Does the Bible Hate Women?

There are past blog articles in the archieves where I tackle this issue in greater detail.  I still want to offer some quick thoughts.  Lately I’ve downloaded some pod casts of “Ex-Christians” and others who go on about all that is wrong with believers and the Bible.  So I’m writing various thoughts I have as I process the critics.  One criticism I still hear is that we don’t like women or that the Bible doesn’t like women very much.  This article is very similar to the one I just wrote about slavery but I’ll give it a go.

First we again must admit that there are those who do oppress and minimize women in history that have quoted the Bible (not correctly I add).

We also have to admit that the role of women in the church is not universally agreed upon. There are those who do not hate women and are not abusive but feel women are equal to men but should not be pastors or deacons or leaders in the church.  I disagree with that but that doesn’t make them cavemen who want to club women and drag them into caves.

We need to realize that women historically have been treated unfairly and this is true not just among Christians but all civilizations in history. It’s a fact that women have often been seen as inferior or less important.  It’s sad but it is a reality in global history.

And so the Bible is a book (66 books) shaped over a history where women are not treated equally anywhere.  I believe this was not God’s desire and the Bible does not support this inequality and hatred.  Genesis shows us that the fall of humanity brings division and one of the examples of that division is that between men and women.  This is not God’s desire but a part of sin.  So our job is to try and bring healing in this area and not to continue in such division.  The Bible tells stories of women being abused and it is clear this abuse is not supported by Scripture.  These stories are told to give voice to women and to point out this wrong.  If people of faith wanted to hide this the stories would not be told.  And throughout the Old Testament unique role models pop up- Ruth, Esther, Deborah, Huldah, etc.

In the New Testament we see the church living in a man’s world.  Yet healing is again offered.  Jesus includes women and gives them a higher place than anyone else would.  Paul does not hate women but is actually much more progressive than men of his day.  Women are very highly placed in his churches and serve as apostles, deacons, etc.  Women preach and lead in the early church.  Paul’s statements that are used to put women down later in history are actually trying to do the opposite.  In Ephesians Paul is trying to point out ‘mutual submission’ then detailing how this works.  In a world where women would be told what to do Paul actually tells men what to do too. I see a liberation and a movement forward that is actually amazing.  The NT goes against the grain of its day.

One amazing and radical change is baptism.  When Jews had their mark it was circumcision and that of course really leaves women out.  Baptism is inclusive.  Men and women are baptized in faith. It really is an inclusive act.

Regardless I really think people are looking for something to attack when they claim the Bible is anti-female.  Even those who do not support women in ministry are not all attacking women.  Some do of course but today this is not the norm.  I personally support women in all roles within the church but the point is that God is moving us to break down barriers and to not treat our sisters in faith as second class citizens.  So does the Bible hate women?  No!  It’s not a fair charge.

Blessings,

Derik

Kentucky Basketball, Black Mail, Abortion, and a One Night Stand

I’ve never written on sports in this blog so here is my first! I grew up in Kentucky and in KY basketball is king.  The two more popular teams were UK or UL.  The majority of the state sides with UK but you have loyal U of L fans out in the state.   Rick Pitino did an excellent job when he coached at UK and man could he get the job down.  I remember in seminary living in VA watching championship games and shouting like crazy in my apartment all alone.  It made me proud to bleed blue.  Rick left for the pros and realized the grass isn’t always greener and came back home.  But not to UK!  He went to Louisville and many of my friends and family went from loving Rick to hating him.  I didn’t.  I root for UK first then I’m supportive of any KY team.  I lived in Louisville so I’m actually supportive of the Cardinals (after the Cats of course).  Rick has done a good job in Louisville and created excitement there as well.  He is a great coach.  He also has written and spoken on leadership in many places and there have been many lessons he has given that speak to anyone in leadership.

Until now.

The news is out.  Six years ago while sitting in a bar a woman came onto Rick.  She was on the hunt.  The manager gave Rick the keys and said, “Lock up when you leave.”  Since this is a Christian blog I’ll pass on the details but you can read them elsewhere.  They aren’t Rick’s finest moments.

Shortly after she approaches Rick for an abortion.  She has no insurance.  Money is exchanged.  3000 bucks.  He says it wasn’t for abortion but for medical coverage.  Geez.  Rick is a strong Catholic, husband, and father of five kids.  His personal friend is a priest who prays before games.  Rick has done much in charity and while a serious coach is well thought of by many.  This Rick is not the Rick in that bar.

The woman tries to black mail Rick.  Strangely she married one of his coach’s months after this and they saw each other at games.  She tried to get cars, tuition, and finally she wanted 10 million bucks.  He refuses and she cries rape.  No evidence and there is actually a witness to the affair (can we say ‘yuck’).  He goes to the police and now all is out.  I’m not sure of every detail (this isn’t Entertainment Tonight) but it all sounds so awful.

I’ve read reports that in his contract he is bring no shame such to the school.  He is not leaving and from what I hear they aren’t asking.  Forgiveness of course.  Would they offer it if he was a bad coach? One Baptist school has revoked an invitation for Rick to speak on leadership.  A trial for this woman will be coming for blackmail and other charges.  He will probably testify and this is not going away.

In a public statement he said he was taking his own advice that he had taught his players for over 30 years.  “When you have a problem, if you tell the truth, the problem becomes part of your past,” he said. “If you lie, it becomes part of your future.”

