A Re-Examine of Christianity and Being a Woman

There is a common misconception among many who take issue with the Christian faith, they are under the assumption that Christianity is anti-woman. I was among those who had the impression that Christianity placed unfair restraints upon women and that men did not seem to be held to the same type of standards. It was not until much later when I understood that everyone, men and women, are held to the exact same standard and that no one is good enough to measure up. Today’s post however, isn’t to discuss God’s standard that we are all placed under. Instead today I want to provide some evidence as to why Christianity is not a measure to hold women back.

When someone speaks of the measure of a woman in Biblical terms, they often quote Proverbs 31. I am not going to say that this is a bad thing, Proverbs 31 is a great example of how a Christian woman should behave. But I feel that this passage is often quoted in a way that describes the woman as being a beacon of honor that her husband takes pride in, again not a bad thing but I feel one of the key aspects of this passage is overlooked. The aspect that is often overlooked is the fact that the woman in Proverbs 31 is working, she does not sit idly by and allow others to serve her. She is as much an active member of the household as her husband. Consider these verses, “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.” Proverbs 31:16-18. Here we see that the women who is the golden standard among Christianity has earnings of her own to purchase a field and she sees that trading is profitable. She is working to contribute to the wellbeing of the household as we see in further passages, “21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.” Proverbs 31:21

Proverbs 31 is not the only instance that shows that woman are not meant to be idle but to contribute as well. Look at Luke chapter eight, “Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” Luke 8:1-3 these women mentioned here were contributing to Jesus Christ’s ministry out of their own means. Not the family means or their husband’s, but from money through their own efforts. This is a passage that often seems to be overlooked considering it is in between the parable of the two debtors (Luke 7:40-50) and the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-13). These three verses can be overlooked, but they none the less hold significant value when you feel as if a woman has no way to contribute.

Now I do want to be clear here, you do not have to financially contribute to your family to be following the role that a born-again Christian woman has. Many women are not active in the work force. However, this does not downplay their role in the family. If there are any stay at home mothers that are reading this, note that you are working just not for any financial means. Instead you are taking the time to raise your children and I hope that you use that time to help guide them to see Christ. You are with your children 24/7 and that means your actions are a way that your children will see Christ, for those with daughters it is your actions they will mimic in their own homes when they are grown. For those with sons, it is your actions as a woman on how they will be able to distinguish for themselves a woman who is actively following Christ when they look for a wife. I hope that you try as I do to be like the rest of Proverbs 31, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:30-31. The role of a Christian woman if studied carefully, can be seen to have more liberty and merit than anything the nay sayers in the world can scream. A woman can only be truly free in Christ, and in Christ there is no glass ceiling, nor any worldly attempts to keep us from running the race for Christ with great earnest and authenticity.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex