I vividly remember a graduation celebration which my church was hosting for the youth matriculating to university. At the time I was the college pastor and I was eager to receive the graduates who would be entrusted to me. Whether they studied at a local university or moved far away, I would be committed to serving them. One by one the graduates stood at center stage and told the congregation their dreams and aspirations. One young man shared that he felt God calling him into ministry and that after university he would seek admission to seminary and then ordination. Our senior pastor, who was acting as the emcee, was so overjoyed by this young man’s proclamation that he shouted into the microphone – his screams causing a horrendous distortion – “We must pray for this young man’s divine calling.” Being well trained, the congregation responded with a large ovation and acknowledgment of the pastor’s request. The boy in question was a good kid and had demonstrated a consistency in his discipleship which would serve him well for the next stage of his development. I was happy for him.

Immediately after our aspiring young pastor was a young woman who was easily the most gifted student in the group. Not only was she scholastically head and shoulders above the rest, but she was also a tremendous leader whom all the students recognized and joyfully followed. She had a spiritual maturity unheard of for someone her age and her command of Scripture was so good that she would routinely instruct our adult leaders about the nuances of God’s Word. Everyone knew she would develop into a phenomenal leader and her potential was off the charts. When our pastor asked her what she wanted to study, she replied that she felt God’s call to go into ministry and become a pastor. Our pastor hesitated, stepped back awkwardly and coughed as if embarrassed. I will never forget what happened next for when he had gathered himself, he looked at her and then turned to the congregation and said in a solemn tone, “Well, let’s pray she marries a pastor.”

The congregation was silent and instantly it felt as if all the oxygen was sucked out of the sanctuary. No one knew how to respond. The young girl, who seconds earlier had approached the stage with a bright smile and an even brighter future, began to tear, bowed her head, shrunk her shoulders and melted off the platform.

At that moment it felt like I had just witnessed a crime – as if someone had been mugged in broad daylight and no one bothered to intervene. How could our pastor demean the God-given abilities this young woman possessed? How could he, in one statement, eliminate her authentic desire to give herself away for Christ’s Church? What made the moment more unbearable was the immediate juxtaposition of the pastor’s unbridled enthusiasm for another would be minister just seconds before. Did being a woman nullify all the gifting, maturity, and true leadership God had bestowed upon her? Until our pastor had rendered her invalid, God had apparently given her the ability to lead her peers and her community.

I will never forget that moment nor do I want to. Since this experience, I have labored for many years on the topic of women in ministry. I have and will continue to balance the technical questions of exegesis and hermeneutics with the need to admit certain starting points, theological trajectories, propensities for selective literalism, and the slippery slope of historical-cultural argumentation. To be sure the question of a woman’s role in church ministry is both complex and explosive. Depending upon your denominational affiliation, theological training, cultural context, and competency with Biblical languages, your response to this topic will vary. And yet in our present Christian communities, there remain two distinct camps regarding what a woman can and cannot do in Christ’s Church. Either a woman can fully participate in all the ministries of Christ’s Church or she is limited in her ability to represent God completely.

Since space does not allow a full treatment (multi volume works have been dedicated to this topic), allow me to reflect briefly on the interaction Jesus had with his women followers and how the trajectory He established informs the way we answer the question of what a woman can do in Christ’s Church.

There is no question that women played a notable role in the life and work of Jesus. Significant not only in their participation, but also given the marginal role they were culturally allowed to play. Many scholars have noted how Jesus treated women as fully human, equal to men in every respect. One does not find on the lips of Jesus deprecating comments about women which were the norm for His era. Consider the Septuagint text Ecclesiasticus written just before Jesus’ day: “The goodness of a woman is worse than the sinfulness of a man” (Sirach 42:14). Josephus, a Jewish historian of Jesus’ day, makes a similar derogatory remark: “women are inferior in all matters and they should be submissive” (Ag. Ap. 2.25.201). In our modern context, we expect a complete egalitarian treatment of women. However, given the historical-cultural context of 1st century Palestine, Jesus’ behavior is completely unheard of.

Counter to the prevailing social mores, Jesus himself spoke to women. A rabbi in that era would not interact with a woman publicly for this would be perceived as morally scandalous. Yet, Jesus enters into a lengthy discussion with a Samaritan woman at a well. What one religious leader might consider a half breed, adulterous woman, Jesus perceives as a great missionary; “Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (Jn 4:39). It should also be noted that this woman is the first to hear Jesus’ I AM statements as recorded in the Gospel of John.

