Women in Politics

Question from Joanna:

“I don’t understand what you two are saying-are you saying women should be senators and possibly even President? Should they be leaders over men? What is the difference between what you two are saying and what VF teaches? I’m not understanding the difference.”

Vision Forum teaches that women were created to be ruled by men. Their teaching clearly states that this is a condition of creation and not a consequence of sin. My point is that women were not created to be ruled. I think that the domination of women by men is a consequence of (and not a punishment for) sin. Patriarchy is defined as “a form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe and descent is reckoned in the male line, with the children belonging to the father’s clan or tribe.” (Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved January 10, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/patriarchy).

While I understand that the context of both the Old and New Testament was given in a culture that was steeped in patriarchy, I cannot make the conceptual leap to believe that this means that the social culture of the Old Testament was inherently good, blessed by God and given His stamp of approval. We live in a fallen world and our reality is skewed. The Bible reports what occurs in the sin-filled world and not everything that is reported is “good.” For example, the Old Testament reported on, and made rules around, the practices of slavery, polygamy, and divorce too. Does this mean that these practices are acceptable? The Bible teaches that all men are image-bearers of God. Slavery, while it exists, can never be reconciled to a belief system that values human life. I don’t know of any Christian groups advocating slavery today. I have heard of a few fringe groups that are advocating polygamy and using the example of the Old Testament as “proof” that polygamy is God designed, but I would guess that very few of us agree with their theological position. We are told in the New Testament that Moses allowed divorce only because of the hardness of man’s heart.

A biblical worldview clearly presents mankind, both male and female, as having a bent toward sin. The Old Testament and the New Testament both make an effort to limit the consequences of patriarchy by holding husbands accountable to God for their treatment of their wives. But more than that, history has proven again and again that patriarchal societies bear bad fruit. Physical and emotional abuse of women and children have occurred in all societies that are strongly patriarchal.

I do believe there are many gifted women who have the talent and skill set to be leaders in society. In my opinion, this belief can be supported with Scripture. In Judges 4:4 we are told that Deborah was judging Israel. She was in a position to govern. She is called a prophetess, her work was done under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In verse 5, we are told that the “sons of Israel,” presumably men, came to her so that they could hear her judgment. God used her to speak to Israel. A close look at Proverbs 31 demonstrates that the “virtuous” woman is involved in business and the larger community. In the New Testament, Anna is declared a prophetess. Philip, one of the seven, has four virgin daughters who are remembered for their prophecy too. Throughout history, God works through women.