Is Rick right?  Doesn’t the Bible say that’s what God does? Isn’t that grace?  When King David had an affair, a baby was lost, and a man killed God did forgive him but he also faced the consequences of his actions.  Part of admitting your problem and telling the truth is facing the consequences and then it become past and you can have a new future.  But we have to face the music.

What should the music be?  I’m not sure.  Rick is a role model and if he is held to a different standard than his players well there’s a problem.  What does this say to the kids who play for him?  What about the parents who send their kids to be shaped by Rick’s leadership?  I personally believe as an act of repentance he should step down from his job.  He agreed to certain standards as the coach and he has brought shame to his college and team.  He should step down.  He should show sorrow.  In time he can return to coaching and with his skills and abilities I believe he’ll have no problem finding a team.  But to just continue without any consequences seems awfully weak to me.

As a Christian I believe we are all sinners saved by grace and we all mistakes but shouldn’t we face the consequences of our actions?  Some would say he is with the public shame going on.  I’m not saying he should be cast aside forever but this is a big deal.  And of course there are others in his position.  Every day governors, leaders, and others get caught up in similar tales of woe.  In the past I’ve had some thoughts when other public figures did shameful things that it was their business and between them and God.  Yet as I read this somewhere and somehow this has to stop.  Those who shape younger generations can’t be perfect but what about the discipline and integrity?Am I wrong but does the sporting world declare this to be part of what they are teaching?

Maybe I’m wrong.  What do you think?  What should Rick do?  What lessons do we find in this story?  What’s the moral here kids?

Not sure.  But as a fan of Rick’s from the past (and I’ve always liked him) I’m shocked.

Derik

Does the Bible Support Slavery?

Atheists and critics love to look at reasons to put the Scriptures down in their arguments. The more I listen to their arguments it is “anti-fundamentalism.” They read the text in the same way as fundamentalists only to criticize it. Taking literal readings of every phrase and wording is used to “show” that our faith is ridiculous. I really believe many former Christians who are atheists are really angry former fundamentalists.

One of the criticisms I read and hear about is slavery. The Bible is not a book of love they will say because it supports slavery. Readings from laws about slavery in the OT or comments on slavery in the NT are read as “proof” that our faith is out of touch and dismiss the Christian faith. So what do we do about it? How can we deal with this issue?

We first have to admit that there have been times that people have tried to use the Bible to support slavery. In this country slavery was supported in the South and the Bible was used by pro-slavery forces. At the same time anti-slavery forces used the same Bible and churches stood on both sides of the issue. I believe the pro-slavery churches were wrong and read the Bible incorrectly. I do not believe God supports slavery and do not believe this is a fair attack.

Why is this important? If the Bible does support slavery and we all admit that slavery is wrong then the Bible is wrong therefore all immoral acts condemned by the Bible are up for grabs. So this is really a serious issue. While we may not be fighting about slavery as they did in the 1800s this is why the issue matters.

So what about slavery in the Old Testament?

They had slavery in ancient Israel. Not just Hebrews but all the ancient nations had forms of slavery. It varied in different ways but it existed. People were owned by their own fellow nation members. Others were conquered people who belonged to another nation. The Hebrews themselves had been slaves! Poor people sold themselves into slavery. And it was and is a sad reality. I do not believe God wanted or desired slavery for anyone. Slavery is the result of the fall-sin. When sin came into the world then separation and division began among people. Men and women faced division that is not God’s will as do nations. Our entire humanity is fractured and divided. God created the Hebrew people to put into a plan to bring the nations of the world back to him. I believe that it was a sad reality of a fallen world as was war, violence, suffering, and all forms of evil. Slavery is a part of the problem of evil which is another issue but it is a reality of sin and fallen humanity. The Mosaic Law set up ways to help protect those caught up in this reality. This was done always looking forward to a day of freedom for all. The Jubilee Year was a way to set slaves free that is a metaphor for what God is going to do eventually for all people. I agree some of the literal readings about the laws about slavery sound harsh and strange in our ears but this was not God’s desire and it was God’s plan all along to bring freedom.

What about slavery in the New Testament?

Slavery still existed in the Roman Empire. The government promoted slavery. It was a fact and reality of life. I do not have time to go into the details of Roman slavery but I much is found about what it was like at the time. This is the world the church was born into. Christians did not support slavery but probably thought it would always be a part of reality. Paul himself really felt the world was ending soon and so he probably did not envision a world without slavery. He used slavery often as a metaphor in his writings and there are passages about slavery. The church tried like the Law to bring some civility and justice into this institution and this is not the same thing as supporting it. If you read the text in this light you realize that this is actually revolutionary. Slaves had to obey but masters were told how to treat their slaves as brothers and sisters. There is even a story in the New Testament about a runaway slave that Paul sends back to his master but calls for a brotherhood among them. This is actually a radical event.

This blog entry is not a scholarly discourse on the issue but some basic quick thoughts. The reality is that critics who attack the Bible try to take passages out of context or read them as if they are 21st documents. They also pull passages apart and use the same tactics that a strong fundamentalist would use only with a different goal in mind. Fundamentalists might take the passage about women being silent in church literally and in a wooden sense ignoring the context and the rest of the NT and say that this is God’s will. An atheist would take that same passage to say that the Bible is anti-woman and should be dismissed. They both use the same methodology but with different results. A better approach is to take that statement and realize there is a context and a fairer reading of the text. Soon I will write on, “Does the Bible hate women?”

Blessings,

Derik