Women's Rights

            As Women of the Church...

            * We have the privilege to be saved *

            Acts 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.

            Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

            * We have the privilege to share the gospel *

            Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
             
             

            * We have the privilege to be persecuted *

            Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every
            house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

            Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he
            found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring
            them bound unto Jerusalem.

            Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

            * We have the privilege to be beautiful *

            1Timothy 2:9-10  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

            1Peter 3:3-5 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves...

            * We have the privilege to be honored *

             1Timothy 5:1-2  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

            1Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

            Proverbs 11:16  A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain
                                     riches.

            Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
                                    rubies.

            Proverbs 31:30  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that
                                     feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
             
             

            * We have the privilege to be silent *

            1Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

            1Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

            1Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

            * We have the privilege to teach other women *

            Titus 2:3-5  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
            That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

            * We have the privilege to obey our husbands *

            Genesis 3:16b ...and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

            1Peter 3:1-6  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also,
            who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

            1Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

            * We have the privilege to be cared for *

            1Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

             1Titus 5:1-2  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

            * We have the privilege to care for others *

            Genesis 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

            ICorinthians 7:34b ...but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

            Proverbs 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

            Proverbs 31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

            Proverbs 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

            * We have the privilege to be covered *

            1Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

            * We have the privilege to keep the home *

            Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
             
             

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            Our Holy Creator loves women.
            He created us.
            He gave us a special purpose.
            He gave us guidelines for living the very best life possible.

            When we live according to these guidelines,
            within God's perfect plan...
            The results are beautiful.

            Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
            her husband also, and he praiseth her.

            Many daughters have done virtuously,
            but thou excellest them all.

            Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:
            but a woman that feareth the LORD,
            she shall be praised.

            Give her of the fruit of her hands;
            and let her own works praise her in the gates.

            ~Proverbs 31:28-31~
             

            We live in a world vastly altered
            From its beginning
            And its intended destiny.

            Drop down, ye heavens, from above,
            and let the skies pour down righteousness:
            let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation,
            and let righteousness spring up together;
            I the Lord have created it.
            Isaiah 45:8

                And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
                And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
                So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
                Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
                Unto the woman he said ... thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

            (Genesis 1:27; 5:2; 2:20; 2:21; 2:22; 2:23; 2:24; 3:16)

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                Woman was originally created to be subservient to man, to be identified as his helper.  She was meant to be the weaker of the two, to be cared for and tended and loved by the stronger, more than he loved his own life.

                Since the very roots of our existence, woman has fought against this arrangement.  Defiance, self-sufficiency, and a drive for empowerment rules the unregenerated woman.

                The Adversary yet slithers about his kingdom, the earth, and successfully tempts woman into rebellious lust for power and, ultimately, for all that is spiritually associated with manhood.  She continues to woo unregenerate man into following her down this evil path, and we have an ever-increasingly abominable society, ravaged by the sin which is eagerly devoured.

            *One out of every three pregnancies in the US ends in
               abortion (meaning one baby is murdered
               every 20 seconds)

            *Almost 3 million children are living in one parent families.

            *21% of all families are lone parents.

            *90% of all lone parents are women.

            *Of lone parents,
               9% are men,
               4% are widowed mothers,
               32% are divorced mothers,
               23% are married but separated,
               36% have never been married.

            * 67% of under 45's believe it is acceptable to have a child
               outside wedlock.

            *One in three under-25's is the product of a broken home.

            * The proportion of children being born outside marriage
                hit a record of 37% in 1997.

            * Nearly a quarter of respondents say they spend under
               half an hour alone together as a couple on an average
               week day;

            * Two in five new marriages are predicted to end in
               divorce.

            * Over a third of births are now outside marriage.

            * Seven in 10 divorcing couples have children.

            --The Evangellical Alliance
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            "The question of souls is old
            we demand our bodies, now.
            We are tired of promises,
            God is deaf,
            and his church is our worst enemy."
            Voltairine de Cleyre
            ("Sex Slavery," 1890)
            November 17, 1866 - June 30, 1912
             

            If your Bible is an argument for the degradation of woman...
            I advise you to put it away,
            and use your common sense instead.
            Lucy N. Colman
            (The Truth Seeker, March 5, 1887)
            July 26, 1818 - January 18, 1906

            A foolish woman is clamorous:
            she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
            Proverbs 9:13

            Is not the Church today a masculine hierarchy,
            with a female constituency,
            which holds woman in Bible lands in silence
            and in subjection?
            No institution in modern civilization is so tyrannical
            and so unjust to woman as is the Christian Church.
            It demands everything from her
            and gives her nothing in return.
            Josephine K. Henry
            (The Woman's Bible,1898)
            February 22, 1846 - 1928

            Until you let go of God and take hold of yourselves,
            of the innate powers of your own beings,
            there is no hope for you. . .
            stop praying and go to work.
            Lois Waisbrooker
            ("The Curse of Godism," c. 1896)
            1826 - October 3, 1909

            A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
            Proverbs 27:15

            Woman must not depend upon the protection of man,
            but must be taught to protect herself.
            Susan B. Anthony
            February 15,1820 -- March 13, 1906

            [T]here never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.
            Susan B. Anthony
            February 15,1820 -- March 13, 1906

