Women have Nothing to do with the Truth?

Written by a man under authority.

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good!"

I Thess. 5: 21

WHAT could a woman want with the truth? Do they have the time to examine things out for themselves? Are they even capable of dividing truth from error without a mediator of some sort? Even more important, can a woman be trusted with the truth? These questions will no doubt cause many emotions to rise, and just might reveal any reactionary tendencies to prejudice you might have. Nevertheless, they are important to consider, even as they greatly affect at least one half of this world.

There are two major extremes relating to these questions which we wish to examine, and if we find mistaken, avoid, in light of a demonstration of the right view on the subject. Both of these extremes have had a great deal of supporters, but we all can agree that numbers do not prove any truth at all--especially when they contradict each other.

I. The Ignorant-Woman Position.

"Do not be slaves of men." I Cor. 7

"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is you Teacher"

Matt. 23

The first position we would like to consider is the one that would ask our first questions without really expecting any answer to be given--that would expect the questions themselves to end all discussion upon the subject. Perhaps they would not boldly say the words of the title of this tract, but their teaching and living would imply just that. This is the position that usually has good intentions to conserve right roles, traditional values, peace, and avoid conflict. Such values are good in themselves and necessary to the well-being of society. But are they absolute values; do they rank as the highest commandments; and can they ever be sacrificed when higher interests demand it?

Allow us to give a brief response to this position:

1. We can still conserve these good values without making them the highest priority. It seems that this party is so concerned about these values that it thinks the only way to keep them is by forceful restrictions against investigation of contrary views or even all forms of doctrines and knowledge. But there is no need for such fears, for the truth will commend itself to every honest inquirer. The reason for this tight restriction lies in the fact that these authorities do not have confidence in the honesty or wisdom of their subjects. Therefore they must take away any possibility of departure from these supposedly most important values. But this censor deprives women of essential freedoms to truth, trials, and advancement in every area of life! There is no need for this kind of oppression. If we treat people with true dignity and love, and stop treating them like we assume they will be sinful, and candidly present our values in all their fulness (and validly), then if we have right values, the people will be rightly loyal adherents of such causes.

The more men limit freedom of investigation, the more force or manipulation they have to use to maintain their positions. This is what happens in these circles. It inevitably follows that these ideas become the main focus, even as they require so much attention to maintain. But if men or leaders were just honest and diligent students themselves, they would only have to focus half as much on these subjects, as they should easily convince honest minds of truth.

2. Keeping women ignorant in order to keep the family together or keep them from error deprives them of salvation from sin and eternal life. No one can understand what the truth is without knowing how to discern between truth and error. And no one can fairly believe anything unless they have proper reasons to. Therefore to sit back in the unrighteous carelessness that neglects learning how to investigate, and then to actually study truth, makes one prone to falsehood and unfit for God's service: "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2.

3. How can a woman be taught of God if truth comes exclusively through a man? These same people suppose that if women pray to God and keep themselves pure and honest, then there will be no further responsibility for them in relation to truth. They are to simply submit their minds up to their husbands or fathers and expect all the responsibility to fall on them! We respond to this by saying first that it is contradictory. These men would not expect them to submit in the same way to their civil authorities, nor would they so submit themselves.

Secondarily, this position goes against the very offices of Jesus Christ as given to us from God to be our Teacher, Master, Leader, Instructor, Prophet, and Mediator. It prevents our obeying his most essential teachings about following Him! We all remember the occasion when He once spoke with a woman with many marital problems. He revealed no signs of this false submission teaching, but rather spoke opposite to it. He rejected this Pharisaical authority structure and teaching which was more concerned with conserving formal 'truth' than all truth, or the spirit of truth. He had said on another occasion that these people thus made their converts twice as ready for hell by their training prejudice and mere outward comformity. But to this woman at the well He revealed His own teaching privately: "An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers." He did not direct her to blind submission to some Pharisee who cared not for the spirit of the law and truth, but to Himself. It is amazing to see how much even the disciples were caught up in this teaching at that time by their being "amazed that He had been speaking with a woman." But they eventually learned.

Though there be many authorities under Christ which we must righteously obey, none have absolute control, and none can take His place. They have no authority where He contradicts it. And yes, there is a place for persecution.

