Christian Women?

Question

Now, by asking this question, I am in no way trying to demean Christians. I only wish to understand.

Why does the Bible seem to be so against women? I think it says something about childbirth pains being a punishment because Eve decieved Adam. Why are all women punished for this? And isn't Adam somehow at fault as well?

I also read somewhere that in the Bible, it says that women are to stay silent, and are not to teach men. And yet, I've met many female teachers who are Christian. Are they disobeying God's word? Or are there exeptions?

Again, I am not trying to insult Christians. I am only trying to understand.

Answer 1

Good questions.

Actually, if you read the New Testament, Jesus was very much a liberator of women (not to be confused with women's lib) If you notice, the women play very big parts in the NT (Mary his mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, the weeping women, Veronica, the woman at the well, etc)

A lot of people get confused by what the Bible actually teaches about women. I love the part where it says (paraphrased) "Women, be suboordinant to your husbands. Husbands, love your wives." So many people take this as the men have all the control and the women have to do whatever the men tell them. But, the second sentence is the catch! It also mentions in the Bible that a wife or child should not submit to their husband/parents if what they are asking is harmful.

Biblically, a husband's job is to present his wife to God. His duty is to bring her closer to God. He has to Love her and do what is right and good by her. A loving husband would never be harmful, or hurtful, or demanding. (i.e. A loving husband would not demand a woman clean up after him.) A husband has to be a role model of Christ and perpetuate Christ's love for one another. First and foremost, he must show this love to his wife.


As for Eve and the whole child-birthing thing...
There has to be consequences for our actions. Adam and Eve knew God fully, so any disobediance was an enormous sin. By eating the fruit, which may seem trivial to us, the commited an extremely grave sin, which condemned the rest of humanity on earth. Men got punished too. And a side note, as much as labor is painful, they joy of being able to deliver a child is unimaginable. So, where there is pain, there is also a great amount of joy.

Answer 2

The Bible is not against women at all. I can understand why some might feel it is, though.

Consider Eve: she conceived after her sin. It must be remembered that once Eve sinned, she became imperfect. Her body would no longer function perfectly. Hence, childbirth is physically distressing. Yet, we have no idea how painless it would be in a “perfect” setting.

Your second reference is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 14:33-34 where Paul, under divine inspiration, says the women are to keep silent in the congregations. In this chapter, Paul is discussing matters in connection with Christian meetings in the congregation. He emphasized the objective of Christian meetings “that the congregation may receive up building.” 1 Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 26. The instruction to “keep silent” appears three times in this chapter. Each time it refers to a different group but the purpose is the same: that all things take place decently and by arrangement.” 1 Corinthians 14:40.

The last group mentioned by Paul is women. What Paul says at 1 Corinthians 14:35 is noteworthy. It may indicate that the women were challenging what was being taught in the congregation. Moreover, women were not to be teachers in the congregation. Teachers, yes. But in the congregation the lead is taken by men. This is scriptural. So while Christian women – sisters in the faith – are authorized to teach the good news of God’s kingdom, they are not to do so within the congregation for men are in that position and take the lead. That too is scriptural. Does this help you?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Don't worry, your questions are not insulting.

Before "the fall" of Adam and Eve, basic Christian belief is that there was no childbirth, so while pain hurts (at least today we've got epidurals - which I'm totally going to use for the little one I've got due in August) being able to have children at all, and experience motherhood is really a great blessing also.

As far as the women staying silent thing - this was a letter to a specific congregation where with the historical background, you'll learn that for some reason women were shouting across the room at their husbands during church service! I think women can give great talks in church, and be wonderful religious teachers, but in this case, I'd tell them to be quiet too.

Answer 4

The exact answer to this depends upon the denomination and culture of the Christian involved. Typically marriage to a non-Christian is discouraged but not banned. There are Biblical passages about living a righteous life so as to convert the non-Christian spouse. Also, if a believer is married to a non-believer and the non-believer wants a divorce the Bible says to let the non-believer leave. There are only two officially recognized reasons for divorce: sexual infedelity and being married to a non-Christian. Do be aware that according to Christianity any children born to the marriage must be raised Christian. Do know also that some cultural practices common in Muslim countries are banned by Christianity. You may have cultural as well as religious problems.

Answer 5

Those who penned the Bible lived in a place and time (culture) where women were treated in a way that, by today's standards, is demeaning. A lot of that cultural bias exists in the Bible.

But the Bible is the word of God, right? Yes it is. Does that mean that God hates women? Of course not! The Bible is God's word expressed in human language and through the filter of human understanding. No human can even BEGIN to truly understand God. We do the best we can with what we have at the time.

Answer 6

It seems that way because you are taking what you read and applying it to the way our society thinks.

Actually, the statements in the Bible have more spiritual meaning then physical.

And then there is the Virgin Mary the most revered woman ever...and she gave birth to Christ. She is the mother of God. So, if God was against women....he certainly had a funny way of showing it by choosing a woman to bring the savior into the world.

God setup the family. When a man loves his wife as Christ loves the church...this means he'd do anything for her...he'd lay down his life for her. Obviously Christ would never have used the church as a doormat. In response to this love, the church is submissive to Christ...just as women are to be submissive to their husband...the ones that love them so much!

You see, the things that the Bible talks about are what happens when we live our lives according to God's will. But it all seems wrong when we read those passages with our worldly glasses on.

Answer 7

Living with a woman who has PMS is the punishment for men.
Seriously though, it affected all women because all woman are decendants of Eve.
I really think there is a lot of wisdom behind women not teaching men. It's not all males just your peers and elders. When it comes to spiritual things men and women tend to take a very different approach. It is just how we are wired.
Haven't you ever tried to explain something to a man and you just couldn't get through to him, then his buddy comes up, rewords what you were saying a little and suddenly he gets it?
Well, same thing only with Bible stuff.

Answer 8

The Jewish society during the time of Christ was vehemently patriarchal. Women were at best second class citizens. Add to that the fact that, according to scripture, Peter hated women and Paul told the Christians of the time not to marry because that would take away from serving Jesus. Times have changed somewhat now. Our society is still somewhat patriarchal but not as bad as it was. We now have female ministers, although not female Catholic priests. The Catholics will probably never recognize the value of a woman in religion, and keep them down as nuns. So, it's not exceptions, but modern interpretations. Does that help?

Answer 9

Women suffer in labour. Men suffer in labor.

God is no respector of persons. He loves all equally.

for full understanding of the bible, one must really do some bible study and prayer.

Answer 10

The Bible is a compilation of metaphors written by men. In the eyes of God, we are all equal.