The New Testament reveals that women were a part of Jesus’ larger group of disciples. We know by name Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, Mary the mother of Jesus, Salome, Mary, and Martha. Moreover, Jesus taught women, something no Rabbi would ever do. Luke takes special notice that Jesus blesses Mary for her attendance (Lk 10:38-42). Mary’s presence alongside the other disciples is simply assumed by Jesus. It is as if no special statement is required in order to justify her sitting at the feet of her teacher.

In one parable, Jesus utilizes a woman as the representative figure for God. Without pushing this parable beyond its reasonable meaning, we can safely suggest that Jesus is not concerned that in using a woman, His portrayal of the Father will be somehow diminished (Lk 15:8-10).

Women were the first witnesses to and proclaimers of the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene was specifically commanded by the resurrected Christ to go and tell the others what had taken place (Jn 20:17). The male disciples first heard the Easter Gospel of Jesus’ resurrection from women (Lk 24:10). Ancient egalitarians, although their numbers are quite small, argued that since women were the first to preach the Gospel message (Resurrected Christ), they are then obviously authorized to speak the Word of God. Jesus Himself did not distinguish between men and women when it related to proclaiming the Gospel. The resurrection is as Gospel as Gospel gets – without it there is no Gospel.

In reconstructing the role of women in Jesus’ ministry, one may step too far in developing a picture of Jesus as a radical 21st century feminist. Jesus’ treatment of women was certainly scandalous and revolutionary when examined in the 1st century context. However, one must not push Jesus’ feminism too far. Jewett correctly admonishes; “There is a temptation to interpret Jesus in terms of the latest “ism,” in this case “feminism,” a temptation that often betrays the integrity of critical history; yet one must always decide whether Jesus was more than a culturally conditioned first-century Jew.” Given the intensity and the politically manipulative nature of this topic, Jewett’s words are well received. In considering how Jesus treated women, lepers, Samaritans or other disenfranchised persons, one must exercise caution so as to avoid printing Jesus as the poster child for some 21st century “woman’s right” movement.

And yet, Jesus’ egalitarian treatment of women is unprecedented in the ancient world. Given the cultural misogyny and patriarchalism of the day, how Jesus treated women should weigh heavily on our interpretation. Noted Biblical scholar Joachim Jeremias remarks: “An unprecedented happening in the history of that time… Jesus knowingly overthrew custom when he allowed women to follow him.” That Jesus elevated women is of no contest. However, the question we must ask is why the early Church Fathers were not comfortable in maintaining Jesus’ egalitarian approach to women?

In closing we must be very clear that behind every biblical argument stands a person. After the boundaries have been drawn and the theological platforms established, it is important to not forget who ultimately pays for your theology. No one, including myself, is capable of coming to a text of Scripture in pure objectivity. We simply do not come to the text bereft of our biases, opinions or theological paradigms. All of us read Scripture through a lens that has been shaped by our previous Christian experiences, Sunday school teachers, and our socio-cultural context. We must therefore admit our presuppositions and approach the negotiating table in a posture of humility or else we have little hope of engaging in edifying dialogue.

For several years I tried to keep track of the young girl mentioned in my opening story. She left our church soon after graduation and lost touch with the larger community of faith which had nurtured her until that pivotal moment. I do not think it is inaccurate to say that she paid an overwhelming price because of one person’s theology. Her loss and the Church’s loss are truly tragic.

References:
Jewett, Paul. Man as Male and Female. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975.
Jeremias, Joachim. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969.

Dr Günther Mueller has a PhD in New Testament Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, USA) and has spoken and taught in various universities, seminaries, and churches around the world.

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible has been referenced.

Can you share with us the challenges you face as a
a. woman in the music industry?

Navigating through the changing stages of life as a woman in the music industry, from being single, to married, to now a mother, continues to challenge me to understand what my role and purpose is through the music and being a performing artiste. I’ve gone from an arranger of Psalms to a rock chick, to a demure singer-songwriter, and back full circle with my newest release. I’m always moving within that tension of giving people a consistent perception of my “product” or “brand,” and just wanting to be free to be who I am, express it how I want, in whatever stage of life I’m in.

