The "Women’s Liberation Movement" has found it’s way into the minds of the women who are members of the body of Christ. Not that this is new, but it certainly is growing. Statements like, "you need to be in the 21^st century" or "today’s women are different than bible women" are made now in defense of switching the roles of males and females as God has designed them. Many will say it is not a matter of obeying God, but a matter of equality. Yet, those people fail to see it is a matter of obedience to God. We will see how in this article.

(Genesis 2:18-23) "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Women were created to be a "help meet" for men. That was God’s design. It falls into a realm and question of authority in all matters. A question, that God clearly answers in the New Testament. (I Corinthians 11:3) "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." No Christian would dare challenge that Christ is head over us, why would they dare challenge that the same usage of wording is applied to the man being head of the woman? God has a plan. Who are we to question it? A good question a woman could ask herself to see if she is failing in God’s plan for women would be: "In the things that I do, are those things helping my husband?"

God has a design for women in their role of authority in the marriage. (Ephesians 5:22-23) "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." The Greek word translated as "submit" in verse 22 is "hupotasso" and is Strong’s number 5293. Thayer defines this word as: "1) to arrange under, to subordinate; 2) to subject, put in subjection; 3) to subject one's self, obey; 4) to submit to one's control; 5) to yield to one's admonition or advice; 6) to obey, be subject." While some women may not like it, that is God’s plan. We cannot fulfill 99% of what God commands and say this is the 1% I cannot do (James 2:10).

The Bible gives us a good description of how God wants women to act. In Paul’s letter to Titus he gives a list of things that the older women should teach the younger women to do. (Titus 2:3-5) "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, keepersat home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." First thing we should note about the older sisters in Christ, is that they should be mature enough and stable enough to be examples to the younger. Sadly, this is not the case in many congregations. The question is normally asked, "can a women work?" The answer is found in this text. The work of the woman is to be keepers of the home. If they can do something outside of keeping the home, raising the children, etc. without failing in their duties at home, then they could still do other things to be a "help meet" for their husbands. Sadly, some men do not provide for their families and the woman is made to work. God clearly teaches us about the lazy type who do not want to work (I Timothy 5:8 and II Thessalonians 3:10). Back in our text to what Paul wrote to Timothy we find several things the older women are to teach the younger to be like. They are:

God has a design for women in their role of authority in the church. God in His divine wisdom provides for us all things pertaining unto life and godliness. The woman is not to "usurp" authority over the man nor teach over the man (I Timothy 2:11-12). Certainly we can realize that this passage clarifies I Corinthians 14:34-35 which teaches a woman is to be silent in the church. We can know that based on a study of both of these passages that a woman is not to be in any position in the assembly where she would exercise authority over the man or teach over the man. Yet, there is a clarification, a women does teach in way of song (Colossians 3:16) in the mixed assembly. We recognize this as a submissive part of worship where the woman speaks, but is still not in violation of teaching over or taking authority over the man. It is a command that we all sing (Ephesians 5:19). Certainly, with recognition of the role of the woman in the home the role in the church becomes very clear. The woman is at no time in authority over the man. The problem with women taking roles of authority in the church has begun in the home. What starts in the home then places itself in the church. Then we violate all areas of scripture in relation to the role of women in the home and church.

God has such wisdom we cannot attain unto (Psalms 139:6). God has given us what we need to know to obey Him (Deuteronomy 29:29). God has given the roles of authority (God – Jesus – Man – Woman; I Corinthians 11:3). If we do not like those roles, and we fail to fill those roles, we will be lost. Sin is transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4), and the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). It is God’s law for us to take our proper places and do the duties we are designed to do. There should be no shame in being in subjection, since we all are in subjection to God, and should have the same goals, and an ability to work together as one.
 
 
 

Those Serving Today
A.M. Song Leader –  Mike Lockwood
Lord’s Table – Jay Wagner
Assisting –  Steve Burgoon and George Papp
Opening Prayer – Terry Nannie
Closing Prayer –  Bill Graham

Those Needing Our Prayers
Lester Fleeger,  Betty Brown, Mike Lockwood has a heel spur, Ann Holt, John & Olive Anderson, Joan Croyle, Marge McClaire (has cancer), and Bill Croyle (Joan’s son who is suffering from lung problems).

Your invited...
To the Yeager’s on after services for fellowship, singing, and studying after services.  We will be discussing "What Does the Bible Say About Anger".