THE GENDER WARS

"... became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1.21-22)

The scriptural distinctions between men (males) and women (females) are under attack in various ways. The enemies of divine truth are untiring in their assaults, and our failure to earnestly contend for the truth once delivered to the saints has facilitated the erosion of biblical values. The world constantly pushes to instill its values and opinions. The educational systems teach evolution as a fact, not a theory, and make humanity the result of a cosmic accident, pure chance. God is eliminated, and man is responsible to no one but himself. All around us we see the sad results, as society spins out of control. Schools and liberal media incessantly push their humanist agendas, without taking into account God or His Word. Sadly, Christians are often affected, to a greater degree than many of them realize. Thinking is contaminated on the question of gender, and the distinct biblical roles and responsibilities of men and women.

    For some years now there have been attempts to discredit scriptural teachings concerning men and woman in the church. We are told that Proverbs 31 applies only to Jewish women in Old Testament times. Texts like 1 Corinthians 11.3-16; 1 Timothy 2.9-15, Titus 2.3-5 and 1 Peter 3.1-7 are discarded as cultural teachings applicable only in Paul’s day. Proponents of the cultural argument insist that women should not have to wear a head-covering as a sign of submission. They should be allowed to participate audibly in the congregation, reading Scriptures, requesting hymns, and praying aloud. They are given public responsibilities, such as being ushers, leading singing, making announcements, collecting the offering, or passing the emblems in the Lord’s Supper.

For example, marriage has long been under attack. Scripture teaches that it was established by God, rather than being a social institution. It means the taking of vows to unite one man and one woman, not two men or two women. It is dissoluble by death, not by divorce, but in today’s world divorce and remarriage is accepted as normal. The world increasingly scorns the Christian view of marriage.

In many marriages, role-reversal is increasingly common. According to Scripture, wives are to submit to their husbands (Eph. 5.22), not vice-versa. God’s reason is stated in verse 23, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…”. These words have little practical value in many marriages, which is a symptom of worldliness, and indicates the decay of biblical values. The world puts women in places of leadership and prominence, instead of in the home. It considers being a housewife a form a slavery or chauvinism. These are the world’s values, not God’s. Today women want to have a career, work outside the home, bring in a salary and manage their own finances, rather than be keepers at home (Tit. 2.5) and depend on their husbands.

Couples are told that headship is shared 50-50, but the reality in many cases is not even this. Wives lead and husbands follow, because otherwise, there will be tension and conflict. Therefore, a popular slogan is, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” The wife reserves the right to intervene and veto or change any decision that she doesn’t like. In Numbers 30 the husband is given the right to veto any vow that his wife made, but not vice-versa.

Some wives give the impression in public that their husbands make the decisions, but in the home, in private, they make sure their husbands know what to say or do. Someone said, the wife composes the music at home and the husband sings in public. Women are becoming more assertive, and their husbands, more supportive. Scripture still says, “ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands” (1 Pet. 3.1), not “ye husbands, be in subjection to your own wives”.

            For some time now, society has accepted long hair on boys and men, and it is even considered stylish. Sports heroes, singers and other artists lead the way, and the sheep follow. However, God’s Word has not changed. We find the apostolic doctrine in 1 Corinthians 11.14-15. “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” It is not a question of style, personal opinion or even culture. Later in the same epistle, the apostle declares: “the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14.37). Such commandments were given in the church age, the age of grace, and apply to all Christians. Christian parents should not only be an example in this area, but also teach their children and insist on their compliance. This comes under the heading of bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. It is their responsibility, and they should be careful not to be like the priest Eli who did nothing when his sons dishonored God (1 Sam. 2.29; 3.13).

            This may seem like a minor issue to some, but it is part of the confusion of the sexes. Men and boys have long hair, follow women’s lead and are supportive. Women have short hair, lead and assert themselves, and submit to no one.

            And now, the next step has been taken in the confusion. It is the unscientific and unbiblical idea that one can choose his gender and sexual orientation, that it is his personal right. With hormones and an operation, anyone may be whatever he chooses. Those who push these absurd theories insist on the right of freedom of expression and self-determination, but do not allow the same liberties to those who disagree with them. Apparently, everyone except God and Christians has the right to speak out on the subject! “Male and female created he them” is still in scripture (Gen. 1.27), and God still distinguishes between males and females. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife” (Gen. 2.24), is quoted by Christ in the Gospels (Matt. 19.5), and by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5.31.

     By allowing the blurring of distinctions of gender, role reversal in the marriage and the church, and the world’s values regarding the hair and clothing of men and woman, we become complicit in the world’s on-going rebellion against God. All these things are connected, as parts of the enemy’s strategy in the war against God. The world takes counsel against the Lord and says, “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psa. 2.3). But if we wish to be blessed, we must not follow the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful (Psa. 1.1). Believers, as followers of Christ, are called to be different, “be not conformed to this world” (Rom. 12.2). We must answer in word as well as by our behavior, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3.4). The world’s approval is of no consequence, but God’s approval means everything.