Female Role Models for our time - reprint from Nov 24,1998

Today, women are making great strides in every professional field. They perform with distinction in public arenas in the midst of technological advances and global influences. At the same time, many still have to fill their traditional roles of homemaker and child raiser. For many professional women, particularly those of Generation Next or the Millennials, confusion may develop. In fact, the gender issues with which we grapple promise to become increasingly problematic as more women are stripping away the roles of self-sacrificing caregivers. Instead, some are embracing the worst dimensions of the flawed concepts of womanhood—promiscuity, voluntary single parenthood, lesbianism and male-bashing, and predictably with disastrous results.

The lack of effective role models, patterns and standards is apparent. As we move into the 21st century, the women in the Word of God remain the time-tested role models who were anything but religious homebodies, lacking intelligence, charm and spirit. Indeed, both the New and the Old Testament are replete with an array of role models of fulfilled women. There is no single ideal mold into which all women must fit.

As the supreme example, Jesus always dignified and honored women. Contrary to the gender norms of his time, he consistently brought women into their rightful place in the grand design. He met the immoral woman of Samaria at the periphery of society, diagnosed the root cause of her immorality, and healed and transformed her into a successful evangelist (John 4:1-26).

Jesus encouraged Mary of Bethany to sit at his feet, to adopt the position of the rabbinic scholar- a privilege then limited only to men. Indeed, he commended her for giving priority to the desire to learn and advance into new things over the traditional female responsibilities of feeding and entertaining (Luke 10:38-42).

Jesus included women in his itinerant ministry team (Luke 8:1-3). It was to women he first committed the glorious resurrection message.

Jesus never once scripted a restricted, static or inferior role for women.

In the Old Testament, there is the royal Esther who halted genocide when she combined her allure, beauty potions and gowns with wisdom and fasting to fashion the weapons of a powerful liberation struggle (Esther).

There is Rahab, the visionary ex-prostitute (Joshua 2:1-22); Jael, the housewife who offered warm milk and rest to an enemy commander and delivered a tent peg through his temple (Judges 4: 17-22); Ruth, a foreigner who entered the lineage of greatness because of her steadfast fidelity (Ruth); Deborah, the prophetess, head of state, supreme court justice and military strategist (Judges 4, 5).

Little wonder that the term for the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 is translated the woman of valor. She is an ambitious, enterprising business woman, an organized, creative homemaker, and a wise, trustworthy wife and mother.

In a society reeling under the onslaught of domestic violence, one issue deserves closer attention. The command for female submission is among the most often misquoted and misapplied parts of the Bible. It was certainly not intended to legitimize physical, mental or sexual abuse. It was also not meant to demean or reduce the importance of women.

The Biblical instruction for the woman to submit to her husband must be read within its broadest and context. Submission within the divine order is not an indicator of superiority or inferiority. The submission of women is part of an entire hierarchical order, beginning first with the Godhead and applying to all living beings.

God, the Father, is head of the Godhead. Jesus, equally God, became man and submitted to the Father's will. The Holy Spirit is equally God. Yet, he submits to the Father and the Son.

Similarly, the man is head of the woman. Or, to be more exact, each man is head of his own wife. The wife is to submit to that headship for the sake of smooth functioning, balance and harmony in the home. The child is required to submit to, and obey, both parents. God's pattern for order within the family is based on servant hood, not domination. Proper order within the home is a reflection of proper order within the Godhead and when it all clicks, there is a release of favor, productivity and power with ripple effects for the entire social order.
Of course, there are checks and balances within the system. The woman is to submit to the tender leadership of her husband, who in turn is to seek her welfare and her highest good. God holds both parties to account. Indeed, God will interrupt his communication with, and withhold his blessing from, any man who abuses his leadership privilege (1 Peter 3:7).

God, who created male and female after his image, provided a biblical blueprint for both genders. Applied to all contemporary and future situations, the blueprint never fails. The whole issue of gender definition has to comply with the design of the Creator. Our implementation of His pattern will ensure the success of our society as we transit to the 21st century.