Temptations throughout the development of my artiste career is another big one which I think a lot of young women face in the industry. The artiste’s journey involves meeting so many like-minded and often, very cool and attractive people. I was often confronted with situations which if not kept in check and with open accountability with my husband and trusted friends, could take me into very dangerous territory. Also, often traveling apart from my husband for tours of two to six weeks at a time meant that there was the challenge of establishing trust and honesty very early in our relationship, as well as setting very definitive boundaries to protect the greatest relationship in my life.

b. Christian artiste

For me, there is a difference between being a Christian artiste and a Christian in the arts. Each has its challenges, as each has a perception attached to it. A “Christian artiste” depicts a specific genre to some, alienation through religiosity for others, and a limited “market” for industry prospects. A “Christian in the arts,” and to be publicly known as one, brings an entirely different set of challenges. To me, this is the real identity I take on, as I am first a Christian, and being an artiste is, well, just one part of what I do. My music is malleable, and not defined by a genre or definitive content within my songs. As evident through the albums I’ve released, I write as the inspiration comes, whether it be about my faith, about life, about love, about a cause, or about random nothings. The challenge I face is similar to any Christian; it is the challenge of Matthew 5 – being salt and light to the world. Living this calling in the music industry with godly principles and the Holy Spirit as my ultimate guide and “manager(!)” often means I pass up certain opportunities, and pursue others that don’t necessarily make financial or branding sense. It also means I’ve chosen to retain a level of control over the direction of my career, possibly at the expense of a bigger name or achievement. I am daily challenged by what it means to die to self, when as an artiste, the recognized pursuit and definition of “success” is the promotion of self.

As an artiste, how can you be a role model or positive influence to young girls today, especially with so many dominant females like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus in the music and entertainment scene today?

I think what people admire and look up to is courage and conviction. I know I do. We are wowed when people make a stand, whether it is for attention, for themselves or for others. I feel that the greatest and most long-lasting impact is made when we make a stand and have conviction on issues that positively affect others. Music in that sense, can be hugely powerful, and as a performing and recording artiste, I feel that this is a very natural way to communicate a message. The music I write helps to provide a blueprint not only to convey a message to others, but also to myself! When I write about making a positive difference in this world (”Do So Much” in the album Whoever You Are), or desperately desiring for my friends to know Jesus as their Savior (”Eternity” in the album Innermost Being), or how much I need to just be still (”Be Still” in the album Selah), I am gently reminding myself of how I need to live! Being accountable to what I say or sing from the platform is very important for me, as I’d only be comfortable being a role model in what I’m genuinely living out!

We got wind that you have a newborn baby! Congratulations! What has changed since you gave birth? How do you manage being a mum and an artiste at the same time?

Well, having little Zac has definitely stretched me in a whole new way, and not just physically! I feel God’s grace every day, realizing that he is probably what every new mother dreams of – an incredibly “easy” baby. As well as continuing to write, perform and tour with the music both throughout pregnancy as well as from three months after he was born, I found myself taking on a business partner and scaling up Monsoon Productions throughout Asia Pacific in the midst of Zac’s arrival, rather than putting everything on hold (which is what I was preparing to do). It’s like God, through Zac, is teaching me every day to entrust my capacity to Him, not my own judgment or what the world thinks. Every day I am quietly amazed and so thankful to God for a baby who eats, sleeps, plays, and grows so well, seeming to take everything in his stride. Adrian and I both work from home, so it makes what I do possible as we share the primary care-giving for Zac. I’m so thankful that Zac is as excited to be around dad as he is around me. We bargain with each other with nappy changes, tag team meetings to look after Zac, and through it all, Zac gets to meet so many interesting people and places. Just yesterday he sat in the studio with me recording an artiste’s vocals for a new song. Somehow he was miraculously silent whenever we’d be recording, and then he’d let out a good gurgle in between sessions! Things like that just wow me! So to be honest, my life hasn’t changed all that much! Seizing the day is one of my mottos, and I guess I see this season’s unexpected blessings as a green light from God to be doing what I’m doing as an artiste and director as an extension to my newly appointed role of motherhood.

Do you feel that there is a difference in the way men and women songwriters compose their songs?

Hmm. To be honest, not specifically. I think everyone has their own way of creating songs, and it is more to do with personality and life experience, than gender! It would be interesting to conduct a study though. Perhaps it might show that women write better lyrics and men write better instrumentals? LOL!

Lastly, do you have any words of encouragement for aspiring female singers and songwriters?

