Decoding the Past
“Women and Christianity”
May 14, 2006
Introduction: Happy Mothers Day! I am so glad that you chose to spend the morning in worship with us today. Today we want to look at the topic of “Women and Christianity.” As we discussed last week, the book and movie “The DaVinci Code” has caused quite a stir in our culture. It has also given rise a many questions regarding the reliability of scripture, the deity of Christ and the role of women in Christianity. Today being Mothers Day it seems appropriate for us to deal with the issue of women and Christianity.
It is a very common argument from those who want to distort the truth that Christianity is opposed to women. It has been an argument that has been passed down from many secular leaders of women’s movements and has been a recurring theme in many of the social conversations of the day. There are some major keys that need to be developed and understood in order for us to have a comprehensive approach to this subject.
I. God’s View of Women
Linda Hartz Rump in an article in Christianity Today (3/05/2004) notes that scripture gives us three clear pictures of God’s view of women.
Picture Number 1: Creation
So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called ’woman,’ for she was taken out of man. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV)
God created both male and female.
When God saw his creation, he was pleased.
After woman was created and presented to the first man, they were charged to rule over the earth together.
It took both the man and the woman to complete one another.
Picture Number 2: Disobedience
In Genesis 3 we find that both the man and the woman were guilty of disobedience before God. They both did the one thing God had told them not to do.
As a result, both the man and the woman were removed from Gods presence.
“So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.” Genesis 3:23 (NIV)
What happened to Adam and Eve in the physical realm was passed to each of us in the spiritual realm.
Picture Number 3: Forgiveness
God took the initiative to bring each of us back into right relationship with him through Jesus Christ.
“But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them. All those who believe this are reborn!--not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan--but from the will of God.” John 1:12-13 (Living Bible)
The grace and mercy of God is available to everyone.
There are three things that are true of all of us, male and female:
1) We were all created by God for His pleasure.
2) We all have chosen to disobey His plan for us.
3) We all have the opportunity to receive His forgiveness.
II. The Women in Jesus Life
We find there are many references to women being involved in the everyday life and ministry of Jesus. Some of his closest companions that scripture talks about were women.
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3 (NIV)
These women were following Jesus and the disciples and were heavily involved in supporting Jesus’ earthly ministry. Who are these women and what do we know about them?
Mary Magdalene: A close follower of Jesus.
Scripture never tells us that she was a prostitute. It simply tells us that Jesus cast out seven demons from her. Seven in scripture is a number of completion. The implication in this case is that Mary was completely filled with demons until her encounter with Jesus.
Now, this subject raises many questions being raised by “The DaVinci Code.” The most important question and the one that is at the center of the book is Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene?
Dr. Kathryn McReynolds, professor at Biola University in LaMirada, California has this to say:
“(There is no mention of Jesus being married) in the four gospels and not in Paul’s writing. And Paul writes about marriage. If Jesus were married, you would certainly think that Paul would at least mention it since he addresses marriage in the book of 1 Corinthians.”
Dr. Katherine McReynolds
Exploring the DaVinci Code, Lee Strobel and Gary Poole, 2006
She goes on to state that there is no mention of Jesus being married in any writing that has historical credibility.
There is no historical evidence that Jesus was married.
In the Gospel of Philip written 200 years after the ministry of Christ, a statement is made that Mary Magdalene was a “companion” of Jesus. Some interpret this to mean spouse since in the Aramaic language the term companion is the same as spouse. However, the Gospel of Philip was written in the Coptic language where the term from companion means close acquaintance. It is the same base word as the Greek word for companion and does not mean spouse.
Mary Magdalene was a close friend and companion to Jesus because he had changed her life by freeing her from demons.
Joanna, the wife of Cuza: An eyewitness to the resurrection.
This is the first mention of anyone from the house of Herod. It is interesting to note that she appears no where else in scripture except here and at the resurrection.
“It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.” Luke 24:10 (NIV)
Susanna and other women: prominent women who supported the disciples and Jesus financially.
The point is that Jesus never pushed away women who came to seek him as the Messiah.
We find him having incredible ministry into the lives of Mary and Martha when there brother died, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and many other women who came to listen to his message. Jesus also had an incredible ministry into the life of the woman at the well in John 4.
“Jesus was revolutionary in his treatment of women, especially given the time and place in which he lived. He treated women with a certain dignity and raised them to a level of respect in society that was really unheard of in his day.” Dr. Katherine McReynolds
III. Women in the Modern Church
It is important to note that men and women are both given gifts to be used in the ministry of the body of Christ.
Oneness in the body of Christ is God’s idea.
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
“In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:28 (The Message)
We all bring different gifts, talents and roles into the life of the church. One is not better or more important to the other.
Just as in the creation, the uniqueness of men and women serve to complete the body of Christ.
Conclusion: Today, do you understand that whether you are male or female you are a unique and loved creation of God? Do you realize that God has given you value and worth simply because you exist as his creation? Our lives are meant to be intertwined with one another in the love and grace of our Lord Jesus. Today, are you willing to allow yourself to be loved as a truly unique creation of God?
Resources:
Christian History Corner: Is Christianity Oppressive to Women?: Linda Hartz Rump, Article from Christianity Today, March 5, 2004
The DaVinci Code: A Companion Guide to the Movie: Campus Crusade for Christ, 2006
Exploring the DaVinci Code: Lee Strobel and Gary Poole, 2006
www.leestrobel.com
