Earlier today, while sending some messages back-and-forth with my sister-in-law, I was told of a sermon she had heard on the radio today in Kentucky. I'm not sure who the preacher was, or what the entirety of the message contained, but she stated something heartbreaking that the preacher stated. He said that a preacher's wife is not called into ministry. He stated that her role is "just" to be submissive and follow where her husband leads. He basically stated that the wife has no important role to accomplish anything. Although I did not hear this sermon, the words she pointed out pained my heart. Why? Because I know by him saying that, some woman will believe him, and question if they are really called to be in their husband's ministry or not.
The reason for me even to address this situation is for one reason only. I feel that our churches, in a battle against feminism, are trying to weaken women. Our churches today often hide the value of women by assuming they cannot perform even menial tasks. As opposed to elevating them in love, we weaken them.
Where does this problem come from? I believe the main problem with churches today is that we have changed the definition of submission. I have often heard men preach Ephesians 5:22, which says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord." This is in the Bible, and it is an important verse, but it should not be stated without following up with verses 25 and 28-29, "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man yet ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." If a man is truly loving his wife as his own self, and cherishing her, will she have any problem following his lead? If a woman knows her husband would do anything for her and their family, what problem would she have with him guiding their household? If he would do anything for her, that means he sees her having an integral role in their family. Submission is not a bad thing if done in a Biblical, and respectful way. Submission really is following the leading of your husband as he is led by God, but in many churches today we have given it an entire different meaning entirely.
I also believe churches have painted a picture of women as weak, incapable creatures. Let's take a look at what the Bible actually has to say about that, though. In Proverbs 31, which is the chapter everyone points to as basically the ultimate guide to being a woman (and that's a pretty accurate depiction), verse 17 says, "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms". The chapter mostly devoted to saying what a woman should be depicts that woman as strong. Proverbs 31 goes on to say in verse 25, "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." Not only is she strong, but this woman is honorable. Not deplorable and worthless like the picture is often painted today.
So, why did I say all of this, and why did that preacher's words strike such a chord with me? Because, as the wife of someone preaching the Word, I must ask myself, am I called or not? Now, before I lose all of my really conservative friends, let me explain what I mean by that. While I do not believe that I am called to preach the gospel in the way that my husband does, I do feel called to minister and be a help to people. I do feel as if I am called to be a blessing to all those I come in contact with. I do feel that I am called to assist in helping my husband spread the news of Jesus Christ in any way we can. I do feel as if I am called to share in his ministry. Let me share a Bible example. In Hebrews 11, the "faith chapter" as we often call it, it speaks of Abraham's great faith to gain a child, and an heir. But what does it say about Sarah in the same chapter? In verse 11 it states, "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised." Here we see that Sarah had her own relationship with God. Sarah did not just blindly follow Abraham. Sarah herself judged God faithful, and followed the vision that God gave not only Abraham, but the vision that God gave her. What would this story look like if Sarah did not share in the faith and vision?
This topic really just means a lot to me, because from my point of view, if women are weak, everything that surrounds them becomes weak. Including the churches they go to. If a woman is weak, and does not really feel called to take part in her husband's ministry, you can guarantee that ministry will be weak. As I heard at the wedding I attended this weekend, a quote by Matthew Henry, "Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his
head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under
his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.”
**As a side note, I must say, I am so blessed in that I have a husband that values not just me, but all women in his life as they should be, and a church that teaches Biblical principles uplifting women. Without these things, I would not be where I am today!