I would say, be diligent, be courageous, know what you stand for, and know your identity before you step out and open yourself out for others to try to determine it for you. Any goal or aspiration that is worth fighting for involves work and fighting for it! Be savvy about the season you are in, seek the counsel of God and trusted friends around you, and… what did I say before? Seize the day!

Deb’s new album will be available in most Christian bookstores from the end of July.

You can also check out her website at: www.debfung.com

The four dimensions that crisscross every woman today are the women’s liberation watershed, the patriarchal nature of society, practical realities of the gender, and personal history.

Women’s Liberation

Without being a participant in its ideas or political actions, every woman has been impacted by this movement to seek equality with men. At the heart of the movement is a cry for justice – a laudable one. The only problem is that these women continue to use men as the referent, and in doing so perpetuate the subjugation they wanted to free their sisters from. Today, women in most democratic nations can find employment outside the home and participate in the political life through voting at the very least. Together with other social trends such as the freedom movement of the sixties and the sexual revolution, women seek to have equal power as men from boardroom to bedroom.

Patriarchal World

At the same time, we continue to live in a largely patriarchal world, especially here in Asia. Systems, authority structures, and even religious and philosophical ideals continue to be male in representation. Singapore recently saw a flurry of debate about the employment and fair treatment of pregnant female employees – and Singapore is amongst the most developed nations this side of the globe where equal opportunities are concerned.

Practical Realities

Women are also shaped by practical realities. Our bodies are weaker than the average man and we are subject to a monthly cycle that steers us between lunar and lunatic; with its attendant discomforts, pain, and hormonal upsets. Then there is pregnancy, nursing, and the higher incidence for osteoporosis and depression.

Personal History

The final dimension is each woman’s personal experiences with gender identity, expression, and relations. Most Asian women do not find themselves celebrated, affirmed or prized. Indeed, until recently, many women I know suffer from preferential treatment and were not given the same opportunities or valued the same way as their brothers. This wounding in many women’s lives is the singular most powerful force of the four dimensions. Our earliest imprints of our worth, significance, and identity are the lenses through which we filter and interpret everything else we experience. It is not uncommon for a young girl who feels that her parents prefer her brothers to her to embark on the path of outstanding achievement in order to win their approval and attention. This trait then works in concert with the other forces and the personal shape, personality, and purpose of the woman emerges over time.

Little girls today are growing up to believe and behave in a wide range of ways. This can be very disconcerting. Perhaps this explains why the highest grossing dramas in Singapore tend to be historical narratives such as Little Nonya – the world where girls are socialized relentlessly into preset molds is both fascinating and somewhat comforting for us. It is a world that beckons us with strong cultural elements and one where color, stroke, and placement are all clear; so different from what have been well taught – to assert ourselves and reject such an approach to the formation of our identities.

Yet at the societal level or at any group level, some “rules” are needed. Norms are necessary or anarchy will set in. In light of the situation we have today, what are some norms both women and men can hold on to? Here I find the biblical ideas for gender identity, expression, and relation most instructive. The Bible, while written in a patriarchal context, presents some counter-cultural, if not shocking pictures. With my limited understanding, I see this need to break away from cultural structures in gender happening in most art and religious writing. But the one I am most familiar with and find most amazing is the Bible.

In the beginning

The Bible begins before history with the creation of humankind. In the account, we are told God is personally exercising His creative powers and does so with intention, care, and delight. The account moves sequentially and culminates in the creation of man and woman. There is a conversation within God that goes: “Let us make man* in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground”(Gen 1:26).

This account signals three realities for us:
1. We are creaturely beings, made and therefore in need of dependence on the Creator.
2. We are able beings, with gifts and powers to impact the earth.
3. We are relational beings, with a need for deep connections and meaningful ties.
The story continues and we are confronted with a tragic turn of events: the man and woman turn their backs on God when an idea is proffered to them: “step beyond God’s confines and find freedom you have never known!” The pair fell for the line and the relational fracture between them and God, each other, and the rest of creation is the permanent mark of our futility to seek meaning, immortality, and success.

Within that scene, God speaks an enigmatic word to the tempter: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen 3:15).

Within this word is the seed of a reality so painful and also a grace so amazing. Women would find enmity against her feminine soul – it will be hard to be a woman – and yet from one woman will come One who will defeat this same enemy.

