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Women's Rights or a Woman's Role? |
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Women's Rights or a Woman's Role? |
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On October 4, 1997, Promise Keepers held a "Stand in the Gap" rally in Washington, D.C. It is estimated that the rally drew around a million husbands and fathers. The objective was to challenge husbands and fathers to take responsibility for their families and to be better husbands and fathers. Now you would think that everyone, especially women, would appreciate anything that would help men to be better husbands and fathers. Yet the rally was not without objection and confrontation. Activists from NOW (National Organization for Women) led by president Patricia Ireland, held their own "No Surrender" rally in opposition to Promise Keepers. At an August 25 protest NOW activists chanted, "racist, sexist, anti-gay, Promise Keepers go away." Ireland said, "Promise Keepers is the hottest religious marketing tool since televangelism. Their message of submission of women is extremely political and anti-woman."1 Ireland went on to warn that while the Promise Keepers publicize their call for men to take responsibility for their families and in their communities, their less-public agenda is for men to take control. They openly call for wives to submit to their husbands and extol the "God-given" right of men to lead. 2 Ireland said, "The Promise Keepers speak about, "taking back America for Christ, but they also mean to take back the rights of women. Their call for submission of women is one that doesn't have a place in either the pulpit or the public sphere in the 1990's."3 In 1998 the Southern Baptist Convention drew tremendous fire from the amendment it added to the "Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963." The statement defined marriage exclusively in heterosexual terms and says that husbands and wives, while equal before God, have different roles. The amendment reads, "A wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband, even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ." Now you would suspect such an amendment drawing fire from such groups as NOW and the ACLU. But it not only drew fire from Feminist's groups but also religious groups and even some Southern Baptists. On November 9 (1999), the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the biggest state group within the Southern Baptist Convention, voted not to accept the amendment. Rev. Clyde Glazener, pastor of the Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Forth Worth, who was elected president of the Texas Convention said, "Those barbs (referring to the amendment) were intended to hammer women." I agree with Dr. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky who called the vote: "an intentional rejection of a clear teaching of the Bible." Whether or not Patricia Ireland and NOW like it or not; whether the Baptist General Convention of Texas approves it or not; the Bible teaches the submission of women to their husbands. The real problem with groups like NOW and liberal and moderate religious leaders is with, "What thus saith the Lord." What God says is the first, foremost, and final authority of every area of life. What God says in His Word is not ours to fight but follow; not ours to debate but deliver, and not ours to amend but to defend. As we come to chapter 11 of I Corinthians we find that Paul discusses the role of women and the Biblical teaching of submission. Let's look at the passage and consider this matter. First, notice:
1. THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBMISSION
Verse 1 of the chapter is actually a continuation of chapter 10. Paul had spoken of glorifying God in all that a person does and he encourages them to follow His example even as he followed the example of Christ. Then in verse 2 he begins to discuss the matter of a woman being submissive to her husband. Paul says in verse 2, "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." The word "ordinances" is at times translated "traditions" and speaks of "that which is passed along by teaching." Paul had taught them the Word of God and he wanted them to remember what he had taught. He says in the beginning of verse 3, "But I would have you know." He is saying that he is now about to teach them a truth that he has not formerly taught them. That which he proceeds to teach them concerns the principle of women being submissive. As we look at this principle we see:
A. A Principle That Is Scripturally Declared
As you study the Bible you find the principle of submission of women clearly taught. Nowhere is it plainer than in Ephesians 5:22, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." As Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers he wanted them to know that this principle was a scriptural principle. It was not just the opinion and prejudices of some male chauvinist or some "right wing religious" group, but was a teaching of God's Word. I think it is important to point out that the submission of a woman has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. It is not speaking of the man being superior to the woman and the woman being inferior to the man. Paul is not talking about the personal worth, abilities, intellect, or the spirituality of a woman. The simple truth is, in some cases, women are superior to men in abilities, intellect, maturity, and spirituality. Someone has said that when God created man he said, "I can do better than that," so He created a woman. There are times when a woman is a better manager, stronger emotionally, better educated, and more spiritual than the man. Paul is not talking about a women being inferior to men. He is talking about a woman's role. There are certain roles God has assigned in life and the role of the woman is submission to the husband and the man the leader of the woman. The principle of woman's submission to her husband is a matter of a God assigned role. Take the role of the husband as the head of the wife. When the Bible speaks of the husband as the head of the wife it is not speaking of him as a dictator, master, or dominator. It does not indicate that the man is superior to the wife. The ideal of a man as the head of the wife is that he has the role of being the spiritual leader of the wife. He is to follow God and lead his wife in spiritual matters. That is his role. The role of the wife is to follow the husband as he follows the will of God. All the Feminists groups talk about a woman's rights. The real issue is roles instead of rights. Furthermore, we see:
B. A Principle Spiritually Demonstrated
Paul declares in verse 3 that this principle is not only declared but also demonstrated. We read, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the women is the man; and the head of Christ is God." Paul illustrates the principle of submission by giving three examples of submission. First, he points out that Christ was submissive to God. We read in the latter part of verse 3, "and the head of Christ is God." When the Lord Jesus was upon this earth He submitted to the will of God. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not My will, but Thine be done." Paul was declaring that even the Lord Jesus subordinated Himself to the role God had assigned Him. This statement by Paul once again reminds us that the principle of a woman being submissive to her husband is not a matter of one being superior or inferior. When the Bible says that God is the head of Christ it is not indicating that Jesus was inferior to God or held a lower position than God. No, the Bible tells us that Jesus is God. Jesus said in John 14:9, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." Also John 1:1 tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus is co-equal with the Father. What is indicated in the statement is that when Jesus took upon Himself a body of flesh he assumed a role of a servant. His was not a subordination of essence, but one of office. He voluntarily accepted the role of a servant in order to perfectly keep the law and therefore make acceptable atonement for the sins of man. When Jesus submitted to the Father as His head, it was subordination to a role assignment. It was not a matter of being inferior but submission to a role. Paul also says in verse 3, "the head of every man is Christ." Man is to be submissive to the will of Christ. He is to follow him and obey Him. Then Paul says in verse 3, "the head of the woman is the man." As Jesus was submissive to the Father, man is to be submissive to Christ, and the woman is to be submissive to the man. Each one has their role and assignment in life as given by God.
