Feminism - A House Divided

by Mary Van Nattan

Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Introduction

Recently I was sorting through some old email when I came across one written several years ago by a woman who had come from a very abusive background - molestation from an early age and such like. Very ugly. Her main struggle was in accepting that women were "treated as chattel" in the Bible. This was her interpretation of it, of course. If she was sincere in her concern, she was very confused. This reflected her past to a large degree.  Later, I was doing some surfing on the web and through one thing and another I arrived at a web site honoring various women authors of years gone by. Some of the information was of interest, but in contemplating the basic philosophy behind it, I began to think about the accusations and causes of feminism. Hence, this article.

An Historical Glimpse

Mary Wollstonecraft is considered one of the key founders of modern feminism. She wrote her most famous book, A Vindication of Women's Rights, in 1792. "Today, she is celebrated for her early advocacy of women's equality and rationality, and for arguing against the degradation and subjugation of women justified by 'the arbitrary power of beauty' (Leitch, 585)."

Miss Wollstonecraft was raised by an increasingly unsuccessful father who began to abuse her mother as his fortunes declined. She became the mother figure of her younger siblings as the parents' relationship disintegrated. She received a typical education for girls, in keeping with the accepted thought at that time, at a girls' school in Beverly, England. After this, she was also self-educated through various means, and instructed by various other voluntary teachers. One of the influences on her young life was a Reverend Clare and his wife, next-door neighbors to the Wollstonecrafts in Hoxton, England; they held a parental image for her at that time. Mrs. Clare introduced her to the woman who probably had the greatest influence in her life, Fanny Blood.

Among her other "accomplishments" were a string of writings and books; two illicit affairs, one of which produced an illegitimate child; and a marriage of necessity to William Godwin, who started out as a nonconformist minister and became famous for his atheism, anarchist philosophy, and free love doctrine. He was the father of Wollstonecraft's second daughter who was to become Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.  She died shortly after giving birth to her.

Mary's tragic experiences with men as well as her struggle to support herself respectably as an unmarried woman must have affected her overall views.  Like other women of the day, when her situation was most desperate she attempted suicide more than once.  This was before she married Godwin.  She is thought to have suffered from depression at times as well.

In 1792 her most famous book was published, A Vindication of the Rights of Women.  Some of the things that she argued in this would hold up under examination with New Testament teaching, but some of her ideas and conclusions did not produce the results she expected when they finally were accomplished.  She also wrote Thoughts on the Education of Daughters (1787).  She emphasized the importance of teaching children to reason, while still allowing for religious faith and innate feelings.  While some of Wollstonecraft's ideas and suggestions on the education of daughters tend to make sense to us today, she also promoted many of the rights for women that have made havoc of society - access of women to all professions, equal rights, etc. She wrote, "men and women were made for each other, though not to become one being, and if [men] will not improve women, they will deprave them" (Jacobs, 106). The concept of not becoming one is in direct conflict with God's plan, yet it is true that men who will not help women improve end up depraving them.  With such contradictions, it is no wonder that her "plan" has been a failure.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Her ideology was founded on rationalism, and rebellion against society and Christianity; yet it is strangely influenced by Christianity. As such, she is a prime example of the divided house of feminism. It contains the essential truth and necessary fiction of all false religions and philosophies.

In her famous book on the rights of women Wollstonecraft wrote, "Let an enlightened nation then allow women to share the advantages of education and government with man, see whether they will become better as they grow wiser and become free." (Jacobs, 105). "She insisted that a revolution in female manners would dramatically change both genders, as it would produce women who acted with reason, providence, and generosity; it would produce men who would treat women with respect and act toward all with benevolence, justice, and sound reason. It would also produce egalitarian marriages based on compatibility, mutual affection, and respect (Mellor, 142)."

But how has it turned out? Now that women have "equality" with men are we really better off? Are marriages better? Do they reflect more mutual compatibility, affection and respect? Since women are now educated in the same manner as men are they wiser, freer and better mannered for the sake of enlightenment rather than the purpose of attaining male companionship? Do men treat women with more respect, sound reason and benevolence? Do women dress and act in a way that indicates they are no longer seeking male attention based on "the arbitrary power of beauty"? It seems to me that "beauty" has gone out the window with the old ways and been replaced by the arbitrary power of sex appeal. Some improvement!

