A woman often swings between two different extremes from submissive to feminist. The history of male chauvinism and the revolution of feminism have left women more affected and it is hard to find a balance. It is hard to find a right standing unless we look into the Bible and study how God intended when he created man and woman.
Genesis 1:27 27 “So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them”. This verse from the Bible clearly shows that women bear equal image of God. In Genesis 2:22 we read that God put Adam, the first man to sleep and took his side rib and made a woman out of it and presented her to the man. This is clear indication that men and women are complimentary to each other. None of them is supreme than the other.
Women have stood with men shoulder to shoulder in fields tilling the ground, in wars fighting the enemy, in religion teaching scriptures. In the Bible though very briefly we find mention of prophetesses. Meriam in Exodus 15:22 we read that she lead women to praise and worship God after the Lord delivered them from the army of Pharaoh. Deborah was a woman of God who solved cases of Israelites when they come to her for justice. Judges 4:5.
In the New Testament, in the times of Jesus we read about women who served Jesus and his disciples. Luke 15. Women supported Lord’s ministry. In many culture women are prohibited from performing a religious activity and even in churches, women are not allowed equal partake in the ministry of God, which is quite contrary to what the word of God says. In Mathew 28, we read that Spirit of God filled all both men and women equally. Women labored with men in spreading the gospel and building churches as we read in Romans 16. God anoints men and women equally.
In the early beginnings of churches, Paul had many women co-workers in preaching about Christ in Philippians. Paul mentions of a woman named Priscilla who was active in teaching doctrines in the church. The Bible says, “There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male [b]and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
Men and women share equality on spiritual status, however, they are different in functions. The function according to the biological and psychological differences is differentiated between the both. Like women give births, men are stronger in physical strength, women are emotional and delicate men are rough and less emotional etc. Women do not have to act like men, to find acceptance and identity. She will find her own place if she accepts as God created her to be. However, since men and women are created in the image of God, they do have similarities. It is possible to understand each other and have a peaceful relationship between men and women.
We must work in union, under the superior authority of Christ Jesus. Working as a team in unity requires submission and authority. It is easy to exercise authority and everyone wants to be in the authority but no one wants to submit. The Bible teaches us to submit to one another in general. The Bible teaches us to respect, love and to be in peace with one another. In context of family, the Bible tells wife to submit to her husband and the husband to submit to Jesus Christ and the both to submit to Lord Jesus. The word ‘submit’ triggers many emotions in our hearts because of our not so good experiences but let us look at the real meaning of submission. Submission means to be in the role or to take your place. God has given men and women different functions based on our physical and psychological make up and we are to take our place and fulfill our roles efficiently. We do not have to fight for control or freedom. True freedom is to be what God has called us to be.
