Rethinking Women of the Bible Series: Why?
After the release of my book, Equal Protection Under God: Gender equality and women’s roles in the church, I heard from so many women the same thing about several stories. I lead a Bible study of women in Fall 2021, who, though very well versed in the Bible, were surprised time and again when they read those Bible stories with fresh eyes.
“I never knew that”
The same 4 words were uttered by woman after woman, “I never knew that.” These 4 words were uttered by women who grew up going to church, who read the Bible, sat in church every Sunday morning, attended Christian conferences, and who are more well versed in Scripture than I am. And, even though they had heard the story of Adam and Eve, David and Bathsheba, and others, they “never knew” Adam was with Eve or had ever thought about the fact he remained silent during that encounter. They “never knew” that it was David walking on the roof rather than Bathsheba – it had always been taught in such a way to make Bathsheba appear to be a seductress. They “never knew” that the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus remained standing throughout the entire ordeal. The “never knew” there was a female apostle (Junia) named by Paul in Romans 16.
Encouraging Women, Giving Women Hope
One of my goals for writing my book was for women to re-examine what the Bible really does say about women. I’ve had the privilege of seeing women’s faces as they’ve learned those truths and how their faces have brightened when learning some of the stigmas created around women in the Bible are not from God, but from man.
My hope and encouragement is for women to re-read the stories of the women in the Bible. Really read it. Forget what you were taught or any insinuations made and read each word with new eyes and open mind. Read to see what the Bible says, not what you’ve been told it says.
Representation Matters
There are tremendous lessons of faith, courage, perseverance, obedience, and strength found in the Biblical accounts of women. Women are warriors, prophets, preachers, evangelists, leaders, disciples, apostles, church leaders, revolutionaries, and martyrs.
Representation matters. When we read – more specifically when church leadership acknowledges - in Romans 16 (written by Paul) that there was a female apostle, our call to ministry and church leadership is validated. Similarly, when we read that Priscilla was a church leader, our call to church leadership is validated. When Jesus validates Mary’s choice to sit at his feet and learn, our desire to study God’s word and work in theology is validated.
Jesus is a Women’s Liberator
Though society and conservative church history has worked to keep women out of leadership, Jesus doesn’t place any such prohibition. In fact, reading the Gospels and Jesus’ interaction with women, you will see Jesus is the great liberator of women and champion for women’s equality. There is nothing from Jesus and His time on earth that indicates anything other than women being qualified and validated for ministry and leadership.
Conclusion
Read the Bible. Read the stories, forgetting what you were taught in Sunday school, really read the words and watch (imagine) the actions of those in the Bible. There is so much to learn from simply taking your time to re-read, re-examine, and re-think the stories of the women in the Bible.
Share with me what you learn from re-reading these stories.
photo courtesy of #KathySmithImages