Somehow, "it just ain't what it seemed." Too many philosophers do not follow their theories out to their logical conclusions. I think Mary Wollstonecraft would be appalled at how her philosophy has actually been played out. Or.... maybe she wouldn't be. She is where she knows better now.

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Two Foundations

The difficulty for feminists is that while they must build half their house on the foundation of rationalism and the presupposition that Christianity is the "bogey man," at the same time they must have the Judeo/Christian ethic for the other half of their foundation. The reason for this is that without freedom of religion and conscience and the Christian ideals of personal liberty (which ultimately informed the Enlightenment as Europe woke up), they could not have the freedom to express their position nor make their demands known.

It was the liberating effects of the Gospel that eventually brought national liberty which resulted in a climate that was willing to overlook and eventually tolerate feminism to a large degree. This is not to say all agreed with it, but its supporters were not permanently imprisoned by the government or burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic church as may have formerly been the case. As much as they hate to admit it, Christianity had changed the face of Europe, and highly influenced the founding of the United States of America, making it much less hostile to different opinions.  They would prefer to tell us that it was based on The Enlightenment movement, but unfortunately for them, many of the rationalists of The Enlightenment had their feet firmly planted on a Christian foundation. They were the offspring of Christians and/or had been cultivated in a salted society, something non-existent in Europe in previous times. Had these same people been born in pre-Gospel Europe or in the Dark Ages they would have been no more "free thinkers" nor "liberated" than their barbaric ancestors.

So they cannot have one without the other. Christendom must permit the plea for "women's rights." Feminism cannot stand alone. It's very embarrassing really; so in order to keep people from noticing the problem, many have cried out against God and the Bible and "men" as the evil patriarchs who set up "this horrible system" - actually meaning the one "we had" 150 to 250 years ago. "Man" is declared the enemy and cruel master who has deprived "woman" of her rights, and he is interpreted as having received that position from God and the Bible.

Hillary Rodham Clinton would have us believe that she is a grand champion of feminism and women's rights, yet she herself must "go to church" occasionally and mouth the word "God" in order to gain credibility for her political career. She can't have her "liberation" and totally turn her back on God.

They scream for rationalism and reason, and yet any reasonable mind will tell you that, when the very thing you label a "culprit" is necessary to allow the existence of your cause, you are headed for philosophical quicksand. The Lord Jesus told us clearly where this will lead, and it isn't to wisdom and freedom as Miss Wollstonecraft believed.

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

A house cannot be built half on solid rock and half on quicksand. It will topple. But, the Rock will still remain, and that Rock is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4).

More than that, we know that the "freedom" and "wisdom" they think they have are lies from the father of lies. True freedom only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Heavenly wisdom brings peace, not discord.

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

How True Is That?

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

To be fair here, many so-called Bible believing Christians are also guilty of the same exact tactics.  They lie, take credit for things that Christianity can't exclusively claim, emphasize the imagined supremacy of "whites" and re-define and re-write history in their own favor.

In an effort to establish their point, feminists have been guilty of a good deal of lying. The media, public education, literary works, Hollywood, and politicians have helped them in deluging us with a great flood of misinformation. Many things are ignored in order to establish the "fact" that they have accomplished so many "great improvements" for women. If they don't outright lie, they imply by misleading statements. And by the way, these are too often portrayed as white race accomplishments. Where other "races" have had "equal rights" it is conveniently ignored much of the time, or considered insignificant. In plain, bald English, "If it ain't a white [woman] doing it, it don't count." BAH!

The following information is not to say that I necessarily agree with the various customs and events, but only to show that the modern feminists are deceiving us when they imply that they brought these things about, as if it were for the first time and was some wonderful accomplishment.

They pretend that modern feminism was the first to think of women having economic and legal equality with men, yet it was practiced in ancient Egypt in a form. Ancient Egyptian women also "enjoyed" what could be interpreted as a form a "sexual freedom".

They suggest that women were not allowed to marry for love, and yet the Pygmies practiced this long ago, perhaps for centuries. In his book, Africa Speaks (1931), Paul L. Hoefler writes of the Pygmies (or Ifi, as they called themselves),

"A man's family is his only source of boasting and pride, and these little men and women of the forest marry only for love!... When a young man loves a girl and she loves him, they ask the father for permission to marry. If he consents they go to the chief, who must also agree. He then marries them by giving one to the other after a long talk on the duties of a married couple. They now live together for a while and if both are satisfied that their affection will endure, they report to the chief, who then seals the bond by some mystic rite, and the couple must live together as long as life lasts. I could find no polygamy among them..."

