Feminism vs. Feminist

Recently a friend of a friend of a...you get the idea, posted a status on facebook that ruffled a few feathers. I should say quite a few feathers and a few statuses. Surprising and bold, her stance sent shock waves through the social media scene as she stated very plainly her view on feminism.
Shocking.

Sad.

Reality.

So many more girls and young women these days are plagued with the media around them. Over the last few decades this movement has been chipping away at the foundation of what true Biblical femininity means. Now in 2012 I believe that feminism has now all but smote femininity as God set it up to be. We have watched as different waves of "movements" have swept over our country taking more and more captives with each return and leaving little to fight.

I am not talking about the early 17th centuries. Not even the women during WW11. I am referring to the touchable past. The years that have backed our current year within half a century. From gaining rights to vote all the way to rocking the foundation of family units in the name of "empowerment."

What has been so missed is that aside from the fact that this movement pushes and shoves for issues that are not "morally" right, it is completely negating how God established family units, a woman's rights, marriage, and more from the beginning. What this movement boils down to is a heart issue that is putting it's best foot forward to underline, undermine, and defy God's law, design, and reign. The thing that those a part of this movement have failed to see is that the woman as God created is far from the weak, unused or useless, incapable, second best, programmable, cowering being just doing as she's told, that they say we are.

God is very clear that we are both loved and thought about equally by Him. **I do not like the word "equal," but for the sake of this, please excuse it.**

 ^...for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

I, along with my brothers will be heirs of the Kingdom together. We are all made one in Christ. When I called on His name expressing my need of salvation through faith and repenting of the sin in my life He was faithful and just to forgive me just as much and as soon as He did for my dad, brother, uncle, etc.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

God created male and female in His image. He didn't skimp on the details when it came to making women. God created male AND female in HIS image.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

We were made for the same purpose and that is to ultimately bring Him praise, glory, and fame. Both male and female share this responsibility.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

God loved us so much that He sent His Son for all of us.

Continuing, we as women have very purposeful and distinct roles to play in our homes, relationships, and the church. From the very beginning God designed and created all things with reason and purpose. He didn't blindly set things up the way they are for just "anything."

God created man from the dust of the earth. He formed and shaped him in His image and resulted in Adam. After creating Adam, God stated that it's not good for man to be alone. Genesis 2:18. From Adam, his rib to be exact, God created and formed Eve. We were not created the other way around.

 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man. ”

Genesis 2:23

Countless verses can be found in Proverbs about women and how a wise woman needs to behave and act. I could sum up several of them but we may be here all day. =) For now, we will settle in the last chapter for the sake of this post. These 21 verses are solely devoted to the apects of character for a noble woman.

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. 
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands. 
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy. 
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Whew, I know that was bit to process. Hang with me. I am almost done!

If you notice, God's design is quite different from what the feminist movement chooses to portray us as. Using Proverbs 31 as a guide, I have a hard time seeing that women as God intended "have nothing to do," "aren't active members in society," "can't contribute," "have no choice," and "have no control."

Let's start with verses 10, 11 and 12. A woman of noble character is valuable. I am of value to my husband. At this moment I don't know who that is but according to verse 12 it's never too early for me to start being of value to him. If I am of noble character then my husband will have full confidence in me as his help meet and as God put it, "a suitable partner."

 Moving on to the next 10 or so verses we find that a woman as God designed is hard working. She doesn't push for equal opportunity and control. She works hard where God designs and creates her for her to. Her hands work hard and her arms are strong, She utilizes her mind to really think through things. She understands fair trades and the economy around her. She is knowledgeable about the events around her and her house doesn't fear darkness or cold. She supplies the needs of her family in clothing and linens. She ministers to the needs around her.

In the final verses in the chapter we find how she makes her husband honored because of her actions. Proverbs 12:4 states that a wife of noble character is like a crown. But a shameful wife is like bone rot. We as women have the ability to make or break the reputations of our husbands. Crown or bone rot ladies, take your pick!

I think this next part is what is going to ruffle some feathers a bit. Previously I have done my best to cover what I believe is God's design of women, God's design of women's "jobs," and now I would like to enter into what I believe is God's design on women's roles. 

God>Christ>Husband>Wife

1 Corinthians introduces us to the family set up. God is the head of Christ. Christ is the head of a man. The man is the head of the wife. End of story.

 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. Ephesians 5:22-30

Springing from the previous verses in Corinthians, in Ephesians we find where Paul is guiding the church in Ephesus in relations. We are to be submissive to our husbands. In turn our husbands are to love us as themselves. Because we are one (Genesis 2:24) he is meant and designed to love, provide, and care for us.

 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. Titus 2:3-5

These verses sum up for me personally the things I need to know (the basics) as a woman who is a follower of Christ, a future wife, and a vital and active member in the body of Christ. In them we find something suitable for every woman and in many cases everything in the verses could be suitable for everyone. Especially at this point in my life and being involved in the ministries that I am and having 2 younger sisters and 2 older sisters I am finding that not a single one of these verses are excluded from my comprehension and ability to apply.

Very clearly and matter-of-factly these verses sum up what Biblical femininity means and the design for women as God intended.

To begin, we need to be submissive to the Father by being submissive to our husbands.

We need to be good examples. We need to live in a way that honors our husbands and God. We should not speak negatively about situations, others, or ourselves. We should not be heavy drinkers.

We need to be teaching those younger than us. Younger in the faith and in years. We need to come along side of each other and teach what is good and train about how to love our husbands and children. We need to instruct on what it means to be wise, pure, and work in our homes, and be submissive to the husband over us.

The fight between feminism and feminist is on going. It was made evident in sinful nature and has continued to creep into our surroundings. The Biblical femininity found in these verses sum up a woman that is beautiful, valuable, hard working, and praised.

She values human life before we can touch it.
She values her place in the home under, yes, under, her husband.
She values her time with her children teaching the girls to be Godly women and reminding her boys of their father's instructions and training.
She values how the founding fathers of this nation established and built this government and is involved with her husband and family to fight to maintain the values that are so quickly fleeting.
She values her position over other women and the wisdom God has blessed her with and desires to share it.
She values the work she does to provide for her family and the time she puts into clothing and feeding them.
She values and supports the relationship with her husband and works hard to promote him.

I don't judge women who don't see Biblical femininity the way I do. Quite the contrary. My desire is to pray for them. May I never back down, however, on fighting for what was designed from the beginning.

I am still praying for One Nation, under, God.