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This week, I heard a podcast sermon in which the guest preacher held the theology that women have no role to play in ministry. And let me just say... that was not a good feeling.
And so, today, I'm going to pause on the 31 days of Women of the Bible and discuss women in general in the kingdom of God. Allow me to do so.
Throughout history, women have been taught the message of Scriptures as something that puts them down, silences them, or makes them subservient to men. However, when you study the scripture deeply, without any bias and lens of control, you will see that women are never an afterthought to God.
Right from the very beginning, women have been intentional.
Eve, she wasn't considered inferior; instead, she was named as "ezer." Though often interpreted to mean a helper, the term ezer is used for God as the help of Israel. It isn't a term of service; instead, it refers to strength, rescuer, and crucial support.
Eve wasn't made to serve but was created to stand beside Adam, as a powerful partner.
And through out Scripture, the roles of women have been full of promise, covenants, leadership, and legacy.
Promises were made to Sarah; Destiny was carved out by Rebekah; Nations were born to Leah; Prophesy was delivered by Miriam; Judges Deborah led an army; Huldah gave advice to Kings; Esther saved her people; Christ's lineage includes Ruth.
In a patriarchal society, God always raised up women.
But then Jesus came, and took that to a new level!
Jesus taught publically to women; Taught them; Defended them; Healed them; Trusted them; Women funded Jesus' ministry; The Samaritan woman became one of the first evangelist; Mary of Bethany sat with the disciples; Mary Magdalene became the witness to Jesus' resurrection.
In times when woman's testimony was not valued, Jesus chose a woman first to proclaim: "He is risen."
Despite all the things written by Paul and often used against women, he worked along with Phoebe, Priscilla, and Junia. Even Paul declared: "In Christ, there is neither male nor female."
Not that our gender disappears, no spiritual order exists anymore! So what is the reason behind that misconception? Often, it becomes religion of man's control, not God.
As God has always called,
Equipped,
Anointed,
Empowered...
Women preached;
Women prophesized;
Women led;
Women nurtured;
Women fought;
Nations carried by women;
Messiah carried by women.
So every woman who ever had been told that they were too much, needed to be quiet, to sit down, could not lead, or that "only God uses men," do deeper studies. Because in the scriptures, time and again God chooses women underrated by society.
As a woman you are not disqualified from anything! You are called. You weren't created by chance; It was essential!
Do not let broken theology make you feel less valuable than God's Word declares.
Because when anyone has to put women down in order to defend their theology, It isn't theology of God; It is theology of control.
And God has never needed power or oppression to reveal his truth.