Role of women in conservative Christianity?

Question

In modern society, what do you consider appropriate roles for women to have? Wife and mother only? Career (if husband is supportive)? Other?

Answer 1

I don't think modernity has anything to do with it.

Some things change with the passage of time and others do not. Gender roles are something that should not change with time because they are inextricably tied to our biological and physiologial being.

In most circumstances (there are always exceptions) a man acts as provider, and woman acts as homemaker and primary caregiver for the children.

Every father, to some extent, acts as a caregiver to the children but that is not his primary role, nor is his body and mind and will as well suited for it.

Every mother, to some extent, can act as a material provider for the family (i.e. work from home in some capacity) but that is not her primary role, and she should never put work and money before her duties to her children and home.

What happens far too often when people throw gender roles out the window is that men and women find themselves fulfilling duties they are not naturally suited for. Like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

Or worse, one gender will often shirk their duty. So many women try to "do it all" becoming mothers, breadwinners, homemakers and disciplinarians while their husbands sit by and let them be overwhelmed.

The ideal is for gender roles to be honored. Men and women have certain gifts and talents. Their bodies and minds are made differently.

In marriage they are meant to compliment each other, and do what each does to the 100% best of their ability. This makes for a happy and harmonius home, well-cared for children and financial peace.

In the context of Christianity, the role of women is considered to be THE most important one on earth. Motherhood has been revered from the earliest times as a high calling and a place of honor. The home is the cradle of society.

In fact, this is why women who choose to be nun's make such a great sacrifice. It's not sex that is so hard to give up (although that can be difficult). Rather, it is giving up one's chance to become a mother.

Pax Vobiscum+

Answer 2

Women in the old testament of the Bible were encouraged to not only be wives and mothers, but to "run their businesses prosperously".

Women were blessed with gifts of prophecy and wisdom, and they were encouraged to use their gifts for the good of all.

Even women with lowly positions in the social structure of the day were chosen by God for special tasks, and they rose to the occasion with spectacular results.

New testament women (including today's women) are encouraged to be all that that can be in the churches as well.

God did ordain a few rules of order, however. In both the family and the church, men were told to be the primary leaders, and were made responsible for the final decisions of each. Women are not supposed to take the leadership role away from the men of the church. They can still do everything else, though. Preaching is a leadership role, so women are not in that role in the church, either. Teaching, however, is a wonderful outlet for women in the church.

Women were told to "be submissive" to their husbands. This does not mean they have no say in anything, but it means that after they have their say, their husband is supposed to make the final decision and lead his family in God's way. The women are supposed to follow the decision wholeheartedly, unless is decision is one that is against God.

Men, by the way, may not be tyrants. They are to love their wives and treat them properly at all times.

None of these cases has anything to do with society and business worlds. Women are free to perform any duties and jobs they wish without church interference. Of course, they may not sin while performing these tasks, just like the guys.

Answer 3

Roles change out of necessity. If I need to be a mother and wife only then that is fine with me and it is my choice. If I want a career it is my choice and my husband supports me. At this time I choose to be a mother and wife only but by no means does that make me a doormat nor was it ever intended for me to be one. I am a helpmate to my husband as well as he to me.

Desiree: What are you talking about? Where in the bible does it say a decent Christian woman is not to take pleasure from sex with her husband. You are adding too and that is bad bad bad. A decent Christian woman enjoys and looks forward to pleasing her husband and being pleased by her husband. God created sex and said it was good.

Answer 4

Full disclosure: I think Sarah Palin is a very dangerous induhvidual. having said that, I have to say that this argument is a bit silly. It is the belief of some fundamentalists that women have no place in leadership positions, granted. However, this is pretty much gone by the wayside. It's one of those commandments that never made much sense in the first place, and even the fans of inerrancy have had to admit that. Obviously, most women disregard this largely discredited idea today, and rightly so. I am very sorry to see Sarah Barracuda in the race, but that's not a valid reason for thinking so.

Answer 5

It depends on the family. Those are things that should be discussed before marriage, but me personally I would love to stay home and do all the wifely duties and have dinner ready for my husband when he gets home and clean the house and take care of the children. With things being as they are I have to work right now to support me, my 5yr old daughter and my unborn child, my husband does not contribute any money to the care of any of us that's why we're separated (sad I know-tear NOT!!!) After almost 7yrs of the same stuff, it's in God's hands. Sorry to vent, back to answer- it depends on the family. LOL!!!!!

Answer 6

The gender roles are set enough by biology. I don't think we need to impose any more restrictions on anyone based solely on the circumstance of birth... that includes race, gender, etc.
I know 'conservative' Christianity holds to alot of these patriarchal morals. This is partly why more and more are turning away from it.
God is supposed to be love, and I cannot see love in relegating half the population to a life denied of any ambition or opportunity simply because they were lucky/unlucky enough to be born female.
And certainly in a modern and enlightened society, we should not tell anyone they 'can not' try to be or do anything they wish in life.
Just my opinion.

Answer 7

If you read Proverbs 31, it tells you everything you need to know.

She is smart, she is a business woman, she is kind and loving to her husband, she is a wonderful mother. She keeps her household running (financially and emotionally) as well as makes her husband look good.

I don't think the Godly role of women have changed, I think the worldy role of women have.
MAN decided women were wicked, MAN decided women needed pushed down.
We were created differently, but we were created equally.

Answer 8

Women are equal to men, in all aspects. end of story, regardless of religion. It is their choice if they want a career, if they want children, a husband, or a wife, they are people, and gender never matters, just like race never matters.

Answer 9

She can be what ever God wants her to be. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in the OT that rode into battle. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus and probably started the first women's Bible study group.

Answer 10

There is no favoritism in Christ. Neither male nor female, rich or poor, free or slave. If the women puts God first, she will have no issues to deal with.