| Does the Bible Put Women Down? Posted: 13 Nov 2009 08:51 AM PST
Feminists and political correctness advocates often ask the question, “Does the Bible put women down?” The Bible, Jesus’ words and His actions give a loud, resounding “No.” 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 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 God’s Word 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 doesn’t belittle women or make them second-class citizens. 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 he followed a woman’s orders by making wine for a wedding at his mother’s request, although He didn’t think it was time for His miracles yet (John 2:1-10). Wow. Sounds like today’s kind of guy. When He rose from the tomb, 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). Jesus began instructing 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? By saying “Anyone who has not sinned cast the first stone,” (John 8:6-8) Jesus rebuked 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, looking 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 4:4-14 ). 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). There are outstanding women in the Old Testament, 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. The Proverbs 31 woman worked outside the home and dealt with merchants on her own, without her husband. Ruth started the bloodline of Jesus. Whole Bible books are named for Ruth and Esther. However, these exemplary women are often overlooked because of verses in the New Testament that are taken out of context. At the top of the list is Ephesians 5:22-24 beginning with: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Granted, there are unfortunately some men in churches who abuse this idea of “submission” to keep women suppressed, even to verbally and physically abuse them. The seldom-read next few verses, Ephesians 5:25-26, prove these men are wrong and in violation of Scripture. 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? Although men are generally assigned to be heads and leaders of the church, their scriptural role is to be a servant to the people, not a deliberate dictator. 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.) |
| Gap Inc. Censoring “Christmas,” Christians Urged to Boycott Posted: 12 Nov 2009 11:02 PM PST
The Same Holiday Story Once Again Right-wing conservative Christian organization American Family Association (AFA) is urging Christians nationwide to participate in a two month boycott of San Francisco-based clothing retail giant Gap Inc., according to several national news media. The movement is based largely on Gap’s executive advertising decision to remove the word “Christmas” from their holiday ad campaigns, both in print and broadcast form. The boycott will include each of Gap’s subsidiaries: Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime (online retailer) and Athleta. The AFA, along with the so-called Christian legal group Liberty Counsel, has planned and executed countless similar campaigns during past holiday seasons, including one against international department store chain Sears. In its e-mail newsletter, the AFA argued “Christmas is special because of Jesus. It’s not just a ‘winter holiday.’ For millions of Americans the giving and receiving of gifts is in honor of the One who gave Himself. For the Gap to pretend that isn’t the foundation of the Christmas season is political correctness at best and religious bigotry at worst.” The official website of the AFA boasts an American flag image reconstructed to reflect their message. Typed within each of the flags white stripes is the phrase “Boycott Gap Inc. this Christmas.” By selecting the link entitled “Take Action Now,” the user is instantly connected to a company press release, summarizing the campaign. The summary ends with an opportunity for visitors to sign the Boycott Gap Pledge, by which the AFA will regularly update Gap on the number of participating protestors. Website visitors can also link to a printable Boycott Gap “pass along” sheet, which can be distributed to “friends, family and Sunday school members,” according to the official release. Unfortunately, such a boycott may not be seen as the wisest of approaches by many Christians, church leaders and other religious organizations. In week five of his July 2008 sermon series “You Asked for It”, NewSpring Church Senior Pastor Perry Noble candidly spoke of Christians who hop on “boycott bandwagons” and stated that, “God did not call us to condemn secular organizations for acting like secular organizations. God forgive the church for selling out to a political agenda instead of preaching Jesus.” He added, “If God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn it [John 3:17], then he sure didn’t send self-centered, self-righteous, arrogant Christians to condemn it either. We are not called to fight the world. We’re called to reach the world. It’s not us against them. It’s us for them.” Despite opposition from certain sects of Christians and pan-denominational groups, it seems the AFA is content to continue with its mission and is urging participators to “ask Gap to reconsider its policy of censoring Christmas in promotional material” The AFA also suggests that you “Let them know that until you see Christmas in their advertising, you will boycott them.” The end result of this annual campaign awaits to be seen. |
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