10-1-1 Feminism And The Church
‘Equality’ is one of the prevailing philosophies in our surrounding world. It is a by-product of ‘humanism’- the idea that human beings are of paramount value, and can unite to forge their own destiny. The Bible’s low estimation of man’s animalistic human nature is quite alien to this. The world’s idea that humans are so valuable has led to the conclusion that all humanity is equal. This has led to the feminist movement of recent years, which claims direct equality and parity between male and female. Consistently throughout history, the views of the world have entered and corrupted the church. To reason that the church is not threatened by the feminist movement is to run against strong Biblical and historical precedent. It is surely not co-incidental that the growth of feminism in the world has been paralleled in the church by an increasing pressure for women to assume teaching roles, and to argue against the wearing of hats as a sign of their subjection to the man.
However, feminists have correctly pointed out that female subjection in society has been largely due to cultural factors, and a self-perpetuating perception of women as inferior to men. Women being subject to men from these motives is incorrect; it is not real obedience to God’s word. All God’s commands, and His expectation that we live out the male/female typology which He has set up, require a conscious act of the will by individuals. It is therefore significant that the Greek verb used for “subjection” in 1 Tim.2:11 is reflexive, i.e. it refers to an action which one does to oneself. The woman must silently learn, making-herself-in-subjection to the man. Likewise, our subjection to the word of God and Christ does not come naturally, by reason of our birth, or on account of our surrounding society. A conscious subjection of self is required.
This very fact provides enormous scope for our modern, twentieth century Christian woman! Unlike her sisterhood of past years, she realizes that in many ways she does have the capabilities of the man, e.g. intellectually and financially. No longer is she automatically subject to him through culture or due to low self-perception. So, therefore, she has maximum opportunity to consciously subject herself to her brethren, thereby truly living out the typology of the church being consciously subject to Christ. Yet as in many other areas, it would seem that the massive opportunities of the latter twentieth century are generally abused or at best neglected by so many.