On the way

So this is what women continually and will ever face: a war against her full formation and fulfillment, except when she experiences the victory of this promised Deliverer.

Christian women do not necessarily live in the daily experience of victory, clarity, and power. Many of us are still confused and worried, weary and whitewashed. The victory offered must be received and worked out in the context of the four forces we live with. The victory must become defining and decisive, as an ongoing experience.

Some applications

When I think of fellow women in places where the discussion of their value is not even permitted, I realize what a tremendous privilege and responsibility I have. The resources available to me to understand, attempt, and experience need to be properly used; not for self gratification, but to iron out the many uneven places within my soul and to consider how to help other women.

We need to ask some deeper questions and settle the aches, longings, and troubles that stir within our bosoms. As we do this, our hearts begin to enlarge for women we know, love, and those who may seem so foreign and different from us. When we strip away the externals, we find that all women have a common cry for love.

We need to find this love. We have tried men, education, achievement, admiration, abandonment. Perhaps it is time to get back to the start position. Let us relook at the beginning. The story of creation and the words of God speak truth to us. Do we dare to risk this truth – that we need God, that we are in pain, that we can find victory? Either way there is a gamble going on. Study the promises held out carefully before you spend your life and soul on it.

There is no single definition for the woman except these broad contours that you and I are made in God’s image so we are valuable and valued, creative and able. We were made to attend to creation so we are gifted and capable. We can relate deeply with God and others so we are beings hungry for meaning and connection. We are also being assaulted and can only find release in Jesus the Deliverer, Healer, and Redeemer.

These broad contours need to be sorted out. Then we find the peace and strength to live out our unique and particular meaning and purpose, making a difference in our world.

* the term used is translated “man” but means “a being of earth.”

Rev Jenni Ho-Huan currently partners her husband Dr Philip Huan in their ministry to the wider body of Christ ( www.churchlife-resources.org). Together with their wonderful children, they worship at RiverLife Church where Philip is a pastor.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

Mindsets were changing not just on a global scale, but at school and at home. Growing up in a girls’ school for ten years as well as in a family that believed in the power of women to make change in the world, made me believe that I could too.

Driven, confident, and passionate, I jumped at every opportunity life gave me. Women could be powerhouses, and we should be – that was my mindset. Even today, I still believe much of that but have learned that sometimes, I get so caught up in the doing and running around that I forget to be. I forget to sit and enjoy the quiet moments, I have no more time to have fun sleepovers (my favorite as a kid), or play board games or bake my favorite tiramisu dessert. I forget that life is a journey, not a destination.

This reminds me of the story of Martha and Mary. Martha was busy making sure the house was ready for Jesus, that all the sheets were ironed, the food was ready, the house was cleaned. I guess today that would be like me trying to run to the office to make sure all my emails were sent out, blackberry charged, house made and book published – all before Jesus comes. And sometimes it feels like I forget what I am preparing for.

In contrast, Mary just sat by the feet of her Master. And I think the Master and His gifts are all around. They are in each sunrise and sunset and the new berries in the spring, in my siblings and parents and friends. In the midst of the whirlwind of activities, tasks, and assignments, I forget to sit.

Life is a journey, and doing and sitting are not mutually exclusive. They help to reinforce the other and the times that I have loved the most is when both of these happen. Even in a fateful trip to start a scholarship program in Kolkata, India. I remember the moments not just running around buying art materials or meeting with the many non-governmental organizations, but in the moments where Suraj and I sat and listened to the sights and sounds of the city and savored each bite of the egg rolls on the street. Or I think of my closest friends at Northwestern – people who have taught me so much, not only through their leadership expertise and many connections across campus but also through the moments where we have cried, ran off to the World’s Largest Brat Fest or jumped in Lake Michigan on a hot Sunday afternoon.

It is this blend of sitting and giving your 100% at a specific dream and goal that makes each day a beautiful one. From the lyrics of one of my favorite songs:

Life is a challenge not a competition
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart
Sometimes you feel like you’ve got something to prove
Remind yourself that there’s only one you
Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are
Early in the morning
It’s the dawn of a new day
New hopes, new dreams, new ways
I open up my eyes and
I open up my mind and
I wonder how life will surprise me today

La la la la la la la la la (x3)
It’s a Beautiful Day (x3)

As we, the women in the world have even more pressure to perform, to balance the work place and the home, do not forget to take a moment to be surprised by life, chase your passions, take risks, and dream big. I will end off with five of my favorite phrases:

Live to be surprised.

