(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 11/96
Filename: Election Issues (5)

THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT

INTRODUCTION-- Though it is not a moral issue, Feminism has been popularized in our modern society, through an indifference toward the Will of God. It has even infiltrated the church, and promises to create some strife.

1. Feminism, in its extreme form is represented by an organization called NOW, which stands for National Organization of Women.
   
   1. It has only a few thousand members, but inserts its message into many media channels. ("We're Feminists, we're fierce, we're in your face!")
      
   2. It is an anti-marriage, anti-family organization in many ways, and some of its leaders are avowed Lesbians.
      
2. In recent years, the churches of Christ have been subjected to litigations brought by women, and some have claimed that they have been slighted in their demand for equal recognition, as elders, preachers, etc.
   

LESSON--

1. In the sight of God, women have equal rights in one field. They are said to be "joint-heirs of the grace of life" with men. 1 Peter 3:7 "Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered."
   
   1. Husbands are commanded to treat their wives well with this in mind.
      
   2. Yet, this same passage points out the physical inequality of women.
      
2. Women bear the stigma of bringing the consequences of sin upon mankind.
   
   1. In Eve, womankind showed a vulnerability to the "Wiles of the Devil." Genesis 3:1-6 "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat."
      
      1. Adam was punished for letting Eve persuade him. Genesis 3:17-19 "And unto Adam he (God) said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
         
      2. Eve was punished for her sin by being put in subjection to her husband. Genesis 3:16 "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
         
   2. From this beginning, God assigned to womankind a place of subservience to men.
      
      1. Paul describes this place, and the reason for it. 1 Timothy 2:11-15 "Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: 15 but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety."
         
      2. Paul also shows the will of God in regard to the role of women in the assemblies of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35 "As in all the churches of the saints, 34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church."
         
      3. Women are to be careful not to let circumstances cause them to be lifted in pride, so that they forsake this subservient role. 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 "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. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled. 7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: 9 for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: 10 for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. 13 Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
         
         1. The different sides in the "covering question" confuse the issue which Paul is addressing with unfounded assumptions.
            
            1. Those who insist on the covering for women today contend that "praying" and "prophesying" in this passage are to be interpreted as simple prayers and teaching.
               
            2. "Prophesying" is never used in the Bible, however, to refer to simple teaching. It is a gift of the Spirit which enables one to speak a prophecy for God.
               
         2. My position on this passage is that it spoke of women in the days of the Apostles who had spiritual gifts, enabling them to pray and prophesy.
            
            1. Opponents of this view contend that praying is not done by spiritual gifts.
               
            2. They overlook the word of the Apostle Paul, however, which says that praying can be done in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:13-17
               

               "Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified."
               

         3. I also contend that the "covering" was a sign of submission in that day, by custom, but that women can show submission in many other ways.
            
3. The teaching of Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is modified by several examples of the influence of wise women in the Bible.
   
   1. Deborah, a married woman "under the law," was a judge of Israel. Judges 4:4-5 "Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment." (In the "Song of Deborah," she sang, "The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel." Judges 5:7)
      
   2. A "wise woman" respectfully rebuked King David for his banishment of Absalom. 2 Samuel 14:1-24
      
   3. Another "wise woman" was instrumental in saving her city from the siege of Joab, the captain of David's army. 2 Samuel 20:14-22
      
   4. Anna, a "prophetess," helped to spread the news to all who would hear that Jesus was the new-born messiah that Israel sought. Luke 2:36-38
      
   5. Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, and friend of Paul, helped to teach Apollos the full truth concerning Christ. Acts 18:24-26 "Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately."
      
   6. In each of these cases, we can correctly presume that these women showed a respectful approach to the men involved, but that they also had the compulsion to speak, or to exercise their gifts, whether supernatural or native. This is true feminism as God would have it.

APPLICATION-- Feminism is inserting itself into the agendas of political parties today, and is being carried to extreme in many instances by some politicians. In voting our convictions regarding the Will of God, we should weigh the influence which it has in the political sphere.