Women are not to be ignorantly "slaves of men", but students and "children of God."

II. The Self-Deluded-Women Position.

"Trust the Lord with all your heart

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3

The other extreme we wish to examine was probably first formed as a reaction to the first. They rightly recognize the obvious errors of the first position, and seek with all their might to uphold the dignity and fundamental rights of women. Like the first though, they are so concerned with these good values that they place them in the highest regard. They are usually so disgusted with the first position that they easily subject themselves to prejudice in the opposite extreme. In bringing forth arguments and justifications, they often insist upon their freedoms to the point of absolute freedom to think and do whatever they are capable of doing naturally. Similar fears make for similar restrictions in the opposite way. Fears against the absolute oppression and tyranny of the first position foster prejudicial rejections of all submission or any kind of special roles of women. And with the overemphasis of certain values comes the loss of other values. But are women functionally no different than men? And does the upholding of different roles in society always mean inequality or slavery?

Allow us to give a brief response to this position:

1. It is important to see that the first position is wrong and women do have an equal right to the truth through Jesus Christ. No man has a right to force a woman to believe anything, or submit to anything inconsistent with God and personal conscience. But just because there is a limitation to man's authority, and just because it ceases at the point of contradiction to God's authority, it does not follow that there is no lawful form of authority in men. God has set up various kinds of human authority from the time of Creation, and even though we must submit to Him primarily we still have lesser leaders who are His ministers. Again, no amount of abuse of authority eliminates every kind.

2. Unfortunately many women today have been abused or oppressed by men and have been forced to fend for themselves and guard themselves very carefully against further abuse. I have known many such women and often find them so wounded that they can hardly consider their need for government-- especially by a man. If these scars are not properly seen and healed, they will make little advances in God's truth, and will be kept in the slavery of bitterness and prejudice all their lives. Even though we might be free from outward restraints against investigation of truth by oppressive men, if our hearts are prejudiced against such people, or cannot receive truth from any source, we will not "so love the truth as to be saved" as God says. We must take every abuse, fact, argument or experience to our Lord and allow Him to determine what we should make of it. He has insisted that: "Apart from Me you can do nothing."

3. Truth is not just a set of cold facts to be collected in any manner we so desire. There is a God-given dignity in every truth under heaven which can only be received in its intended way. "No one can receive anything unless it has been given from heaven." No truth can be received unless it comes from God. And until we recognize our dependence upon God to be our Teacher in all things, how shall we ever really "receive anything" to any eternal benefit? In fact "whatever was gained" apart from Christ will be seen as great deception on the day when we will have to give an account for every deed done on earth against Him. We were created with an intimate dependence upon Him to accomplish infinitely important purposes. How then shall we gain anything of value contrary to this?

Mark these most important words He has testified to under oath. If you have not realized them in your own experience, then you are still the "slaves of men": "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

1 Cor. 1.

III. The Truth shall set you free!

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak" John 16

The last position left to us is the fair-minded one that leaves out no factors and deals with all matters as God sees it. We wish to neither deny women their Divine image and dignity, nor look at knowledge as merely from a humanistic or godless perspective. We want the whole truth because God has been so well pleased to give us it. And if this is His will, who can dare to resist it?

1. We must first set in our hearts to adopt God's methods entirely at all times. Any compromise will bring sure delusion upon us. Public or group opinion will not help us on that day when we stand alone.

2. We must "walk in the light as He is in the light" in fellowship and dependence upon Him. This is what we were created for; and if we miss this what can we have of any real importance. Truth must be for God's glory and the well-being of His creation; if gathered for any other reason, it will be seen as opposition and a squandering of His resources.

3. Unless we see our spirits, minds, bodies as His rightful temple needing His continued Presence, and unless we cleanse ourselves from everything contrary to His habitation, and invite His "promised Spirit" to show forth His glory in us, we will never even know what it means to 'live', and we will be lost with all the rest of the 'unclean' people who refuse to become children of God: "For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean: then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'" 2 Cor. 6

________________________________________

For a more detailed look into the nature of authority and its oppressive abuse, see our booklet: Oppression Through Ignorance

http://truthinheart.com/Oppression.html