Black Anti Feminist: 2011

Although many protest otherwise, at the root of all feminism, is rebellion against what is right. it is direct rebellion against God. And one of the symptoms of this rebellion is the desire by women to dominate, rule, lead and control men. It is a bit odd that women get so upset when someone suggests that maybe there is a natural order in life when it comes to human beings. Men are the leaders, women are not. Men are supposed to be the head of the household, women are not. Feminists (and many women who would not describe themselves as feminists) take great exception to being told this and they vehemently oppose anyone who believes it! So as a society, we have decided to do away with God, ditch the bible and go our own way believing we are way too intelligent for 'all that God stuff', way too sofisticated for religious fairytales and we all know best. But where has it got us? Are we any better off? Is society better off because women are now 'equal' and do not have to adhere to old fashioned oppressive rules such as the bible gives concerning men being the head of the household and women being homemakers, mothers and nuturers? I don't think so at all. In fact society is a lot worse off. So instead of rebellious, unwise women telling the nation what it believes to be right and leading everyone down a dead end street, we need to get back to the source of all life. We need to see what God says about the roles of men and women and this whole leadership thing. Some have said that there are examples of women leaders in the bible, so it must be ok. But is that really true? Let's take a closer look.

The Old Testament and Women
In the creation account of Genesis 1 we find God's first word on the subject of men and women (verse 27)-- they were both equally created in the image of God. Neither received more of the image of God than the other. So the Bible begins with the equality of the sexes. As persons, as human beings, as spiritual beings, standing before God, men and women are absolutely equal.
Despite this equality, there is in Genesis 2 a more detailed account of the creation of the two humans which show some differences in their God-given responsibilities. God did not create the man and woman spontaneously at the same time, but rather He created Adam first and Eve later for the specific purpose of being a helper to Adam. Though Eve was Adam's equal, she was given a role to fulfill in submitting to him. While the word "helper" carries very positive connotations, even being used of God Himself as the helper of Israel (Deut. 33:7, Ps. 33:20), it still describes one in a relationship of service to another.
When craftily tempted in the Garden of Eden, Eve, rather than seeking Adam's counsel or leadership, took the lead herself, eating of the forbidden fruit and then leading her husband into sin (Gen. 3:6). Because Adam and Eve sinned in disobedience to the command of God, there followed certain consequences for them and also for the serpent (Gen. 3:14-19). For the woman, God pronounced a curse which included multiplied pain in childbirth and tension in the authority- submission relationship of the husband and wife. Genesis 3:16 says the woman's "desire" will be for her husband but he shall "rule" over her. In Genesis 4:7 the author uses the same word "desire" to mean "excessive control over." Thus, the curse in Genesis 3:16 refers to a new desire on the part of the woman to exercise control over her husband-- but he will in fact rule or exert authority over her. The result down through history has been an ongoing struggle between the sexes-- with women seeking control and men ruling instead, often harshly. Before the fall and the curse there was true harmony in the husband-wife relationship, but through the curse a new element of tension and dissension entered into the marriage relationship.
It is significant to note that the responsibility of wives to submit to their husbands was part of God's plan even before the curse. Feminists often dispute this, viewing submission as something which came in through the curse and which should be eliminated through the cross of Jesus Christ (just as we seek to relieve the pain of childbirth through drugs and breathing techniques, and as we seek to ease the toil of the field through modern technology, even including air-conditioned tractors). But since a careful reading of Genesis 2:18-25 shows that God created the woman to support her husband an be a suitable companion to him, we do not erase woman's submission in marriage through the cross but rather we add harmony to the relationship.
Thus, the Bible begins by establishing both the equality of men and women and also the support role of the wife. Many other Old Testament passages support these two themes of equality and submission for women (i.e., Ex. 21:15,17,28- 31;Num. 6:2; 5:19,20,29; 30:1-16).
Women were active in the religious life of Israel throughout the Old Testament, but generally they were not leaders-- with a few exceptions. Women like Deborah (Jud. 4), however, clearly were the exception and not the rule. In fact, Isaiah 3:12 in its context of God's judgment on unbelieving and disobedient Israel indicates that God allowed weak leaders, either masculine women or effeminate men, to rule as a part of His judgment on the sinning nation.