Again, nothing in the matter of submission has anything to do with dignity or
worth, but of task, roles, and God's will for each person. When Feminist groups
and liberal religious leaders fight such a principle, they are in essence
rebelling against God's will and Word. When Patricia Ireland said that a women
being submissive to her husband was anti-woman, she missed it completely. What
she is declaring is anti-Bible.
2. THE PORTRAYAL OF SUBMISSION!
Beginning in verse 4, Paul takes us into the Corinthian Church and shows us how this principle is portrayed. He also takes us back to creation and shows us how this principle is portrayed. Notice first that this principle is:
A. Portrayed In A Custom
We read in verse 4, "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head." Paul talks about "praying" which is in essence man talking to God about man. "Prophesying" is in essence man talking to man about God. Paul is talking about the ministry that believers have and are to be involved in. When he spoke of a man having his head covered he is referring to a Corinthian custom. The phrase, "head covered" means, "having down from head." It speaks of a veil and not necessarily a hat, as we would think of in our day. The word "dishonor" speaks of making ashamed. Paul's implication is that it would not be proper for a man to wear a veil. In fact, it would be embarrassing to him and to his Lord. Now why would it bring shame, disgrace and dishonor? Again, Paul is talking about a Corinthian custom from which he draws a divine principle. In the Corinthian society a man praying without a head covering was a sign of his authority as the head of his wife and family. Understanding this custom, one sees how it would be a disgrace to the man to have his head covered. But on the other hand we read in verse 5, "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven." To wear a veil would be a disgrace for a man, but entirely proper for a woman. The reason was not necessarily dress styles and universal requirements. Paul is not saying that a woman ought to wear a veil or hat to church, yet there would not be anything wrong with such a custom. In some countries it is a custom for women to wear a hat or covering in church. Again what Paul is saying goes back to a Corinthian custom. The man would not cover his head as a sign of his authority, but the woman would wear a veil, cover her head, as a sign of her submission. "Even today in some eastern countries a married woman's veil signifies that she will not expose herself to other men, and that her beauty and charms are reserved entirely for her husband."4 In a similar fashion, the women in the Corinthian Church covered their heads to show their devotion and submission to their husbands. That is why Paul said if her head was uncovered it dishonoureth her head (husband). Paul was pointing out that the principle of a woman's role of submission was portrayed in the way they dressed in the Corinthian Church. How they dressed was a cultural matter, but why they did it was a Biblical matter. But apparently there was some women libber's and feminists in the Church and they were rebellious to such a custom and principle. In those days, just like today, there were some women that wanted to be treated like men. They attacked the matter of submission in marriage and asserted their own independence. I guess they called themselves "COW" (Corinthian Organization for Women). In the latter part of verse 5 Paul says that a woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered it "is even all one as if she were shaven." Paul concludes the statement in verse 6, "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." Paul was saying that for a woman to worship with her head uncovered was the same as if her head was shaved. Paul says, if she will not cover her head, let her go ahead and shave her head. In that day only a prostitute or an extreme feminist would shave her head and that was for the purpose of identification. It showed what she did or stood for as a woman. To those in the church who were rebellious against the principle of submission, Paul said in essence, "Go all the way and identify yourself for what and who you are. If you don't want to be identified as a prostitute or feminist, cover your head." I once again remind you, that Paul was not laying down a dress code, but showing how a Corinthian custom demonstrated the principle of submission. Furthermore, we see that it was:
B. Portrayed In Creation
Beginning in verse 7, Paul also shows that in creation the principle of submission was demonstrated. In verse 7 Paul says, "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man." Paul speaks of the creation of man and the woman. He speaks of man's creation in light of two features of his creation. First, man was created in the image of God. Man being created in the "image" of God does not necessarily imply man looked like God, but that man was created as a three-fold creature possessing body, soul, and spirit. Man was given intellect, will, emotion, etc. Paul also says that man was created in the "glory of God." The ideal is that man was created and given dominion by God over the created world. God gave man the role of ruling over what He had created, thus was created in the glory of God. Man was created in God's glory to manifest God's authority and will on earth. When Paul speaks of the creation of the woman he says she was created as "the glory of man." As man was made to manifest God's authority and will, woman was made to manifest man's authority and will. Paul continues in verse 8, "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man." Paul simply states that man was not made from the woman, but the woman of the man. Then in verse 9 we read, "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for man." Man was