The Feminization of Christianity

CULTURE VS. DOCTRINE – WHICH WILL STAND?

“I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man, but to be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” 1 Tim 2:12-14

This article will not endear myself to most women in the world today - even Christian women - but needs to be said nonetheless. It is Biblical, and if spoken 50 years ago, would have been heard without a blink of the eye. Such is how much things have changed today.

Prolifers have long seen the apathy and complacency that exists in the church. Anyone who dare be prolife (and active) is called a hatemonger, judgmental, and a racist. And that's just what the Christians say!

What has brought about the change from “hell, fire and brimstone” preaching of days gone by, to the let’s be “nicer than Jesus” mentality today? Well let’s look at the modern Christian worldview. We are to be compassionate, non-judgmental, tolerant, understanding and accepting. Never mind that one needs to first recognize they are a sinner before they will ever accept Jesus as Savior. If one does not sin, he or she has no need to be saved from anything or by anyone.

I submit that this view of Christianity has been brought about by the feminization of the Church – and in particular - women seeking the role of pastor. It is rebellion against the order God has ordained.

Women are nurturers - compassionate, understanding and tolerant. Men on the other hand are warriors - strong, uncompromising, unbending – ready to do battle. Unfortunately, when Christians are forced to stand and defend the truth of God’s Word, tolerance and the seeking of acceptance become the enemies of the Cross.

The equal rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s ushered in a flood of women seeking to become “equal” in ministry in pastoring churches – in defiance of Paul’s admonition to Timothy not to allow woman to teach men.

Modern exegesis would say what Paul taught was only cultural – fit only for that time period and that culture. Well, let’s look at that and the context of the passage.

Paul wrote:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man, but to be silent.”

What was the basis for Paul saying this?

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” What Paul taught was based on creation order. There is nothing cultural about that.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” It was also based on the fall of mankind in the garden. It was the woman (Eve) that was deceived, not the man (Adam).

Renowned commentator and theologian Matthew Henry writes:

"According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures; and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother? #2 Tim. iii. 15|. Aquila and his wife Priscilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly; but then they did it privately, for they took him unto them, #Acts xviii. 26|.

Here are two very good reasons given for the man's authority over the woman, and her subjection to the man, #v. 13, 14|. Adam was first formed, then Eve; she was created for the man, and not the man for the woman (#1 Cor. xi. 9|); then she was deceived, and brought the man into the transgression."

The modern liberated Christian woman might ask, “Do I have to suffer for what Eve did?”

The short answer to that is, “Yes.”

The man’s curse in the Garden of Eden was to toil and sweat in the field a.k.a. work. Women seeking “careers” should take special note that work is considered a ”curse.” The woman’s curse was two-fold: in childbirth you will have pain, and “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Gen. 3:16 If anyone has a problem with these passages, your problem is with the Word of God – not me! Suffice it to say, culture had nothing to do with Paul’s admonition to Timothy.

WARNING: Anytime the “cultural” exception is used - beware! Using the “culture tag” can summarily dismiss entire portions of scripture. We see lesser forms of this today in women refusing to wear head coverings 1 Cor. 11:2-16 (which also had nothing to do with culture) to the more extreme homosexual discounting the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:26-28 which condemned sodomites and lesbians (see Metropolitan Community Church literature for proof of this abomination).

The end result is an all accepting, tolerant Christian faith which lacks the teeth of conviction, thereby nullifying the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

This goes way beyond the come as you are to Jesus. None of us can change without Him. What I speak of is the acceptance, tolerance and affirmation that say to the homosexual, “God made you this way. Remain in the lifestyle God called you to be.” The same applies of abortionist hoarding churches that instead of “removing the evil man from your midst” – rather they embrace and encourage the baby killer to do more of the same.

To be sure, we men have done (or better, failed to do) more than our share in the feminization of Christianity. Instead of standing strong and saying, “No!” – we shrank back and gave our God ordained authority over to women – much as Adam did in the Garden of Eden. The result then was the kicking out of the garden and subsequent curses that fall upon us today.

What curses will we see fall upon the Church for its men failing to stand, and its women breaking all restraint?  We could point to the outright support of child sacrifice from the pulpit, the apathy and complacency in the church, and a false gospel preached that is impudent and devoid of saving grace - but those are only the results.

The blood of 50 million unborn babies slain from the womb could give answer.

God's judgment, swift and sure.

Steve Wetzel
 

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