A Double Standard in Christianity?
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Hello Matthew 
I find it a bit odd when that passage about Eve being deceived while Adam was not is offered up by a male and given as a reason why women should not be accorded any authority, because the impression it gives is that men want to believe that men are never deceived, and obviously that in itself is a deception. Alongside that is also the implication that it is better to deliberately and willfully disobey God than it is to disobey based on not knowing any better. If men were never deceived there would be no false teachings, right? And yet we hear all the time complaints about how far the church has fallen and about this false teacher and that false teacher. By and large the false teachers are always men. Men who have been deceived, and then mislead others...
I find it a bit odd when that passage about Eve being deceived while Adam was not is offered up by a male and given as a reason why women should not be accorded any authority, because the impression it gives is that men want to believe that men are never deceived, and obviously that in itself is a deception. Alongside that is also the implication that it is better to deliberately and willfully disobey God than it is to disobey based on not knowing any better. If men were never deceived there would be no false teachings, right? And yet we hear all the time complaints about how far the church has fallen and about this false teacher and that false teacher. By and large the false teachers are always men. Men who have been deceived, and then mislead others...
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S
the pomposity of your reply to Laura who provided examples from scripture is beyond even what one might expect from such a person as yourself
we see here, it is actually you that cannot abide the truth of the word
and now you challenge her Christianity as being authentic by asking if she believes in Jesus?
it's really enough from you. people need to report you for your nasty comments and the way you seem to think they are not Christian if they disagree with you
we see here, it is actually you that cannot abide the truth of the word
and now you challenge her Christianity as being authentic by asking if she believes in Jesus?
it's really enough from you. people need to report you for your nasty comments and the way you seem to think they are not Christian if they disagree with you
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S
I don't believe you have actual comprehension concerning our position in Christ
you deny it to just about everyone else. you are not the exception you believe yourself to be
you are a snare...both to yourself and to everyone else here, whom you abuse with your consistent nasty responses and questioning whether or not they are saved
you are out of line
you deny it to just about everyone else. you are not the exception you believe yourself to be
you are a snare...both to yourself and to everyone else here, whom you abuse with your consistent nasty responses and questioning whether or not they are saved
you are out of line
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S
some interesting reading here regarding one woman's experience with the double standard in Christianity which exists and which does need to be examined
Rise Above the Double Standard
In a previous ministry, I had a fairly standard and polite disagreement over email with a coworker. It wasn’t heated or contentious, just a discussion about how to use a Greek word. I copied the others from our earlier meeting to keep them in the loop.
“Tough emails, huh?” one observed hours later.
“Which ones?”
“The ones during your catfight with S—,” he said. “I’m glad I wasn’t involved.”
I laughed it off, but catfight? I reread the emails, but I was at a loss for what had made our interaction a catfight. That word stayed with me for the rest of the day. Two men had listened in to a discussion between two women and their takeaway was that we’d had a catfight.
I am a woman in ministry.
catfight anyone?
Rise Above the Double Standard
In a previous ministry, I had a fairly standard and polite disagreement over email with a coworker. It wasn’t heated or contentious, just a discussion about how to use a Greek word. I copied the others from our earlier meeting to keep them in the loop.
“Tough emails, huh?” one observed hours later.
“Which ones?”
“The ones during your catfight with S—,” he said. “I’m glad I wasn’t involved.”
I laughed it off, but catfight? I reread the emails, but I was at a loss for what had made our interaction a catfight. That word stayed with me for the rest of the day. Two men had listened in to a discussion between two women and their takeaway was that we’d had a catfight.
I am a woman in ministry.
catfight anyone?
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S
Naming the Problem
Over the last 14 years I’ve served in various leadership roles, from youth worker to college ministry intern to church planter to hospital chaplain to adjunct Christian college instructor to working for an urban church in Chicago. In every one of these positions, I’ve encountered resistance that is baffling. It’s not that I was banned from leadership, but that people weren’t comfortable with my comfort in leadership. What made it difficult was that it was far more insidious than, “You aren’t qualified for leadership because you possess female reproductive organs.” (Don’t get me wrong; I have encountered that before—over and over again.)
A blatant double standard exists in being a woman in ministry, yet the ways we encounter resistance can be so hard to call out that most of us give up on trying. Some women give up on their call to ministry altogether or are left wondering why they felt a calling that left them shredded on the inside and in doubt of their gifts and skills.
Part of this is because we have a complicated culture that both celebrates and shames women in equal measures, sometimes in the same breath. It’s a culture that tells us that women are worth what they look like or that their value is inversely proportional to how much they weigh. But it’s also a culture that tells us we can have it all—and then chastises us for either being too career-focused or a stay-at-home mom. We’re told we should be content in ourselves because we are enough and yet are constantly given ways to improve so we can be more, which is baffling.
Over the last 14 years I’ve served in various leadership roles, from youth worker to college ministry intern to church planter to hospital chaplain to adjunct Christian college instructor to working for an urban church in Chicago. In every one of these positions, I’ve encountered resistance that is baffling. It’s not that I was banned from leadership, but that people weren’t comfortable with my comfort in leadership. What made it difficult was that it was far more insidious than, “You aren’t qualified for leadership because you possess female reproductive organs.” (Don’t get me wrong; I have encountered that before—over and over again.)
