Here is a copy of a post found at the meetchristians.com website. The author of this post is named Jason, and his screenname is Saj. His words are ones that speak volumes.
Woman...the last of creation and therefore the most splendid. Made from Adam, more than a rib...a side of him even. Designed to help show the relationship God desired with mankind in a simpler smaller scale. Not born to serve, but rather to help... a great difference implied there. To serve, is to labor for another. To help, is to labor with another. Woman was never intended to serve man, but to live life with man. The two working together to accomplish the goals set forth by God. Gifted with the ability to give birth. Realize, that the pain of childbirth is due only to sin. If sin had not been brought into the lineage of mankind than childbirth would not be painful. If it wasn't painful what was it? I am sure it'd be impossible to have such a physical experience and feel nothing...that'd be absurd. Rather, I believe childbirth was originally intended to be pleasurable, many times the pleasure of intercourse. It was intended, IMHO, to be a gift. That was your place. Not to be a slave to man but to be an equal at his side.
Submit, yes, in so much as we are to submit to God who seeks out our best. But, neah, a woman is not expected to submit when the man is outside the will of God. Rather, she is to stand firm and apply gentle pressure to encourage man to move back into the will of God. She is to stand in the will of God and call out to us. Thus we would have to forsake both the voice of God and Woman together in order to travel outside the will of God. With two beautiful voices calling, how much easier is it to return to the love of God? No, woman is not there to be silent. Rather, woman is there to echo God. For when the man thinks he hears the voice of God and questions "have I heard" and his wife comes to him saying "i have heard the voice of God this day" and when the accounts are the same it shall "echoe true".
Neither man nor woman should dress so as to allow the enemy to use them as a lure or hook for their brethrens hearts. And the joy that comes from one's appearance saying "i and he have become one - we are" and such symbol whether by ring, or braided hair, wether by garment or piercing should be worn joyfully by he and she to pronounced what God has done between them in making them 'one flesh'.
Yes, the woman can sit beside the man as a silent support so long as he is in the will of God. For then there is no need for her to speak up, they are like minded. But should he go astray or outside the will, let her boldy speak up... but in a loving manner. Not contentious or spiteful. But rather soft and gentle, for this soft and gentle movement passes thru the defenses of a man and reaches the heart. When he goes astray, she should be that which reminds him ever of the Lord's faithful watch on his life. And who should speak the word of the Lord when the man has ceased himself listening to His voice. For the spiritual woman is the one who listens to God and speaks what she hears to her other half. For when they both listen and both share what they have heard, and when those have been weighed together and found matching then they confirm in their hearts the words the Lord has spoken and can move in assurance, as one flesh...
To preach, is to speak the word of God. Who is so bold as to forbid either man or woman from speaking the Word of God. Such would be foolishness. God has always called upon women to speak his worlds when the men have their ears to far away to hear or lead. This is why, so many sisters bring their children to church while their husband sits at home. They lead when the man has ceased to follow. Thus, keeping the whole family from being lost...
Take care of your family, upon this statement I will stand in agreement. What woman would want to be the reproach of God and neglect her family? What man would want to be? James writes from the heart of God and states that a man who neglects the needs of his family is worse than an unbeliever. We are to strive to take care and provide for our family as God does for his...to decline such tasks is to call down upon oneself the reproach of God. For it is to say, I am too good to expend myself on such labors. And how can one declare themselves too great to expend themselves on labors that God expends himself on. Are you greater than God? Neah, therefore, labor in likewise to His example...both mother and father, as one guider showing their children the wise way to go. This is pleasing before God.
I conclude with the following encouragement to dance in the following manner, and nothing more...
"For some say the one foot should lead and the other follow. But if the foot that leads is out of step with the music, than all is out of step. Is it not better that the other foot bring the body back into time with the music? Otherwise, the body might stumble those around them until the dance itself must cease. Neah, let the two feet keep each other in time, thus the one body shall be in time also. And the entire dance shall move to the song played for and by the Lord of the Dance."
A woman wrote a reply: That was beautiful!! Have you ever thought of writing a book?! You certainly have a way with words.
(However, you subtly hinted that women should be allowed to preach - I disagree. I believe that would be allowing women to have authority over the men)
Jason's reply:
My REPLY is this, if there is no man listening to God nor capable of preaching and there is a woman who will heed the voice of God, than let her speak. For I think all will agree it is better that the word of God come from the lips of a woman than for them not to be spoken at all. I believe such is scene evident in Scripture. If Scripture itself records God placing Deborah as a judge over men. Than I will not preclude his doing such again if the men necessitate such action be taken. Claudia, that work for you?
I had a friend who lost two friendships because two sisters in the Lord decided to teach a Bible study. Rather, they did not even go so far as teach it but to facilitate it using a published guide. However, this brother practically cut them off. Now mind you, these sisters had asked several brothers to teach...those they felt capable and spirit filled. In truth, there were no men both willing and capable to teach stepping forward. Sure, some men were like "I'd have done it..." but those, including my friend, I would have questioned greatly whether they had the ability too. No those offended were offended due to their pride. Because "they" were not asked to lead the study. Rather, they had not shown themselves approved as the Book of Timothy instructs. Therefore the women, under the guidance of another, took it upon themselves to facilitate discussion in regards to the scripture.