Hoefler continues that adultery was uncommon and when it did occur the chief released the innocent party of the marriage and the offender was either killed or escaped into the jungle never to return. How things are now with the Pygmies I do not know, but obviously these "ignorant, black people" had more sense than our modern day feminists or the Anglo-Saxons of past centuries who brokered marriage on purely economic and convenience terms. Their moral code reflected the law of God written in their hearts (Rom. 2:15), though it was not up to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Traditional feminists also will imply that women were not allowed to be "ministers" until feminism imposed it upon the modern church scene, yet it is a known fact that John and Charles Wesley's mother, Susanna, stepped in and "sermonized" to a rather large congregation in her husband's absence. This was sometime in the late 1600s or early 1700s, which was before Mary Wollstonecraft was even born. The Moravians also ordained women as leaders in the church around this time. In 1865 the Salvation Army was formed and ordained women along with men from the start. So soon, already? And we're supposed to believe this all came about in the 1950s, or later, by the efforts of the "second wave feminists". Ho hum.

We are led to believe that "brave" women like Harriet Beecher Stowe, "George Elliot", the Bronte sisters, Jane Austin, Louisa May Alcott, and such like "stuck their necks out" and took risks, thus paving the way for later women writers. This was allegedly because "women writers" were frowned upon or viewed as out of order by the male-dominated society. They fail to mention that women like Fanny J. Crosby, Frances Ridley Havergal, Annie Johnson Flint, and other Christian women were enjoying "popularity" and acceptance among quite a few Christians for their writings at about the same time period, and other women poets and hymn writers existed long before that.

Could it be that the reason some of the early feminists and writers were objected to was due to their immoral personal lives and/or their heretical philosophies rather than just the fact that they were "women writers"? Some will be quick to assure us that some Christian women writers were not so warmly accepted either. But, as usual, modern feminists fail to discern between true Bible believing Christians and those who profess to be Christians, which has led to many false assumptions about Christians in general.

Just because some alleged "good, godly men" stomp on women and keep them in a degraded role does not mean all Christian men are like that! It does not mean God agrees with the abuse. In fact, those same bullies are generally hypocrites, for they will rant about "women theologians", and verbally debase woman and her role and then get up and sing "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine..." or "Take my life and let it be..." (By the way, Fanny Crosby and Frances Havergal were pretty accomplished "theologians" and preachers. They just happened to write their "sermons" in poetry which was put to music. :-) )

The implication is also made that white men have been particularly "wicked" in their treatment of women because they "should have known better". This is plausible when you take a biased, one-sided view. The women of China have benefited greatly since foot binding was stopped by "evil", white Anglo-Saxon males (with the assistance of their women folk). The widows of India no longer have to be burned on the funeral bier of their husbands thanks to the British colonial male governors who imposed their salted ethic upon the customs of that country.

One missionary friend of ours was deeply moved when working among a tribe in South America. He said that as the men became believers and began to grow in Christ they realized that they were allowing the women to do the very dangerous job of grating manioc root, which was their main staple. The men then took over this job for their wives and daughters to protect them from the very real possibility of shredding their hands on the grating tool. This was the effects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not the liberation of women because it was their "right". And, because it is based on the right reasons, the fruit was good.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Misinterpretations

Misinterpretations are a key factor in the crooked house of feminism. They have been rather broad and sweeping and no respecter of persons. There are some from just about every angle, except God's. Men have misinterpreted the scriptures. Women and men have misinterpreted woman's role. Feminists have misinterpreted what men in history said, as well as the Bible and God's intentions. Feminists have also believed men's misinterpretations.

Obviously, what God says is the most important thing, so rather than attempting to unravel what all the others said or thought, we will look at what God says and thinks and how mankind has messed with that. In the final analysis, this is all that matters.

Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right;
and I hate every false way.

Contrary to what the "libbers" think or what the "men-are-better-than-women" (extreme patriarchal) crowd thinks, God gave woman a very important and honored role. She was made to be an help meet for man. No other creature was qualified to be his "best friend" (not even dogs, thank you very much). She was specially and specifically designed from the mind of God for this role. She was equipped and formed in a way that would compliment and help man. She was created in the image of God. (No, God doesn't look like a woman and is not androgynous, but the basic shape is the same. Be honest.) She was given dominion over the creation along with her husband. She was blessed of God.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Also please read Genesis 2:18-25 in the King James Bible.