A blatant double standard exists in being a woman in ministry, yet the ways we encounter resistance can be so hard to call out that most of us give up on trying. Some women give up on their call to ministry altogether or are left wondering why they felt a calling that left them shredded on the inside and in doubt of their gifts and skills.
Part of this is because we have a complicated culture that both celebrates and shames women in equal measures, sometimes in the same breath. It’s a culture that tells us that women are worth what they look like or that their value is inversely proportional to how much they weigh. But it’s also a culture that tells us we can have it all—and then chastises us for either being too career-focused or a stay-at-home mom. We’re told we should be content in ourselves because we are enough and yet are constantly given ways to improve so we can be more, which is baffling.
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S
Honestly, I don’t expect much from culture. But I expect more from the church. It should be a culture changer for equality, a refuge from the world, and a place of support and love. But often women in leadership find the opposite. They find themselves affirmed to be leaders then critiqued for leading. Be the worship leader, but run any changes by a male leader. Take over the hospitality ministry, but don’t ask men to bake. Lead a group devoted to racial reconciliation, but don’t ask to have a leading voice in the church. Plant a ministry overseas, but don’t be too vocal about our duty to human rights.
The double standard I’ve observed is that women are held to be equals but then chastised for expressing themselves in traditionally masculine ways. The double standard is apparent when women are told to contribute to a discussion, but then are told they are bossy or nagging or too aggressive about their opinions. But this isn’t limited to men; we women can also tear each other down. I’ve been guilty of this. I’m not immune to social pressure that has flipped our God-given equality for the gendered oppression of the Fall. I’ve also been guilty of thinking a woman had less to offer than her male counterparts or valuing a man’s praise or comments over a woman’s.
same source
The double standard I’ve observed is that women are held to be equals but then chastised for expressing themselves in traditionally masculine ways. The double standard is apparent when women are told to contribute to a discussion, but then are told they are bossy or nagging or too aggressive about their opinions. But this isn’t limited to men; we women can also tear each other down. I’ve been guilty of this. I’m not immune to social pressure that has flipped our God-given equality for the gendered oppression of the Fall. I’ve also been guilty of thinking a woman had less to offer than her male counterparts or valuing a man’s praise or comments over a woman’s.
same source
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When Eve was made for Adam, the term used to describe her role was ezer kenegdo.
Re: Hebrew ezer kenegdo.
The Hebrew word ezer is a combination of two roots: `-z-r, meaning "to rescue, to save," and g-z-r, meaning "to be strong."
In Genesis 2:18, the word "helpmeet" does not occur. The Hebrew expression ezer kenegdo appears, meaning "one who is the same as the other and who surrounds, protects, aids, helps, supports." The combination of these two Hebrew words has two roots: `-z-r, meaning "to rescue, to save," and g-z-r, meaning "to be strong." There is no indication of inferiority or of a secondary position in an hierarchical separation of the male and female "spheres" of responsibility, authority, or social position.
Use of the word ezer in the Scripture often refers to either God or military allies. In all other cases the one giving the help is superior to the one receiving the help. Adding kenegdo (meet) modifies the meaning to that of equal rather than superior status. Scripture is so awesome. God says just what He means.
The word ezer is used twice in the Old Testament to refer to the female and 14 times to refer to God.
For example, in the Psalms when David says, "The Lord is my Helper," he uses the word ezer.
Click
and click again.
Re: Hebrew ezer kenegdo.
The Hebrew word ezer is a combination of two roots: `-z-r, meaning "to rescue, to save," and g-z-r, meaning "to be strong."
In Genesis 2:18, the word "helpmeet" does not occur. The Hebrew expression ezer kenegdo appears, meaning "one who is the same as the other and who surrounds, protects, aids, helps, supports." The combination of these two Hebrew words has two roots: `-z-r, meaning "to rescue, to save," and g-z-r, meaning "to be strong." There is no indication of inferiority or of a secondary position in an hierarchical separation of the male and female "spheres" of responsibility, authority, or social position.
Use of the word ezer in the Scripture often refers to either God or military allies. In all other cases the one giving the help is superior to the one receiving the help. Adding kenegdo (meet) modifies the meaning to that of equal rather than superior status. Scripture is so awesome. God says just what He means.
The word ezer is used twice in the Old Testament to refer to the female and 14 times to refer to God.
For example, in the Psalms when David says, "The Lord is my Helper," he uses the word ezer.
Click
and click again.
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I can only imagine who is receiving correction here,since I no longer see his very misguided posts.
He will not be corrected by a bunch of women,men either most likely.
I leave him in the hands of God for chaistment and correction.
Today is the day of salvation,we're not promised tomorrow!
PS.doesn't the word say a woman's long hair is also HER GLORY?
He will not be corrected by a bunch of women,men either most likely.
I leave him in the hands of God for chaistment and correction.
Today is the day of salvation,we're not promised tomorrow!
PS.doesn't the word say a woman's long hair is also HER GLORY?
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Oh and I forgot to say that Ruth --the 'Moabitess' (also a Jewish proselyte) had gone out into the field (unaware it was Naomi's near kinsman) to work to support her and her mother in-law. Boaz was obviously impressed with her--both her work initiative and her faith! Ps And she boldly followed Naomi's instruction--that took guts to go to the threshing floor and then to ask Boaz to marry her. pps not suggesting this last bit--i'm sure there a deeper meaning behind this story....
pps not suggesting this last bit--i'm sure there a deeper meaning behind this story....
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