(This article is written to instruct Christian women.)
As we go through life obediently proclaiming the Word the Lord brings many witnessing opportunities before us and (99% of the time) if there is a woman with her husband, she tries to dominate the conversation. This article is an admonishment to those wives who, in this area, are in sin and it is also a teaching for those who are not yet under the authority of a husband, to be equipped when they are.
Satan uses feminism to usurp the male leadership but it was not to be so in the beginning. See the origin of man being created first in Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
After Adam and Eve sinned, God again showed His order by declaring man/husband will rule over woman/wife. Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Look also in 1 Corinthians 11 where the male headship order is stressed through many verses.
Feminism has been the cause of much destruction in families such as women taking the jobs of men in the workforce, children going to public schools instead of homeschooling, divorce, abortion, leadership in the public realm and free sex/sexual perversion and pornography as well as their nakedness/shame of their immodest dress and uncovered heads. See an article on feminism HERE.
For many ages wives have been aggressively taking the leadership role from their husbands but this should not be so for a professed believer! 1 Timothy 2 tells women to be shamefaced. Look at the greek word for shamefaced:
aidōs
ahee-doce'
Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492 (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe: - reverence, shamefacedness.
This does not mean that wives are to literally walk around with their eyes toward the ground but is a mannerism that is opposite of feminism, one that will prefer the husband (or other male leadership in their lives), over herself and does not exert a leadership/authoritative role toward other men.
Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 3 tell wives to submit to their husbands and 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 tell women not to usurp the authority of the men in the body.
As we go out in the world witnessing, Jim is the leader and his ministry is to be out proclaiming the word of God to those we come in contact with (2 Timothy 2) , contending in the truth (Jude) and exposing evil (Ephesians 5:11). My (Debbie) ministry is to be a helper to my husband and do what I can to aid him in the ministry that he has been equipped for. This entails being quiet while he is either preaching or teaching unbelievers and contending or exposing those who claim Jesus name but are in disobedience or proclaiming a false doctrine. It also means that I am aware of what he may need in the way of resources as he is proclaiming/contending and observant of the details they share so we can either help them in truth or expose those details to warn others. By my obedience I am an example to wives (women) through my quiet action as well as my biblical dress and head covering showing my obedient submission to God’s headship authority through men. By being an obedient godly wife in this area it serves many purposes but two of the most important are 1. Obedience to God’s Word and 2. It enables men to focus on God’s Word and not be distracted or interrupted from it.
This does not mean that I cannot witness to people while we are out together as there are often opportunities that Jim sees it would be good for me to reach out to the women, but in saying that there are many times where it is better coming from Jim, the male authority. In these situations I defer to his judgment on who proclaims the Word.
Again, 9 times out of ten (more often 10 out of 10) when we come across a husband and wife claiming to be Christians, the wife interjects and tries to run the conversation but Jim remains biblical and keeps the conversation between the men. This greatly angers the disobedient women and quite often they are the ones to drag away the husbands. We see the warning in the Old Testament that women leading causes error and destruction….
Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
This is an appeal to women who claim to be of Christ…we ask that you first examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) You may have been mislead by a watered down gospel of just believe, say a prayer or come to the alter. See a biblical gospel HERE.
God’s Word says that a truly repentant, born again believer will become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5) and it will be evident both on the inside and the outside. For women that would be a changed heart inside and her actions and dress on the outside will reflect obedience to God’s Word. We have many articles for women and their role as a Christian, please see them HERE.
We then ask you to learn how to respect your husband especially in this area and when he is in a situation where God’s Word is being proclaimed and he is either learning or contending, remain silent and allow the Lord to work through the men.
God be praised!
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