Learn as much as you can from whoever you can.

Lead with integrity and light. Lead to make the world a more just place.

Laugh at life’s up and downs. Celebrate moments, give thanks, and smile.

Love each person whom your life will touch, that opportunity may only come once.

Growing up in the Eagles family, Meixi Ng graduated in June with a major in Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. Together with Suraj Prakash Upadhiah, they co-founded The Amber Initiative (www.theamberinitiative.com), an organization dedicated to the restoration and protection of human dignity through a global movement of youth. She also worked with the UN Interagency Project on Human Trafficking in Thailand. For her commitment to social justice, Meixi was named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader in 2009 and is Northwestern’s first recipient of the Ryan Award for Community Service. She also won the Circumnavigators Fellowship and begun her worldwide travel this summer as a fellow to study education as a tool for transformation in marginalized communities. She hopes to return to work with the hill tribe students in Thailand and The Amber Initiative in Singapore.

The role of women in today’s society is of vital importance. The hands and feet ministry into our communities is carried out with a great sense of mission and assignment; we have an active part to play in expressing the love of God to people everywhere that they may come into a vibrant and eternal relationship with their heavenly Father. Our ability to feel, touch, nurture, and notice the needs within our communities – whether it be feeding the hungry, caring for the sick or standing in faith with someone who needs a friend – is just a tiny expression of the part a woman plays in our cities and regions. The God given ability to multi task gives us opportunities to put our hands to many ventures at one time.

The Great Commission is forever upon us as we carry the revelation of the plan that God has for every man, woman, and child. We were all made in the image and likeness of God, seeded within us all is the intention and dream that God Himself has for us. The sole purpose of us ministering into schools with religious education, our presence in universities, building relationships with neighbors, and access into prisons is so that humans might discover that there is indeed a God in heaven who loves them and He has a plan for life that is worth living.

We serve a generational God. I believe that women particularly carry a deep conviction and understanding of the power of this generational God and the importance of what we believe, what we stand for, and the mission in our lives that needs to be imparted to the next generation so that nothing is lost with time but is built upon from one generation to the next. With every new generation, the passion for the reality of God should deepen and grow and never decline or diminish. What a privilege and opportunity that is upon us to influence people of all ages that the impact of the Gospel be lived with eternal significance.

The faith of a woman and the way she carries herself in her home will have the greatest impact upon her children. I particularly gravitate to Proverbs 31:27 that beautifully expresses how a woman “watches over the affairs of her household.” To me this is far more than just the manual and practical needs of her family that she takes care of. I see this as a woman who watches diligently over the direction her children are taking. She believes so intensely in the destiny of God upon each of those in her household that she watches, invests, trains, and prays over them so that they discover the ordained path that God has ordered for each and every household member.

I believe that because of the eternal responsibility that is upon us, we waste no opportunity to sow, equip or disciple another so that destinies might be claimed. I love the capacity upon women to partner well with both the spiritual and the natural that make up our daily lives.

The Gospel of John chapter 2 gives us this outstanding record of far more than water being changed to wine. The message is deep, the message is one of hope that we too can see the watery places of our lives turned into wine.

My husband came from a non Christian background; attendance at church was only for funerals and weddings. I however did grow up with the familiarity of attending a traditional style church which helped form some early beliefs and convictions. I would love to testify that I transitioned well through the teenage years without falling by the wayside but unfortunately that was not the case. An awareness of eternity and the grounding I had received seemed a long way off as it was overshadowed by other things that seemed more attractive at that time. In our lives it was two people who were instrumental in seeing the pattern and habits of a destructive lifestyle change. They saw how lost we were, and they faithfully and diligently began to pray for us, knocking on heaven’s doors for their friends. Two people who believed in us enough to call on God to come into an awareness of Him, a God who had a future and a hope that belonged to us, a God in heaven who so deeply loved and believed in us more than we believed in ourselves.

The host at that wedding was pivotal; he noticed that the water had changed into wine. He had no explanation or understanding how such a thing could have transpired. All he knew was that at one moment there was nothing to offer the guests other than water and now there was the finest quality wine for those who were there.

