Question: Should Women Be in Ministry? (Part 4)

Question: Should Women Be in Ministry? (Part 4)
By Tommy Franks

John MacArthur says, “I contend that women are used and abused more today than at any time in history. Pornography turns women into objects and victims of dirty, cowardly Peeping Toms who leer at them with greedy eyes. Throughout the world, women are traded like animals for sexual slavery. In more "civilized" places, men routinely use women for no-consequence, no-commitment sex only to leave them pregnant…without care and support. Abortion rights groups aid and abet male selfishness and irresponsibility. Some women then abort their unborn children. Many of these women are left alone, emotionally scarred, financially destitute, and feel guilty, ashamed, and abandoned. Where's the freedom, dignity, and honor in all of this?”

MacArthur continues, “Modern technology has enabled the culture to mainstream the degradation of women like never before. Ancient cultures were no better. Women in pagan societies during biblical times were often treated with little more dignity than animals. Some of the best-known Greek philosophers taught that women were inferior creatures by nature. Even in the Roman Empire, women were usually regarded as mere chattel-personal possessions of their husbands or fathers…with no better standing than household slaves. This was vastly different from the Hebrew and Biblical concepts of marriage as a joint inheritance… and parenthood as a partnership where both father and mother were revered.”

From the Book of Genesis, we are taught that women…like men…bear the stamp of “approval” of God's own image. Men and women were…and still are…created equal. Women played very prominent roles in key biblical narratives. Wives were seen as respected partners and cherished companions to their husbands…not merely slaves or pieces of household furniture (Gen.2, Prov.19, and Eccl.9).

Multitudes of secular movements have claimed to be concerned with women's rights. Most of their efforts have been detrimental to the status of women. The feminist movement of our generation has devalued and defamed femininity. Natural gender distinctions are usually ignored, downplayed, dismissed, despised, or denied. Some women against their will…are now being sent into combat situations “in harm’s way”…exposed to all kinds of indignities. Modern feminists continue to heap scorn on women who want family and household as first priorities. In doing this, feminists disparage the role of motherhood…the one calling that is uniquely and exclusively feminine. Their message is: There is really nothing extraordinary about women or being a woman. This is certainly not the message of Scripture… which honors women as special creations of God (Prov.31).

Historically, during Old Testament times, Jewish women enjoyed great liberty and high esteem. Many women distinguished themselves as prophetesses and leaders in Jewish society. Distinguished women such as Deborah, Esther, Hannah, Huldah, Jochebed (mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam), Noadiah, Rachel, Rebekah, Rahab, Ruth, and Sarah played important and decisive roles in Israel's history.
(More to come in Part 5)