There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Based on scripture, Jesus has been called the first feminist. Paul, the first a
Writer of how women are equal. In our world, wherever you live, MiddleEast, women of the West, parts of Asia, women have different roles to fill. Scripture lays it out plainly! Adam's poem in Genesis, "She should be called 'woman' (Isha) because she was taken out of man. (Ish)" This is in no way demeaning her; it's a word play. He is saying, "she is like me, but unique, or different. She compliments him, she does not complete him. Anyone who is getting married to be complete is not ready to be sanctified in marriage union because it is a requirement to be whole to enter into the covenant. But that is a whole different subject!!! The Lord saw that Adam was alone and stated, "It is not good for man to be alone." He needs her. We have different roles to fill but we are equal. There are so many stereotypes out there that the world heaps on us, and we get covered with blatant hatred and pressure from them. The culture says there is no difference between men and women.
Obviously the first thing that is different is when the Doc. Delivers the baby, he/she says, "It's a boy/girl". Culture is emasculating men and taking femininity from women. For example, there are four different stereotypes for men: 1. Think of the saying, "stop crying and be a man!" I think this is ludacris!!! The perfect man wept and he did more than once. What does that say about a man that doesn't cry? This is the "man" who is Nascar race, drinking beer, eating red meat, going to Home Depot, drive a big dually, oh and whatever you do don't you dare cry or admit you may have been wrong about something! These things do not classify you as a man!! Up until recent history, men were known for their artistic side; David was a poet and musician, a man painted the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, the Father of the universe has an artistic side. If you don't believe me, watch and sunrise, sunset, look at the horizon as the peaks of mountains rise or the ocean waves hit the shore! It's a masterpiece. 2. Then there's the suave, womanizing, 007 type, smooth and tough. 3. There's the Donald Trump type, rule the world CEO, the man has everything dressed in a power suit that costs more than our vehicles do! 4. Or there's the, "My body is my god" protein shakes, in the gym twice a day looking into the mirror determined to get to a place in physical strength that coincides with an ox. Okay I think I've stretched my point. But, what about women?! There are more options on the spectrum of what a woman is supposed to be! 1. The smart, professional, "I have my whole life together", 2. The say-at-home mom that makes nothing but organic meals for her family and her home is immaculate at any given moment should someone drop by unannounced, 3. The tan supermodel, super thin, sex goddess fashionista that all the men drool over 4. Or there's the outdoorsy, no make-up, barefoot, green woman makes her own clothes, no bra and ties herself to the trees to stop development. What if I'm a little bit of all of them? What if I'm a smart, stay-at-home mom that loves fashion but I don't have my life together, and I don't eat only organic or I wear make up and I'm not super thin and I'd rather go to Victoria's Secret and "shop til I drop" instead of boycott undies. Does that make me less of a woman? Absolutely not!!!
So what do we do? Let's eject all the culture-driven stereotypes and look at the scriptures. Adam was in the garden to tend and work it. Before Eve, he had to name all the animals. There's a lot of animals so no one knows how long he was by himself, but clearly God saw that it wasn't good for him. God states, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother [and his gaming system and free rent with his parents and his part-time job...]... and they become one flesh.” Notice, it’s the man who does the leaving, not the woman. it points to the idea that the man was made to be the leader in the marriage relationship. To clarify, by “lead” I do not mean “dominate or to make his wife his slave.” By “lead” I mean “give your life away for the good of another.” Jesus is the perfect portrait for leadership. He led the disciples and then turned around and washed their feet. You can't be a great leader until you can humble yourself and serve others.
. Man does have a special connection to work. He’s put in the garden “to work it and take care of it,” and then he’s cursed in the field. And woman does have a special connection to the family. She’s called “the mother of all the living,” and then she’s cursed in childbearing. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying women shouldn't work. Read about the Proverbs 31 woman. She is an entrepreneur, a real-estate investor, a loving mother, a fashionista who wakes before dawn to pour herself out for her family. And I am not bashing stay-at-home fathers either. The Lord was purposeful by leaving room in scriptures for us to lean the way the Spirit would have us go. Sometimes the woman is more professional than the man, and sometimes the man is more nurturing than the woman.
