From yesterday the Bible readings are those for today. Gal 3: 11-28; Col3: 5-13; Genesis 2: 18-22;I Peter 3: 1-7; 1 Cor 14: 33-35; Prov 31: 10-31. Considered in order, the context for each is about ‘salvation’, ‘sanctification’ ‘creation-Helpmeet’ ‘marriage’ ‘in church’ and an ‘overview’. And of course the wider context is all of scripture! You can accept that I am right but probably if you have the time and and inclination it is better to read the passages again and see if I am correct. A lot hangs on it! If I am correct then our society in many ways is ‘barking up the wrong tree’!
First I would underline what I am NOT saying – I am not saying that ‘females are inferior to males’; I am not saying that men are cleverer than women; I am not saying that under certain circumstances of life it is wrong for both men and women to cover the roles of the other sex, at least temporarily (this most certainly does not cover sex changes or homosexual behaviour!); I am saying that while in many ways men and women are equal, ‘equality doesn’t mean sameness’. In other words, I am saying that God has given us roles to live out. And I am saying that if the context is not absolutely clear as to whether a scriptural statement is absolute or merely reflects society opinions of the day in which it was written, I would accept it as a scriptural command!
Looking at the two sentences which are very similar are significantly different because of the context! In Galatians we read (There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus) and in Colossians (Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.) In both occasions the human author was St Paul. The first time, in Galatians, He was talking about Salvation. Here and as in all of his writings and throughout the Bible as a whole salvation Paul is presenting Jesus as the only way and applicable to all people of both sexes. Pictured in the OT dimly, but obviously, and in the post Crucifixion era emphatically, Jesus is the WAY to salvation. On the second occasion he was talking about sanctification which depends on obedience and therefore, among other things on roles obeyed, and thus we as males and females are not the same!
Society has messed up the concept of ‘helpmeet’ which works both ways by highlighting personal rights and individuality. It has messed up marriages in many ways. By following social pressures the church has messed up the church. Just ask the African and the British Anglicans! And looking in Proverbs, society has made child minding centres and Old Folks Homes necessary. Not that they would not have a place but a much smaller one than the role that they play today when children are brought up to government specifications and old folk are often apart from those whom they brought into the world and often feel forgotten and neglected. It is complex but not surprisingly God’s way is best!
Proverbs 22: 6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Gen 2:24-25 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Prayer: Please help me, and all of us, to be true to your word, O Parent God!
As I read it! 