Now, first off, I will say it's sad that so few men are willing, and even fewer capable of leading a Bible study. But, I found my brother foolish in taking offense and cutting off friendships over this matter.
I've seen many a times someone take offense over a woman teaching. Well, we often say the Scripture will not come back void. I wonder why so many can't accept such in this case. Is it great to have a man lead...sure...but I also understand women when they can tolerate the silence no longer. When they decide the sheep have been starving in the pen too long, and lead them out to the fields to feed. Is it not better for the sheep? In truth, a man may be designed to make a better shepherd having more strength in his arms and more easily able to carry a sheep when it needs to be. In truth, on average a woman's body would be forced to work and stress itself harder in such a role. However, if the sheep are left in the pen they shall all surely die of starvation. What should be done? If one looks at the need of the sheep they will usually decide what needs to be done must be done, and do it. Regardless of being male or female.
As for writing a book, funny you should say such...my mom has pressured me on the matter too as of late. And I have recently conceded. I will be in fact, trying to begin to write a book on relationships. One, perhaps unlike most... but it will deal with relationships between man, woman and God.
And, although it will be born strongly out of a Christian background I will also be aiming it to non-christians as well.
I once had to give a speech for a college class, the title of my speech was "The Sexual Revolution: Who God Screwed"
I argued that the sexual revolution was damaging to women for a couple reasons, first off women have inherently more risk. (They're the ones that get pregnant, they're many times more likely to contract HIV because the fluids enter them not the other way, they're the ones at risk in abortion, they're the ones that suffer the emotional damage, etc.)
Secondly, I argued that the current feminist movement is wrong and far from what it began as. (In fact most early feminists were against abortion, as they felt men would use it as a tool and women would be forced to kill their children for a man...how right they were.)
My argument, was that the current feminist movement is trying to prove they can do anything a man can do. (The truth is, they can't. Yes, you can find a strong woman now and then who is stronger than most men. But you will always find a man stronger. The bodies are built differently, and they excel at different things.) The current feminist movement has in fact become the "masculinization movement".
True feminism isn't about trying to convince the world a woman can do everything a man can do. Rather, it is to convince the world a woman can do things a man cannot. (Childbearing, endurance, different thought patterns.) True feminism is to demand equal respect for that which is feminism. Woman should not need muscles equivalent to men. Their curves should demand as much respect as a man's flats.
That is feminism, to demand the equivalent respect for things feminine as for that masculine.
Sadly, the feminist movement completely lost that somewhere..., and in truth has been mostly ineffective since....
A man named Jim wrote:
Saj.......I hear you and agree totally, wholeheartedly, and 100%.
Women, are better than men in so many ways. I've performed a few weddings, and before each wedding is done, our congregation has a rule that there has to be several hours of counseling for the couple.
One of the things that I tell couples, in particular the men, is to listen to the wife, as she speaks. If he will listen with his heart to what she has to say, he will learn more about his family than any other way. If he tries to minimize her words, then she tries to communicate to him in the way that he percieves things, through a mans world, with a mans words. It hardens her, and in turn, in his eyes, she becomes a nag.
A woman, has a gift that men do not. Most call it intuition, but I think of it more as an instinct. A woman has the ability to know automatically when something is wrong within the family unit. If a man wants to have the best family possible, then it's best to listen to his mate. She knows. She can't tell you how she knows, and she may not be able to prove it, but it's in her as a woman to know. To not listen, to minimize what she says, or to ignore what she says, is nothing less than a sin. She was made to be a part of a whole. She has something that allows us to be complete in regards to things that a man lacks.
God made women as well, and they too can be His servants. Men don't hold the patent for being His creation, and as you pointed out, men so often fail to do as they need to do. Bless womens hearts, who so often pick up the ball when the men fail to run with it. My hat is off to you ladies. God bless you every one.
good post Saj
Jason's reply:
I always looked at it as part of our responsibility as men to protect women's self-image of themselves and their status in society. And as such, the history of status abuse rests on our shoulders.
We are the one's that can most make it clear to women how unbelievably precious they are to this world. It's a lot harder for a woman to convice other women of this fact than it is for a man to just acknowledge the equal value of their presence.
Like today, I was thinking of how to exemplify the inherent value of both man and woman in a simple easy to understand way. And I recalled mentioning shapes.
And this came to mind.
"The circle and the square, which is greater?"
The circle is the basis for the beautiful curves found on the female form. The square is the epitomy of the solid cut shape and very representative of man.
Which is greater circle or square, which is greater male or female?
Let me put forth that in order to accomplish God's work both are necessary.
Take the circle for example, it is the foundation of the wheel. A wheel allows movement for it's shape allows it to roll across terrain.
Take the square, it is the foundation of the box. With such one can fashion a container to hold much.
But neither is as valuable alone as when they are together. For when one places a circle with a square it is very akin to placing a box upon a wheel. No longer do you have a box and a simple wheel. Now you have a cart that can both contain and transport. Now you have something that can truly do the work of God.
So is man and woman, neither, in and of themself is greater than the other. But the two combined as one are far greater than either by it's lonesome. Or so was the intent of God, IMHO.