In conclusion, culture is leaving it's devastating mark on our lives. Culture always changes but the Word of the Lord never does! The Lord says that if we would turn from our wicked ways and follow Him, He will heal our Land. After just celebrating our nation's birthday, it is clear to me that in order to celebrate a nation, we need to be proud of what it stands for. As a royal priest in the family of Christ, I am called to make disciples of all nations. Let us turn from our wicked ways and that of the pagan-like culture that runs rampant destroying all that enters into it's path. Be in the world but not of it. Go out proclaim the way of our Lord in our actions, not just in words. Let the 'world' see that we "peculiar" Christians are onto something far more precious than what this current culture and the prince of the world has to offer!!!
Obviously the first thing that is different is when the Doc. Delivers the baby, he/she says, "It's a boy/girl". Culture is emasculating men and taking femininity from women. For example, there are four different stereotypes for men: 1. Think of the saying, "stop crying and be a man!" I think this is ludacris!!! The perfect man wept and he did more than once. What does that say about a man that doesn't cry? This is the "man" who is Nascar race, drinking beer, eating red meat, going to Home Depot, drive a big dually, oh and whatever you do don't you dare cry or admit you may have been wrong about something! These things do not classify you as a man!! Up until recent history, men were known for their artistic side; David was a poet and musician, a man painted the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, the Father of the universe has an artistic side. If you don't believe me, watch and sunrise, sunset, look at the horizon as the peaks of mountains rise or the ocean waves hit the shore! It's a masterpiece. 2. Then there's the suave, womanizing, 007 type, smooth and tough. 3. There's the Donald Trump type, rule the world CEO, the man has everything dressed in a power suit that costs more than our vehicles do! 4. Or there's the, "My body is my god" protein shakes, in the gym twice a day looking into the mirror determined to get to a place in physical strength that coincides with an ox. Okay I think I've stretched my point. But, what about women?! There are more options on the spectrum of what a woman is supposed to be! 1. The smart, professional, "I have my whole life together", 2. The say-at-home mom that makes nothing but organic meals for her family and her home is immaculate at any given moment should someone drop by unannounced, 3. The tan supermodel, super thin, sex goddess fashionista that all the men drool over 4. Or there's the outdoorsy, no make-up, barefoot, green woman makes her own clothes, no bra and ties herself to the trees to stop development. What if I'm a little bit of all of them? What if I'm a smart, stay-at-home mom that loves fashion but I don't have my life together, and I don't eat only organic or I wear make up and I'm not super thin and I'd rather go to Victoria's Secret and "shop til I drop" instead of boycott undies. Does that make me less of a woman? Absolutely not!!!
So what do we do? Let's eject all the culture-driven stereotypes and look at the scriptures. Adam was in the garden to tend and work it. Before Eve, he had to name all the animals. There's a lot of animals so no one knows how long he was by himself, but clearly God saw that it wasn't good for him. God states, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother [and his gaming system and free rent with his parents and his part-time job...]... and they become one flesh.” Notice, it’s the man who does the leaving, not the woman. it points to the idea that the man was made to be the leader in the marriage relationship. To clarify, by “lead” I do not mean “dominate or to make his wife his slave.” By “lead” I mean “give your life away for the good of another.” Jesus is the perfect portrait for leadership. He led the disciples and then turned around and washed their feet. You can't be a great leader until you can humble yourself and serve others.
. Man does have a special connection to work. He’s put in the garden “to work it and take care of it,” and then he’s cursed in the field. And woman does have a special connection to the family. She’s called “the mother of all the living,” and then she’s cursed in childbearing. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying women shouldn't work. Read about the Proverbs 31 woman. She is an entrepreneur, a real-estate investor, a loving mother, a fashionista who wakes before dawn to pour herself out for her family. And I am not bashing stay-at-home fathers either. The Lord was purposeful by leaving room in scriptures for us to lean the way the Spirit would have us go. Sometimes the woman is more professional than the man, and sometimes the man is more nurturing than the woman.
In conclusion, culture is leaving it's devastating mark on our lives. Culture always changes but the Word of the Lord never does! The Lord says that if we would turn from our wicked ways and follow Him, He will heal our Land. After just celebrating our nation's birthday, it is clear to me that in order to celebrate a nation, we need to be proud of what it stands for. As a royal priest in the family of Christ, I am called to make disciples of all nations. Let us turn from our wicked ways and that of the pagan-like culture that runs rampant destroying all that enters into it's path. Be in the world but not of it. Go out proclaim the way of our Lord in our actions, not just in words. Let the 'world' see that we "peculiar" Christians are onto something far more precious than what this current culture and the prince of the world has to offer!!!