Like the host at that wedding, we too experienced a miracle one Saturday afternoon in our home as we said those life altering words and asked Jesus to come into our lives. We didn’t know what had happened but something had changed. Within hours of praying we were sitting in church. Within three weeks of our decision, the addiction of generational alcohol was broken off in my husband’s life. Within a month, we were baptised in water and within three months, we would encounter the Holy Spirit in indescribable ways. Something had changed, the watery places of our lives had become new. The mess of the past had now become a message that we take everywhere we go. The changing of lives is still His speciality, what seems to be out of reach today is tomorrow’s possibility.

The miracle at the wedding that day was our glimpse into the possibilities of a greater future for those who are willing to taste and see that the Lord is good and ready to show Himself to you in ways that are nothing short of miraculous. Our lives now are blessed as we see the hungry fed and orphans who are finding hope as they are experiencing the benefits of family. Lives continue to be transformed and miracles continue in everyday lives. His message is timeless; His word is unfailing as water continues to be turned into wine.

Today I am so blessed to be a woman who continues to speak into a future that is worth more than I can find words for. My hope is that you too will not miss your day of opportunity, it is simply too good to miss. I carry a revelation of the power of family, the church that is God’s representation upon the earth to demonstrate His purpose and love to anyone who will receive it. Our faith and spirituality need to be seen inside the house and outside the house, in private as well as public. Who we are and whom we represent is a message we take with us wherever we go.

I pray, worship, and surrender my life not because I have to but because I am so utterly convinced that what He has so graciously done for us, He is ready, willing, and more than able to do for others.

Anne, along with her husband, Byron, are the Senior Pastors of Highway Christian Church, Gold Coast, Australia and have been for the past 15 years. Anne has a heart to see families united and serving together, to see the lost saved and the broken made whole. The last two years have been a journey of trust, surrender, and the unknown as her husband was diagnosed, treated, and healed of stage four cancer. Today Anne continues to serve the Lord as she travels the nation as the Director of Queensland Christian Women. Anne is passionate about seeing women empowered by the Word and through prayer.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

These writers advocate what is sometimes called the “hierarchicalist” view of the relationship between man and woman. This view maintains that although God has created men and women equal, He has designed the woman to be subordinated to the man. Proponents of this view maintain that the subordination of the woman to the man points to the complementary role she is given by God. This view of the male-female relationship may also be described as the traditional view, since it is the view that Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches espouse. In what follows, I will argue that there is strong evidence to suggest that the Bible teaches that men and women are created equal for reciprocal and mutual relationship with each other. One gender is therefore not subordinated to the other. Rather men and women are to mutually support each other in all dimensions of life.

Man and Woman in Creation

We begin by examining the account of the creation of the first humans in Genesis. There, we are told that human beings – male and female – are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27). That both the man and the woman are bearers of the divine image suggests that they both have been bestowed with the same dignity and value. It is important to note that the image of God is also a relational concept. This means that the first human pair images the God who created them by enjoying community with each other. According to this understanding, the woman was not created by God merely to complement the man. Rather she was created to “complete” the divine image by delivering the man from his isolation. This primal community of the man and the woman reflects the triune God who created them, who is Being-in-Communion.

Although the proponents of the traditional view would agree with this, they argue that the fact that the woman was created from the man indicates that she is subordinated to him. This argument is, of course, fallacious: the context of the narrative has to do not with the hierarchical order of creation but the alleviation of the man’s solitude and loneliness. In its depiction of the woman as created from the man, the narrative stresses that only the woman is a fit companion for the man. This is beautifully brought out in Genesis’ portrayal of marriage as the joining of the man and the woman in such a way that they become “one flesh” (Gen 2:24). Marriage is the bond between the man and the only creature that is like him (Gen 2:23). It is also this profound similarity between male and female that allows the woman to be the man’s “helper.”

To describe the woman as the man’s “helper,” however, does not mean that she is subordinated to him. Hierarchicalists have used this to substantiate their position. For instance, based on this description John Piper has categorically declared that “God teaches us that the woman is a man’s ‘helper’ in the sense of a loyal and suitable assistant in the life of the garden.” But the term “helper” (Hebrew: ezer) does not necessarily refer to a subordinate. There are seventeen references to God as our helper in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the specific term that Genesis uses for the woman (‘ézrer kenegdô : fit helper) suggests equality, not subordination. As Semitic specialist David Freedman explains: “When God creates Eve from Adam’s rib, his intent is that she will be – unlike the animals – ‘a power (or strength) equal to him’.”