            A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed
            is as rottenness in his bones.
            Proverbs 12:14

               Women must rise up and be the saviors of the world.
            Sonia Johnson
            February 1936 -

                 . . . Sisters, . . . I entreat you, if you have an hour
            to spare, a dollar to give, or a word to utter--
            spare it, give it, and utter it, for the elevation of woman!
            And when your minister asks you
            for money for missionary purposes,
            tell him there are higher, and holier, and nobler missions
            to be performed at home.
            When he asks for colleges to educate ministers,
            tell him you must educate woman,
            that she may do away with the necessity of ministers,
            so that they may be able to go to some useful employment.
            If he asks you to give to the churches
            (which means to himself)
                 then ask him what he has done for the salvation
            of woman.
            When he speaks to you of leading a virtuous life,
            ask him whether he understands the causes
            that have prevented so many of your sisters
            from being virtuous,
            and have driven them to degradation, sin, and wretchedness. When he speaks to you of a hereafter,
            tell him to help to educate woman,
            to enable her to live a life of intelligence,
            independence, virtue, and happiness here,
            as the best preparatory step for any other life.
            And if he has not told you from the pulpit of all these things; if he does not know them;
            it is high time you inform him,
            and teach him his duty here in this life.
            Ernestine L. Rose
            America's first woman's rights canvasser
            January 13, 1810 - August 4, 1890
            (Seventh National Woman's Rights Convention,
            New York, Nov. 25 - 26, 1856)

            And I find more bitter than death
            the woman, whose heart is snares and nets,
            and her hands as bands:
            whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her;
            but the sinner shall be taken by her.
            Ecclesiastes 7:26

            As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout,
            so is a fair woman
            which is without discretion.
                Proverbs 11:22

                 The cause of the subjugation of woman reaches far back,
            and is wound around with the rusted chain
            of ancient theology and a false faith.
            Under pagan rule woman was treated with honor and regard,
            and she had many rights and privileges
            which were lost to her under Christian rule.
                 If ever there was an ingeniously woven plot,
            it is that of the "Fall of Man,"
            with Paul of Tarsus for its mouthpiece.
               Susan H. Wixon
            ("Woman--Four Centuries of Progress," 1893)
            late 1840 - August 28, 1912

                 This religion and the Bible require of woman everything,
            and give her nothing.
            They ask her support and her love,
                 and repay her with contempt and oppression.
            . . . there is no book which tells of a more infamous monster
            than the Old Testament,
            with its Jehovah of murder and cruelty and revenge,
            unless it be the New Testament,
            which arms its God with hell,
            and extends his outrages throughout all eternity!
                 It is thought strange and particularly shocking by some persons for a woman to question the absolute correctness
                 of the Bible. She is supposed to be able to go through this world with her eyes shut, and her mouth open wide
                 enough to swallow Jonah and the Garden of Eden
            without making a wry face. . .
            Of all human beings a woman should spurn the Bible first.
            Every injustice that has ever been fastened upon women
            in a Christian country has been 'authorized by the Bible'
                 and riveted and perpetuated by the pulpit.
            Helen H. Gardener
            (Men, Women and Gods, 1885)
            January 21, 1853 - July 26,1925

            Every wise woman buildeth her house:
            but the foolish plucketh it down
            with her hands.
               Proverbs 14:1

            It is better to dwell in the corner
            of the housetop,
            than with a brawling woman
            and in a wide house.
            Proverbs 25:24

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            The women of the church need not look with prideful disdain and clicking of tongues upon these sinful creatures.  In addition to warring for the souls of the lost, we would do well to see that we are not pulled into their erring ways, and to fall at the feet of our Saviour with a heart of repentance as we realize the ways in which we have been duped into sliding down this slippery path along with the world.

            Perhaps the reader feels that she has totally separated herself from the Satanic suffragette/feminist empire.  I pray that is the truth.  However, I myself thought this at one time, until further reflection -- delving deeper into God's word and searching history for how and when society began this huge chasm between truth and walk.  I found that I had unwittingly allowed my walk to be influenced in many ways by living according to the "rights" won for womankind.

            Here are a few such newfound "rights":

            Voting*
            Wearing Men's Clothing
            Pursuing a Career / Extensive Formal Education
            Cutting Hair Short
            Holding Political Office and other Executive Positions
            Pastoring Churches
            Leading Adult Sunday School Classes
            Murdering Unwanted Children
            Public Bathing
            Public Speaking (to mixed-gender groups)
            Scoffing When Men Attempt to Perform Chivalrous Acts
            (such as opening a door)

            If the reader is a woman involved in any of these
            and many other such things, she is following the footsteps
            of those unGodly women who paved the way
            of rebellion and role-reversal.
            It is hypocritical to frown on suffragettes/feminists,
            yet take advantage of the opportunities which they,
            through their riotous rebellion, made possible.


             How long wilt thou go about,
            O thou backsliding daughter?
             Jeremiah 31:22a


             
             


            *Voting:
            I feel that it is advisable for women to vote according to husband's or father's (or pastor's, if the other two are non-applicable) leading.  Your "head" may or may not want you to vote.  If he would like you to vote, you would of course do so according to his choice of candidates.  This is what seems Scriptural.