Notice that, except for the fact that Adam was formed first, she was given "equal rights" with him in "economics," "sexuality," and "employment." No distinction was made except that she was to help her husband and be his companion in dressing and keeping the garden. This was before the fall.

The fall changed everything, and nobody came out ahead after that. (Even Satan's "victory" was temporary.)

Many men are quick to blame Eve for the fall, and feminists are quick to blame men for blaming Eve. Neither group has paid much attention to what God actually says about it. Though Eve was held equally responsible before God at the actual event (pay attention!), she did not bear the eternal responsibility.

1Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
In Adam all die. Not in Eve. Yes, she sinned, but Adam was held responsible.

1Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

So many people get all hung up on verses 11, 12 and 15 that they don't pay attention to 13 and 14. Adam was made first. Adam was not deceived, but Eve was. That means Adam sinned knowing full well what he was doing. Eve thought she was going to improve their lives and that God really was withholding a blessing. How God dealt with them proves He is just. They were both held accountable, but Adam bore the greatest load of blame because he was made first and his heart was fully set in him to deliberately transgress the law God had given him.

To me, one of the greatest hypocrisies of feminism is that they want us to believe they are rationally and mentally equal to men, and yet they believe the false interpretations men have made regarding God's attitude toward women. Men (I don't mean this in general) have interpreted the Bible in terms of their cultural or personal needs (insecurities, bitterness, etc.). The women have believed these interpretations and mistakenly think it is what God says. They read the Bible in light of these foolish interpretations and so they continue to define the events given in scripture and the actions of Christians by the same mistakes MEN made! And these women want our respect??

Unlike some "holy" books of other religions, the Bible includes both the strengths and weaknesses of God's people. This is one of the things that makes it believable. It is not laundered to make the "good" guys always look good or the bad guys only bad. Events and circumstances related in scripture do not indicate God's approval by their mere presence there. Just because the Lord saw fit to relate the account to us does not mean He is condoning it or saying it happened the way He wanted it to. If He offers us no interpretation, then we must interpret it in light of other known scripture. To assume He approved is unjust and irrational. What the Bible does not say is often just as important as what it does say.

For example, take the rape of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13. Amnon pretended he was sick and asked David, his father, to send his half-sister Tamar to cook for him. She came and did this and when the food was ready he commanded everyone to leave him, which they did. She then brought the cakes she made to him in his chamber (bedroom).

2Samuel 13:11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

This is a horrible story.

We do not get any specific comments from the Lord in regard to this, one way or the other, but from His law we know what He thought.

Deuteronomy 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. 25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. 28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

(By the way, 50 shekels of silver was more than twice the price of a slave, Gen. 37:38, and this was not a dowry. It was retribution for a gross offense.)

We see that if Tamar had wanted to be rescued from her brother and this situation, she should have screamed. The fact that she didn't indicates that she may not have been taught to do so, which would reflect on her father's and possibly her mother's neglect in instructing her properly as to what she do in such a case. Also, since she was apparently not betrothed, Amnon should have been forced to pay up and to marry her and maintain her all her life with no divorce as an option. (If this "old fashioned" law were enforced today, date rapes would probably go down significantly.)

Now, someone may say that he took unfair advantage of Tamar and intimidated her so she wouldn't scream. But wait... isn't that admitting that she was emotionally weaker than him? Of course, he was obviously physically stronger, but she was a marriageable young lady. She either had not been taught the law (and hence what to do in

Please look up all reference in the King James Authorized Version. I cannot guarantee what other translations may or may not say.

such a case), or she thought he would be forced to marry her. Maybe it was some of both, since incest between half siblings was also strictly forbidden by God, Leviticus 18:9 & 11. At any rate, she apparently did not scream.

The feminists and doubters will point out the sometimes gruesome and complicated Bible accounts, claiming this proves God "doesn't like women" and is "unfair" to them. They neglect to tell us of Rebekah (Gen. 25:21-23) and Hagar (Gen. 16:7-13) who received direct revelations from God, Deborah the prophetess and judge (Judges 4), Jael who was blessed above women for tricking and killing an enemy of the Lord (Judges 4-5), Huldah the prophetess who gave the Lord's word to King Josiah (2 Kings 22), the great woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4) who dealt directly with the prophet Elisha (not through her husband) and was warned of him to leave the country when a famine came (2 Kings 8:1-6). (Sure she was still working through a man prophet, but so were all the men who wanted to communicate with God at that time!)

