and His standards are not negotiable.  In Galatians 3:28 we read that “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  The context of this passage plainly asserts both male and female as being equal in spiritual privilege; however, this passage does not negate other passages such as 1 Corinthians 14:33-36, 1 Timothy 2:11-15, texts concerning the male elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and passages about the twelve male apostles which affirms that the public spiritual activity of women is restricted.  1 Corinthians 11:2-16 teaches us that while woman is subordinate to man, she is not in any sense inferior to man.  When we equally apply all relative Biblical texts in context on any topic, we will find that the Bible will not be contradictory but complimentary. True freedom and liberty to all, male and female comes from and through obedience to the Word of God renouncing “one’s self” in the service of others (John 17:17; Romans 15:1-3;            Galatians 5:13). In conclusion may we read from Paul’s second letter to Timothy chapter 1:13: “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” And then in chapter 4:1 beginning: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, and exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will help up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  Be you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” May God help us to accept the same charge to “preach the word” to always “be ready” to convince, rebuke, and exhort.  And may we always be watchful in all things as we endeavor to literally snatch men and women out of the fire with the pure and simply gospel of Jesus Christ.