Paul’s Magna Carter

In Galatians 3, Paul reinforces the conclusions we have drawn from the creation narrative in Genesis concerning the equal status of the man and the woman. In what is sometimes described as his “Magna Carta of Humanity,” Paul writes: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). In Christ, believers enjoy the same benefits from God, regardless of race, class or gender. These distinctions, to be sure, are not obliterated in Christ. Rather, they no longer serve as the basis for social or functional discrimination.

Hierarchicalists also recognise the implications of Paul’s declaration of equality in Christ. But they argue that this declaration has to do only with the positions of redeemed persons in Christ, not their relationships and functions. They argue that although the woman is equal in status with the man, she is relationally and functionally subordinate to him. But positional equality cannot be severed from equality in relationships and functions. The former must surely imply the latter. Christ has brought about not just a change in status, but also a change in relationships. And if this is true for the relationship between the Gentile and the Jew, and the slave and the citizen, surely it must also be true for the relationship between the woman and the man.

Reflecting on the implications of this especially in relation to Christian ministry, F. F. Bruce wrote:

No more restriction is implied in Paul’s equalizing of the status of male and female in Christ than in his equalizing of the status of Jew and Gentile, or of slave and free person. If in ordinary life existence in Christ is manifested openly in church fellowship, then, if a Gentile may exercise spiritual leadership in church as freely as a Jew, or a slave as freely as a citizen, why not a woman as freely as a man?

Women in the Church

There is strong evidence that women were involved in the various ministries of the church in the earliest period of its history. Christian art of the first and second centuries, for example, depicts women baptizing, administering the Lord’s Supper, teaching and caring for the congregation. But the most important evidence of the egalitarian view of the early Church with regard to the participation of women in the ministry is found in the pages of Acts. Luke mentioned the involvement of women in the early expansion of the church in cities such as Jerusalem (Acts 5:14), Samaria (Acts 8:12), Philippi (Acts 16:13-15), Thessalonica (Acts 17:4), Corinth (Acts 18:2) and many others. For example, Lydia (Acts 16:40) played a significant role in assisting Paul in the Philippian church.

Significantly, women prophesied and taught in the early church. Acts 21:8-9 describes the four unmarried daughters of Philip who prophesied, suggesting that these women exercised some form of significant leadership at the church in Caesarea. Acts 18 also clearly indicates that Priscilla (together with her husband) was a teacher of the Scriptures who helped to further enlighten the already erudite Apollos about “the way of God” (Acts 18:26). Women were not excluded even from the office of the apostle. In Romans 16:7, Paul writes: “Greet Andronicus and Junias… They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” The question whether Junias is a man or a woman is a much disputed one among contemporary scholars. But the Fathers of the early church, including Origen and John Chrysostom, maintained that Junias was a woman.

The Question of Submission

The creation narrative, Paul’s Magna Carter for Humanity, and the practice of the early Church provide the framework for understanding male-female relationships. It is within this framework that one should interpret the passages that prohibit women from performing certain ministries. Thus, scholars have argued that even Paul’s declarative statement in 1 Timothy 2:12 (“I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man”) must be understood contextually and must not be taken as a timeless imperative. In addition, linguistic studies have shown that here we have a temporary directive, not a permanent rule.

It is also within this framework that we should understand the Pauline concept of submission. Paul maintains that the overarching principle that should govern the human community (especially the Christian community) is mutual submission: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21). Mutual submission demolishes the social hierarchies and discriminations brought about by the Fall by according equal dignity and worth to every human being regardless of ethnic heritage, social status, and gender. In the context of marriage, such mutuality is seen in the relationship of reciprocity where the wife willingly submits to her loving and devoted husband.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I must stress that in rejecting sexual hierarchy, I am not rejecting all hierarchy as such. Society is so ordered that an egalitarianism that knows no supra- and subordinate levels, no authority and obedience is in the end naïve and untenable. In the concrete structures of society, some women may be subordinated to men, as the occasion requires. But the egalitarianism that is portrayed in Scripture rejects the view that all women must be subject to all men because they are women. It is in this respect that the biblical vision of the male-female relationship is truly counter-cultural. It points to the kind of human community that God had intended in creation, and the eschatological reality that the redemptive and restorative work of Christ has made possible.

References:
Bruce, F.F. The Epistle to the Galatians. Exeter: The Paternoster Press, 1982.

Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine and Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Trinity Theological College.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.