Does the Bible Put Women Down?

Our politically correct and feminist friends may ask the question, "Does the Bible put women down?" The Bible, Jesus' words and His actions give a loud, resounding "No."

It's amazing how many American government officials and common citizens alike will overlook the mistreatment of women in some factions of the Muslim faith, while constantly bashing Christianity for "keeping women in submission." Let's dispel some myths about the Bible's intent toward women and women's rights.

When the "Feminist Movement" gained strength in the 1960's, it was a fight for equal jobs, equal pay and respect for women. Absentee husbands and dads were called to task for their commitments. The second stage was women engaging in bra-burning and buying the message that casual sex would break our invisible chains. Helen Reddy's 1972 song "I Am Woman" became the iconic feminist theme.

Next, the more radical factions of the Feminist Movement began viewing men as unnecessary extras to their lives and to child-rearing. And the Bible was suddenly regarded as a tool for men to keep women "barefoot, pregnant and chained to the kitchen sink." Some became convinced that the Bible even gave men a license to abuse women.

How did the Bible become embroiled in the battle? As biblical principles in schools, government and at home began to sink below the American horizon, the bad rap on the Bible expanded. Fewer people were exposed to its pages, and simply believed what they heard when verses were twisted or eliminated for the movement's purpose.

The Bible does have many stories about tragic treatment of women. But each of those incidents reflects a consequence, moral or principle that people often overlook. The New Testament in particular doesn't belittle women or make them second-class citizens.

Jesus instructed men to stop treating women like possessions. In Matthew 5:27-31 and Mark 10:2-12, He tells men to stop committing adultery and discarding women in divorce. Isn't this exactly one of the things the feminists originally wanted...for men to be faithful and respectful?

Jesus told Martha to get out of the kitchen and come learn the Scriptures like her sister Mary (Luke 10:38-43). We could even say Jesus followed a woman's orders by making wine for a wedding at his mother's request (John 2:1-10). Wow. Sounds like today's kind of guy.

By saying "Anyone who has not sinned cast the first stone" (John 8:6-8), Jesus rejected the double standard of a woman being accused alone for adultery when a man was also involved. Plus, He gave her a clean slate and took her into His group of followers.

Jesus addressed women in public and looked them in the eye, which was not the male standard at that time. The woman at the well was the first person He spoke with in Samaria (John 4 starting with v4). He used a widow's contribution of her last coins to illustrate sacrificial giving instead of giving out of plenty (Mark 12:41-44); and chose a woman for his story comparing the wisdom of finding one lost coin to angels singing over one saved soul (Luke 15:7-9).

When He came out of the tomb alive, Jesus thought enough about women to reveal Himself to them first, before any of the male disciples (Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-9). As people became Christ followers, women like Priscilla were highly regarded as leaders of the faith in spreading the Gospel (Acts 18). When no man among the disciples believed Peter was free from jail, God used a woman, Rhoda, to convince them he was really knocking at their door (Acts 12).

The Old Testament (Hebrew portion of the Bible) has some outstanding women, too. Deborah, the Judge, and Esther, the Queen, were chosen to save the entire Israelite population from their enemies. Rahab, a prostitute, sheltered Hebrew scouts instead of notifying authorities of their whereabouts. Ruth started the bloodline of Jesus. Whole Bible books are named for Ruth and Esther.

And lo and behold, the wife and mother who gets all the credit in Proverbs 31 was a woman who worked outside the home and dealt with merchants on her own, without her husband..imagine that!

These exemplary women are often overlooked because of verses in the New Testament that are taken out of context, like Ephesians 5:22-24 beginning with: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord" (NIV). But the next nine verses (5:25-33) tell husbands how wonderfully they are supposed to treat their wives. It's about submitting to each other to honor the Lord:

"...present her without spot or blemish..." "love your wife as you love yourself..." the apostle Paul continued Jesus' respect for women by telling men to love their wives as they would love their own bodies and the church. What man will beat himself black and blue, or put himself in the hospital with broken bones?

Men in churches who abuse this idea of "submission" to keep women suppressed, even to verbally and physically abuse them, are dead wrong and in violation of Scripture.

Biblical role of men is to be servants, not tyrants or dictators:
Although men are generally assigned to be heads and leaders of the church in most denominations, their scriptural role is to be a servant to the people they shepherd. They aren't called to be a deliberate dictator or to laud their power over their own family in a threatening manner. Paul states in Galatians 3:28-29, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

(Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.)

The original version of this article appeared in The Underground Online Magazine.