In the New Testament they don't discuss the four, prophesying, virgin daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:1-2); Lydia, and her ladies' prayer meeting who helped start the church at Philippi (Acts 16); Phebe the servant of the church at Cenchrea who had gone to Rome on (possibly church) business and was a succouer of many (Rom. 16:1-2); and Priscilla who helped her husband Aquilla in his occupation (Acts 18:1-3) and in evangelism (Acts 18:24-26).

By the way, you probably won't find the "men-are-superior-to-women" crowd talking much about these things either, except to possibly explain them away. Ahem!

Secular feminists, and those influenced by them, never bother to talk about the great mercy, compassion, love, and kindness the Lord shows to women over and over in Scripture. They also neglect to mention all the "harsh" chastisements and punishments men received. They are angry because God Himself is masculine, but ignore that He personifies wisdom as a woman (Proverbs 1 & 8). Too often they miss the point because of their presuppositions - and that goes for both the feminists and the men who misinterpret God's attitude toward women.

Ironically many of the things they claim to have invented or forced upon men, were done thousands of years ago, both among the Hebrews and some other cultures. In ancient Israel - The daughters inherited when there was no son (Num. 27).  A woman could own property (Prv. 31:16), make and sell merchandise (Prv. 31:18 & 24), judge (Deborah), prophesy (Huldah, Deborah), open her mouth with wisdom (Prv. 31:26), disregard her husband's political policies or preferences (Jael), marry for love (1 Sam. 18:20 and Song of Solomon), have an "erotic" sexual relationship with her husband (Song of Solomon) and more. Miriam, the prophetess, led the Hebrew women in a song of triumph (Ex. 15:20-21) and helped Moses and Aaron lead Israel out of Egypt.

Micah 6:4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
[As to election, a foundational doctrine of the whole Bible, God elected a committee of three, and there were no feminists on hand to explain to Him the virtue of three leaders rather than one or two, and that one should be a woman. Also it is significant that Moses and Aaron were both married, and yet their wives were not chosen for this "job." In other words, all three leaders were chosen based upon their qualifications for leadership! We might even be so bold as to say they were all "ordained" of God.]

Many of the things feminists think they needed and demanded and took by force, were there all along in God's book and were approved by Him when they were done HIS way.

Proverbs 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or
perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Rebellious, Yet Loved

As far as I can remember, we have only two distinct cases where God literally chose a wife for a man. One was Rebekah for Isaac and the other was a whore for Hosea.

In Rebekah's case we see a woman who had a personal relationship with God herself, for when she was pregnant and the twins struggled within her, she inquired of the Lord herself and He answered her! (Gen. 25:22-23) What an amazing breakthrough! No. Rather, how amazing that so many have missed the point for so long. Do you realize when she lived? Yet, in that "man dominated, patriarchal era" God dealt directly with a woman, gave her prophesy, and He specifically chose her to be the wife of Isaac. This was not an accident.

In the case of Hosea with his wife of whoredoms, Gomer, they were for a sign to Israel of the nation's spiritual whoredom. Read the book of Hosea. It is very informative. Gomer and her children of whoredom were a symbol of Israel who had turned her back on the Lord God and denied Him from whom she received all her increase and blessing. She had taken up other gods and followed her illicit lovers. ...she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD. Hosea 2:13.

Yet in Hosea 2:14-23 we see God's great mercy and continued love for Israel, which Hosea was to typify through his marriage and faithfulness to Gomer. The book ends:

Hosea 3:1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

This passage is to Israel, yet it is so beautiful in the context of this discussion. The feminists have sold themselves to Satan's lie for a few cheap thrills and imagined "liberties", thinking they can be happy by taking dominion over men. Yet, even as with Israel, the Lord God still extends mercy and salvation to them through Jesus Christ. The very One whom they have defied with their rebellion and whose ways to peace and happiness they reject, is ready to forgive and to restore to them the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). And, were it not for His great mercy and longsuffering, they would not even be alive today or permitted to promote their "cause". They do not want Him, yet they cannot escape Him nor do without Him; and if they would see eternal life, they must accept the second Adam - Jesus Christ - who took the tremendous responsibility of redeeming fallen man and woman.

