Faithful Footprints: Purposefully Feminine

It's good to be a girl.

The only possible way for us to live out and champion our Christian faith as women in a culture inundated with feministic ideals is if we are aware of what this faith entails, if we are aware of God's intention in creating us. At the root of the fminist movement, and still one of the primary concerns of our modern culture, is the inequality between men and women. This is specifically addressed in Scripture.

God created man in His own image...He created them male and female. - Genesis 1:27

We, as women, are worth neither less nor more than our male counterparts. Adam alone couldn't accomplish the tasks assigned to mankind by the Creator. Man was in need of a partner, someone who could help him fufill his mandate. Without her, these endeavors would go undone.

From the beginning, God placed a mark of importance on women. There were good because they bore His image and necessary in the achievement of His purposes on Earth. The touch, experience, wisdom, and feminine heart you bring into your worldly arenas are all required if their outcome is to be what He has purposed it to be. Women are not only an addendeum, a last-minute afterthought that can be tossed out without notice. Without your participation and input, much will be lacking. This was God's intention.

Yet, with man's fall into sin and the decay of the human condition, women soon became downgraded and relegated to obscure second-rate status. Throughout the annals of the Old Testament, we see them failing to be treasured, prized, and cherished as the Creater intended them to be.

But, fear not!

Enter, Jesus Christ. God reaffirmed the significance of women through the life of Christ, who countered a culture that demoted women's importance and value. He exemplified instead, in the flesh, the true heart of God. The fourth chapter of John's Gospel highlights just one of many remarkable occasions when Christ demonstrated His regard for women and their inherent value:

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. "Give me a drink," Jesus said to her - verse 7

The arrival of this woman at a local well where Jesus happened to be sitting presented an extreme problem. First-century men didn't enter into conversation with women in public, not even their own wives. So for Jesus to be found speaking to this woman was not only culturally inappropriate but would've been readily perceived by onlookers as scandalous. More than just a breach of protocol, it was shocking, disgraceful. But this is Jesus we're talking about. He not only engaged her in casual conversation but invited her opinions on theological issues that men of His historical age would never have expected a mere woman to be capable of entertaining. Truly, Jesus left no doubt in His dealings with this divinely appointed individual that women are both important and worthy, as well as fully qualified to be entrusted. No only did He bestow on her the gift of His salvation, but He also entrusted her with His message to share with others. She returned home telling everyone what had happened - many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said (verse 39).

Being a woman was never a curse to be endured or a trait to be tolerated. It is a gift to be treasured and esteemed. It is God's chosen way for us to relate to Him as Creator and Father and to demonstrate, along with our male counterparts, the unfolding love story of Christ's relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:22-31). It's a privilege to be a girl.

Submission. For most of society, this is a scary word. If you're submissive, you're weak; you're unintelligent; you're worthless. WRONG. Submission is simply defined as a decision to yield to people, precepts, and principles that have been placed in our lives as authorities. Some have abused it, yes. Some have misapplied the concept, allowing husbands to be domineering and their wives doormats. But if this were God's intention, why would He infuse such great with into you, then demean you into subservience by His own design? Obviously, this divine arrangement of roles, boundaries, and responsibilities is intended to exude blessing in all directions. This not only applies to women.

The employee, whether male or female, must submit to his or her employer.

The citizen, whether male or female, must submit to the governmental authority.

The believer, whether male or female, must submit to spiritual authority.

The child, whether male or female, must submit to the parent.

Just as employees, citizens, believers, and children receive the greatest benefit and perform their most efficient work by willfullly, gratefully operating within their prescribed positions and under proper authority, women experience life to the fullest extent as they exert their influence through God-trusting submission. You are responsible for how you function within your submitted role. Consider your feelings regarding this part of your role as a woman. Are you offended at the thought of yielding to the authority of another? If you are married, is this something you rebel against? If you are single, do you take seriously the need to pursue a biblical heart for marriage, should you one day become a wife? Are you even now pursuing a spiritual covering by seeking accountability with those whose lives you respect, those whose godly maturity can provide you with strong, helpful counsel and direction as you navigate life? Whether we understand it or agree with it or even want it - nothing can truly and ultimately be enjoyed when we're not willing to remain within our roles and boundaries. By walking within these divinely ordained roels of submission to legitimate authority, we place ourselves inside the protective covering of the Lord, experiencing the freedom that His truth, and His truth alone, is designed to offer. Step outside these roles, and we're looking for trouble. It's just that simple.

A place of freedom and peace awaits every woman who aligns herself with God's design. It's up to us to expose the lies or our age and to remind this generation of the true beauty and value of the submitted woman.

As a married woman, I hold this lesson near and dear to my heart. Do I have to be 100% submissive towards my husband? Yes. But does that mean I do not deserve respect and the opportunity to aspire and achieve success? NO. You can, and should, be independent if that's how you choose to live life. It won't be an easy task, but it's obtainable. I strive to be a biblical wife every single day. Is it hard? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

The old stereotype, "that's a woman's job" has been thrown out the window. You better believe that in our household, my husband actually does a lot of the housework. Yes, he is a MAN that cooks, cleans, vacuums, washes, folds, and puts away laundry. He even does dishes and makes the bed. Is he any less of a man because of this? Absolutely NOT! I cherish the fact that my husband is not lessened for doing these things, just as I am not any more inferior for working two jobs. I see myself as a strong and independent woman (well, independent to an extent of course!) - I am successful, have graduated college, have a 'real-time' job, works a second, part-time job, I'm married, and I get to go home to my husband every night. It's hard as hell to continue down this chapter of our lives together, but it will all be worth it in the long run. There are some days that I don't get to see my husband for more than a few minutes in the morning and at night, but it's better than not seeing him at all. It's better than not being able to afford to pay our expenses.

I will raise our future children to seek contentment and equality in their lives as well. If I have a girl(s), then I will do my absolute best to teach them to be biblical women - not to fear aspiring for success and be career-driven. If I have a boy(s), then you can absolutely bet that I will teach them to seek a biblical woman, who knows her place in God's kindgom and fulfill His will - to know that a future wife will submit to him, but that does not make her a doormat to be stomped on and disrespected.

One word comes to mind in all of this, and that's balance. You've got to know how far is 'too far'.

I am purposefully feminine. I am a Biblical wife. I am submissive to God and to my husband. I know and believe and honor the roles and boundaries that I am placed in. I also understand that those in positions of higher authority may abuse their power, but that does not make it right for me to step outside of my role(s). I know that with God, all things are possible, and I will remain on my walk with Him and to achieve His plan for my life. I will continue to grow in my faith and journey towards a better knowledge and understanding of my place in thie world.