This week we discuss another song from the album “Dragontown”. “Every Woman Has A Name” is another beautifully written Alice Cooper ballad. Almost picking up where other ballads like “Only Women Bleed” leave off, this song expresses the importance of women, their identities, their self-worth, their place in this world and society. The truth is, many parts of the world, many religions, many industries, etc. see women as the lower sex. In fact, next year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment in the United States which allows women in all states the right to vote. Stop and think about that. For more than half of this country’s founding, women were ineligible to vote.

Before this post goes any further, let’s address something. This post, like all posts on this site, will NOT focus on religion, society, ideology, or politics. We are NOT looking at women’s rights from any other scope than that of God’s Word. Which as a whole, even in the Old Testament, directs a good amount of respect and adoration towards women. Depending on what you’ve been taught or might believe, you may be surprised to find Paul, Peter, and Christ, himself, calling upon women to lead, teach, and disciple others. Looking at passages in scriptures we find women as a vital part of His works and plan. Please do not only read these next few lines – but research and study these stories for yourself. It’s important that you know and comprehend who God is and what He reveals in His Word. Don’t take anyone else’s word for things – allow His Spirit to teach you instead.

As you read and learn, ask yourself this question. If the following are true…

Mary, a young Nazarene woman, could conceive a child miraculously (Matt 1:18-25);

Mary Magdalene learned from Christ and joined Jesus and His disciples in both fellowship and service – something Jewish culture and customs did not permit (Luke 8:2-3); she was also one of the first to see the risen Christ and instructed to deliver the gospel of His resurrection to His male disciples (John 20:18);

Deborah, the fourth and only female judge of Israel, was able to lead a successful military campaign that brought 40 years of peace for God’s chosen people, the people of Israel (Judges 4-5);

Micah could testify that Miriam, the sister of Moses, was one of 3 leaders sent by God (Micah 6:4);

Huldah could give prophecies and God later fulfilled them (2 Kings 22);

Peter had the boldness to say God will pour out his spirit on both male and female servants and sons and daughters will prophesy (Acts 2:17-18);

Esther’s obedience to God could bring about deliverance for the Jewish people (Esther 8);

The females in Christ’s life stayed by his side through the most gruesome of terrors surrounding his death (John 16:32; 19:25);

Junia could be referred to as an outstanding Apostle by Paul as she had walked with Christ even longer than him (Romans 16:7);

Paul could ask the church to receive Phoebe in a way worthy of honor and to give her any help that she may need (Romans 16:1-2);

Paul could affectionately refer to Priscilla and Aquila, husband and wife home church leaders, as “co-workers in Christ” and express the church’s gratitude to them (Romans 16:3-4);

…then can’t God continue to use women, even today, for His purposes and plan?

Isn’t it remarkable how loving our Father is? At certain places in time throughout history when many women were identified as property, required to marry men that raped them, considered the spoils of war, and subjects of other unjust laws, God breaks through paving the way for women. Using them to further build His Kingdom. As the examples listed above (from the Word) show, He sees them as vessels of love, teachers, leaders, prophets, disciples, etc. In Romans, Paul makes no bones about referring to Priscilla and Aquila as “co-workers in Christ” – often listing Priscilla before her husband in his writings. However, there are some verses, that when taken out of context, can be misused – placing women in a religious box of silence.

1 Corinthians 14: 34, 35 reads, “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 anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”

Simply put, Corinthian culture and laws did not permit women to confront men in public. However, it seems in the churches this was not being practiced. Instead, speaking and questioning men during the services was causing major divisions within the church. To further explain this, we have to understand what Paul is trying to say.

“Keep silence” comes from the Greek word “sigao” which has the meaning of “kept secret” or “keeping your peace” during public speaking and refers to speaking out of turn. It is meant as an instruction to stay mindful; to speak at appropriate times.

If Paul had wanted the women to be completely silent, there is another Greek word, “siopao”, that he could have easily chosen. It also means “to be silent,” as it seems to be the New Testament word of choice to indicate complete absence of speech, including public speech.

It seems like the major point Paul was trying to make in this passage deals with distraction. When it comes to teaching and spreading the Gospel, adhering to the norm makes more sense (at least at first). As a missionary in a foreign land, there are certain guidelines that missionaries are given with regard to customs. When those customs are broken or ignored, the focus is removed from Christ and placed on the person ignoring those customs. God is the giver of free-will. However, a community bound by the will of its peers most likely isn’t capable of seeing past those customs until God moves throughout the community.

The second commonly misapplied scripture is found in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 which states, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”

Here the word silence stems from the word “Hesuchia” which, again, means peaceful orderliness. The Ephesian church at this point was having issues with Christian women and their newfound freedom. Many were speaking out of turn, teaching on topics they were not properly trained on, and/or disrupting meetings with questions that could be answered in private settings. According to what we’ve learned, Paul was NOT condemning women. He was asking them to be patient. At this point, all guidance-based roles, in both Judaism and Christianity, had been carried out by men. Women were held back by customs and culture. Not allowed to read or learn. Paul, IN NO WAY, kept women from learning or studying the Word. In fact, he encouraged it.

But 1 Timothy 2:11-15, goes much deeper. By the end of the passage, we find references to Adam and Eve. This automatically gives many the need or excuse to point the finger at Eve and say, “see Paul was talking about the sins of Eve and how she has been demoted and left with childbirth as punishment.” But what those people fail to see is that God through His Design and grace actually gave humanity the greatest gift through Eve’s ‘punishment’. Childbirth is the vessel by which God decided to send His only Son. Eve’s sin was redeemed by the one thing she was forced to burden. God freed the world of all sin by delivering Jesus into this world. Cleansing us and bringing equality to all sins. Forgiving us of all of them no matter what form they took. There’s so much more to say about all of this – but it’s evident throughout God’s word that women are not meant to be oppressed or silenced. He expects them to speak the Word in all places to all people just as frequently and just as loud as He does men.

In conclusion, it’s hoped that you will NOT see this post from the viewpoints of society, religion, politics, or ideology but instead from the scope of God’s Word. The eyes of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit. As you begin to study and see God’s Word from a historical and contextual standpoint. You begin to see His plans for Christ being the great equalizer for all humanity. Jesus wanted all humanity to see the Father’s love for all creation, man and woman alike. As God’s people continue to find Him, moving closer to His heart and mind as well – they become more loving, more accepting, more willing to set aside the flesh and blood of this world. Instead, embracing who we are in Him. His love freely flowing and surpassing all barriers which divide us, as humanity. Continue to search for Him and don’t be afraid to question what you may have been shown or taught from the prism of man. Instead, ask for His discernment and guidance as you push forward through this life. And lastly, remember to walk in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as you begin to see things more clearly and through the eyes of Christ.

This post is dedicated to the three women that have taught me so much in this life. I truly thank God for their willingness to make sure I was raised to know Him & His ways and that I continue to walk in them. Kimberly Ann, Linda Elaine, and Ileana Elizabeth, I LOVE you all more than you will ever know.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

–Pslams 31:10-31-