created by God and for God. Woman was created from man and for man. Because the woman was created from man and for man, Paul says in verse 10, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." Again Paul speaks to the Corinthian custom. The word "power" speaks of authority. Paul was saying that since in the order of creation, man was given the role of ruling, the woman ought to wear a symbol of her submission. The reference to angels no doubt speaks of the role of angels and their submission to God in that role. Just as angels are submissive to the One in authority over them, the wife should be in submission to one in authority over her. Paul is showing that in creation the role of submission by women is demonstrated. The principle goes back to the order in which man and woman were created. The role of authority was given to man. The woman was created from man and placed under man's authority. Now some men have misunderstood their role and their God-given place of authority. They think it makes them the final word and that the woman is to obey them no matter what. To remind men who would abuse their role, Paul says in verses 11-12, "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God." Paul reminds us that both man and woman are "in the Lord." The man is not independent of the woman and the woman is not independent of the man, both are in the Lord. Woman may have come from man, but in truth, both man and woman originated with God. Paul is reminding man that his role is one received from God. Man's authority is a God-given authority that is to be used for God's will and purposes. Again, we are reminded that man as the head of the woman is a spiritual leadership and authority. It is not a case of a man dictating to a woman what she can do or not do, but providing her spiritual leadership and spiritual direction. But even then, both are dependent on one another. Man and woman are a team, following God, serving God, and doing God's will. Both are equal, both having been created by the Lord, but having different roles by which God's will is done. It just so happens, that God's role for a man is to be the head, and God's role for the woman is to submit to man as the God appointed head. Again, it is not that one is superior to other or inferior to the other, but how God established the role of man and woman. Therefore, Paul says to the Corinthians in verse 13, "Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?" Paul was saying, "Understanding this, what conclusion do you think a woman should come to about whether or not she should cover her head?" The answer is obvious.
Paul is showing how the principle of submission is a God assigned role for
the woman. It is not because the man is stronger physically or more mature
spiritually, but because God made it that way. Also, man should never forget
that it is God's doing and not his; therefore he is accountable to God for how
he leads as the head.
3. THE PROCLAMATION OF SUBMISSION
Finally, in verses 14-15 Paul tells us that even nature itself proclaims this principle. We read, "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." Paul says that one has to but look around and see that this principle is proclaimed and presented. First, he points out:
A. The Difference Of The Sexes
Paul was saying that by nature a man's hair is different from a woman's hair. Man is usually identified by shorter hair and the woman is identified by longer hair. He adds that it would be a shame for a man not to be distinguished as a man, and likewise the same for a woman. The hair of the sexes tells us that there is a difference between man and woman. Secondly, he points out:
B. The Distinction Of The Sexes
Paul speaks of the woman's hair as "a glory to her" and how her hair has been given to her "for a covering." Once again Paul is pointing to the natural covering God has given which is a symbol that from creation God has given distinct roles to the man and woman. Now just as today, Paul knew that some would have trouble with what he said. We read in verse "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." He knew that some, even though the divine design of man and woman, the order of creation, even what nature revealed, as well as what the Scripture declared, would not be accepted. He knew there would be some who would be contentious and form a "No Surrender" rally outside the Church. When Paul said, "we have no such custom, neither the churches of God" he was saying that this was what the He stood for and taught, as well as the Churches, and that a violation of this principle would not and could not be tolerated. Let me sum up what we have seen by saying once again that the real issue is not women's rights but a woman's role. That is true for men as well. I read about a couple that lived way back in the mountains. One day the husband decided to go to town. As he was walking through a store he picked up a hand mirror and said, "I'll be, if here ain't a picture of my old pappy when he died ten years ago." He bought the mirror to take home to his wife. He was so excited about finding a picture of his pappy. His wife looked into the mirror and looked at him and said, "This here ain't your pappy, this is a picture of one of them low-down, good-for-nothing gals you used to date."
When it comes to this matter of submission, oftentimes both are wrong. The
husband is wrong because he thinks it makes him master of the house, and the
wife is wrong because she feels she is made inferior. The husband is to be a spiritual leader seeking to do the will of God and
manifest God's glory. The wife is to likewise fulfill her role as a helpmeet to
the husband, and in so doing; both enjoy a wonderful life of blessing. Both are
equal and important, and the one cannot do without the other. Each just has a
different role in life. |
