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Subject: Does the church treat women as "second-class?"

 

q.gif (1639 bytes)   Single women are mostly undermined by churches.  Does this having something to do with Jesus not choosing them amongst His disciples?

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a.gif (1659 bytes)   Single women are not undermined at all within God’s perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  God’s will is always “good, and acceptable, and perfect...”

     If you think that single women are undermined in the church and service of the Lord, then your mind is being “conformed to this world,” like the above verse forbids.  The world thinks that women are “second-class” citizens in God’s plan.  That is totally false, and simply shows the selfish thinking of unsaved (and sometimes of the professing saved) people.

     Is the way to happiness only through having an outwardly exalted position?    Mark 9:33-35 says, “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?   But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.   And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”  Luke 9:46-48 says, “Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.   And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,   And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”

     In the New Testament, we never see Mary Magdalene preaching, but she did give her life to humbly serving the Lord.  Luke 8:1-3 says, “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,   And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,   And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”  And who was it, to whom Jesus appeared first after His resurrection?  Mark 16:9 says, “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

     That really tells the story for women, and for all of us.  Is the real problem that we want to be “first” now?  That we want the “attention” and “glory” now?  Do we not believe that the greatest eternal rewards are going to be for those with “servant’s hearts” now?  The Lord appeared “first” after His resurrection to a single woman, Mary Magdalene—not to a preacher, nor to an apostle, nor to someone in a “high” position.

     1 Peter 3:1-4 says, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;   While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.   Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;   But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”   Do you know what that means, that God considers it a “great price” or “very valuable” for a woman to have a “meek and quiet spirit” and to submit to their husbands?  It means that God has a “great reward” awaiting those women who follow His instructions for their lives.

     God is clear in His Word that it is not His will for women to preach or lead in the church.  1 Timothy 2:9-15 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;    But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.   Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.   But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.   For Adam was first formed, then Eve.   And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.   Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”   The statement, “she shall be saved in childbearing...” does not refer to salvation (that is, a woman is not saved from her sins by having a baby), it refers to her being “saved from deception” if she will stay in the home fulfilling her God-given role of bearing children and raising them for the glory of God.

     1 Corinthians 14:34-37 says, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.   And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.   What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?   If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

     There are many women who look at themselves as “very spiritual,” and at their husbands as “very unspiritual”—and they will readily tell you how unspiritual their husbands are.  Just let them get up in a church service and testify, and that message will come through loud and clear!  Then, they wonder why they are frustrated all of their lives with the lack of spiritual growth in their husbands.  The reason... is they themselves (the wives).  They are disobeying 1 Peter 3:1-4, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;   While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.   Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;   But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”  The way to get what they really want (a spiritual husband), is to have a “servant’s heart” and obey the Lord and be a “meek and quiet spirit.”

     Jesus said in John 12:24-26, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.   He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.   If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”  To bring forth fruit, a seed has to die.  It has to be “covered” and “hidden” away in the ground.  As the seed is “hidden from sight,” God begins to do a miracle with that seed—it begins to germinate, and grow.  One day, a sprout breaks through the soil, and then grows and brings forth much fruit.

      Even so it is in the life of a godly woman.  She is, as it were, “hidden away” in her home, being a godly wife.  Titus 2:3-5 says, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;    That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,    To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”  As this wife loves her husband and children, and is a keeper at home, God can use her in a marvelous way to teach and train their children to be godly.  Then, one day, they “sprout” and leave the home, bringing forth godly fruit for the Savior.

     Anyone who says that godly Christian women are “undermined” or “second-class” citizens in the church, is a person who is calling God a liar, because God promises that His will is “good,” “acceptable,” and “perfect.”  Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  God promises that His will brings an “abundant life”—not a “second class” life.  Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

     I repeat a previous paragraph: “That really tells the story for women, and for all of us.  Is the real problem that we want to be ‘first’ now?  That we want the ‘attention’ and ‘glory’ now?  Do we not believe that the greatest eternal rewards are going to be for those with ‘servant’s hearts’ now?  The Lord appeared ‘first’ after His resurrection to a single woman, Mary Magdalene—not to a preacher, nor to an apostle, nor to someone in a ‘high’ position.”  The greatest rewards await those who believe God, and have a servant's heart in this life.

 
 

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