The Terrible Loss

1Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Some feminists want to be viewed as physically equal to men, or even better than men. They want honor from men but they don't want a biblical marriage to a man who obeys God's command to honor them. They want to be understood on their own terms, not the ones God gives, nor in the role for which He created them.

They want to be seen as mentally and emotionally equal or superior to men, when in reality no two people are entirely equal in those things regardless of their gender. It is a false doctrine of man's invention that "...all men are created equal..." My brothers are not equal in their emotions, for one feels things much more deeply and poignantly than the other. They are not equal in their talents. I am not equal to my mother in mathematics and book keeping, and she is not equal to me in writing. This is comparing men with men and women with women. The differences between the sexes also vary widely, while some are fairly consistent. Some "experts" are willing to admit this now. Even so, comparing ourselves and our abilities is unwise and a waste of time.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

God made the sexes different on purpose.  God makes each individual different on purpose, and we each have our strengths and weaknesses. In many marriages where one is weak, the other is strong so that a balance is struck for the sake of peace and compatability.  Let's help each other rather than demand to be the same. God made us different for a purpose - for His glory and for the glory and pleasure of His Son!

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The fall brought us distinctions between the sexes that God had not intended. Sin made it necessary.

Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 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. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The woman who was deceived and drew her husband into her sin, so her sorrow and conception was multiplied, childbirth was made painful, her desire is to be to her husband, and he is to rule over her. Adam, who hearkened to his wife and transgressed on purpose, finds the ground cursed and his work has become hard. He is now the provider for his family and his previously pleasant job of dressing and keeping the garden has been exchanged for sorrowing, weeding and sweating for his food. He is also placed in the role of ruling his wife, something he had not had to do before; something that would prove to be a hardship to them both.

2Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. This goes for ruling over women too, and we find much more said about this in the New Testament where marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. Adam's "new" job is not an easy one, nor a desirable one.

Notice that women are given primarily emotional burdens and men are given primarily physical and leadership burdens. Both rebel against the burdens and responsibilities that God has given to them.  Both tend to misinterpret their roles and at times abuse them. It plays itself out in many different ways, but both parties, and the children, always suffer no matter who rebels or what form their rebellion takes.

Because feminists have misinterpreted God's intended role for Old Testament Jewish woman and New Testament Christian woman, they have cheated themselves of the blessings that naturally go with obedience to His plan. The Lord meant for the man to work and the woman to help him. The man was to bear the responsibility, not only of his wife and family, but also of the fall, for "in Adam all die..." Ironically, the feminists completely miss the fact that God chose to use a woman, with the support but not the help of a man, to bring the second Adam - Jesus the Messiah - into the world. Jesus Christ was the man - God in the flesh - who would bear the ultimate responsibility for sin and make it possible for men and women to be spiritually alive and equal, "...being heirs together of the grace of life..." (1 Peter 3:7)

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

The poor feminists, the "male chauvinists" and the feminized men of today totally miss the picture of Christ and His church - a most cherishing and sacrificial relationship on both sides. It is an honor to the man and the woman that in marriage they may typify the Lord and His bride. How hard Satan does work to mar that beautiful image! How many ways he finds to help people either dirty it or take it by force! When either party rebels against the order God has established to glorify His Son, both parties suffer. To blame God for the resulting suffering and trouble is foolish. Man has brought it on himself. Woman has brought it on herself.

James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

In Conclusion

Laodicea means "rule by the people" or "people's rights". Christ said to His church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:15, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Christian sisters, have you bought into the false liberty Satan offers women today? Have you allowed the "women's rights" movement to make you naked, blind, poor and miserable. Jesus Christ still loves you and He is calling you to be zealous and repent. As He forgave rebellious Israel and was willing to forgive the self-satisfied Laodicean church, He will forgive and restore you to your God-intended role and position.

2Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
May God grant that this be said of you also!

Unsaved friend, have you been deceived and held in bondage and unbelief through the lies of "women's liberation"? Are you trying to live in the crumbling house of feminism, assuming God is ultimately to blame for all the suffering of women? God is merciful still and will help you if you are willing. Stop believing the second and third-hand lies and misinterpretations of God and His Book. Please read The Gospel page to learn what a kind and wonderful Saviour His Son really is.

2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 � Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

most graphics and background by Mary Stephens
illustrations unknown
CA