ExPounder
This question arises when women don’t agree with the structure of the church or are told to shut up in the church. When someone comes over to clarify what the scriptures teach, the women tend to still lean on their understanding of the scriptures.
So does the bible tell us that women are nothing more than objects? What about slaves? Or property?
The definition of an object, according to the dictionary, is “anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.” Are women visible? Are women tangible? Are women stable in form?
According to the culture, we are told by actors and celebrities that women are nothing more than objects. In music videos, we see half-naked women running around, we see soft porn scenes in videos and movies, and we have men and women singing about what they wish to do with each other. Here’s the problem I run into all the time, the same people that complain that all men look at women as objects are also fine with women dressing like a hooker or acting like a whore. In the Western world, we call this “women’s rights.” What does the bible say about these actions?
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Proverbs 7:5-27
“1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your nearest kin, 5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, 7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, 8 Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. 10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. 11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. 12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. 13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face, she said to him: 14 "I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. 16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. 17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day."
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. 22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He does not know it will cost his life. 24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; 26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.”
In Proverbs 7:1-27 we see very clearly what is happening. In this verse, we see this in the world. People parade their sins around and do not care about the consequences of what will come next.
A popular song is called “Unholy” by Sam Smith. In the lyrics, you read:
Sam Smith - Unholy
“A lucky, lucky girl
She got married to a boy like you
She'd kick you out if she ever, ever knew
'Bout all the - you tell me that you do”
“I hear them whispering 'bout the places that you've been
And how you don't know how to keep your business clean”
“Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot
At the body shop, doing something unholy”
“Oh-ee-oh-ee-oh, he left his kids at
Ho-ee-oh-ee-ome, so he can get that”
These lyrics sum up most of the music that’s coming out. The music revolves around one of these three topics or even all:
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Sex
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Money
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Power
It is self-defeating for a woman to say for a man to treat a woman with respect and dignity but then cheer on a woman who is selling herself as an object. This is the culture we live in. We can see two sides regarding how a woman should act, which are very different.
Worldly or biblically
The biblical description of a woman starts in Genesis 1:27
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 5:2 “ He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.”
Matthew 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
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Women came after men.
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Women are created in the image of God.
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Women are of equal value and have equal responsibility to obey and serve Christ.
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Women are beautiful and precious just the way they are.
The role of a woman is different from a man’s, but this being said, it does not mean the man can dominate her. Throughout scripture, we are told what the roles are for both males and females. Each has its own duty and responsibility to take up. Ephesians 5:22-23 is the most familiar verse that is brought up when the topic of women being oppressed in scripture. When you read this verse, you see that women are told to “submit to their husbands as you do to the lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.” What most people do is read this verse and don’t look up the context or even continue to read the chapter. In verse 25, we read, “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Does this sound like the Bible promotes that women are objects? Or is it the complete opposite?
Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
Psalm 139:13 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."
Isaiah 44:24 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,"
Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."
From these verses, we see that CHILDREN are a gift. This means daughters and sons are a gift from the lord. Women are made in his image, a gift to man (Genesis 2:18), to be treasured, protected, and served in a way that Christ loves and serves His church(Ephesians 5:25-30). This being said, what we see in culture does not mean that God's word is false; it means mankind would rather live their way than consider what the lord has made clear throughout scripture. To submit to your wives and love them as Christ loves the church. What is not clear about these verses? Is it up to interpretation? No. This is why we see in many world religions where women are forced to either wear clothes they don't want to or can't go to school to learn.
It is essential to look at the context of scripture and the history of that time. It's also important to look to Christ as the example, not man.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."
Luke 24:44-45 "Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures."