The Persecution of Women in the Church

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by The Mrs

This has been an interesting thread CH...I didn't realize the early church had such a hand in the degradation of women. And that it's lasted this long for so many centuries.

Do you think our modern society, with the liberties women have embraced in the last couple decades, is getting closer to the ideal treatment of women Christ had in mind?

Mrs.,

Though aware that this question was not addressed to me, I will take the liberty here to give my views:

No, I don't think the modern secular woman is any closer to being respected or treated as equals with men in the church or the secular setting. I think that we are still out of balance with what God intended although I do know that he cursed Eve in the garden so that she is never able to rise above the position or status except what is afforded her by the men [fathers & husbands] in their life.

I do believe that true Godly men who interpret scriptures as intended by God, value the woman that God has given them and are blessed by allowing her to become the best she can be. A successful/fulfilled woman is one who's husband does not feel threatened but feels enriched as his wife is an extention of himself.

Not all Apostolic women have been blessed with such a man in their life. I know a woman close to me that is in bondage every day of her life due to the fact she married a man that uses the submission and authority over her to alienate her from family and friends and uses the children as pawns to inflict hurt to those who will not allow themselves to be manipulated by him. This woman submits to her hurt but I believe that God will honor her in the end and break the yoke that has her tied up in knots literally and figuratively.

I do believe that the progressive Apostolic church has learned the value of woman and encourgae women to function in the gifts that God has blessed them with. These type of churches are on the rise and have a broader vision and more successful and growing church. Those churches which hold to the denegration of woman are churches that grow in number for a short time and then lose as many as they gain or they maintain their small isolated group and never show any noticeable growth.

Man and wife are one, not two with one of more status than the other. They are a unit that functions together as one entity. For this reason I always honor the Pastor's wife as Pastor as much as the husband. God being the best example of how to treat the women in his life. While on the cross he commanded on of his disciples/brother take care of his mother at his passing. God honored Martha and Mary by intimate fellowsh and restoring their brother Lazarus from the dead. God used Esther to save the Jewish nation from being destroyed. God used his mother Mary to give birth to the promised Messiah that saves the world generation after generation.

God loves and uses women in positive ways and never in th Bible did I see where Jesus applauded any man for misusing his position to embarrass, denegrate, or condemn women...even the prostitute was used to deliver God's spies, and the woman caught in adultery was not made to take the punishment for her sin over that of the man she was caught with. God uses women.

I love Jesus because he loves women and does not leave us out of the promise.

Blessings, Rhoni

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Mrs.,

Though aware that this question was not addressed to me, I will take the liberty here to give my views:

No, I don't think the modern secular woman is any closer to being respected or treated as equals with men in the church or the secular setting. I think that we are still out of balance with what God intended although I do know that he cursed Eve in the garden so that she is never able to rise above the position or status except what is afforded her by the men [fathers & husbands] in their life.

I do believe that true Godly men who interpret scriptures as intended by God, value the woman that God has given them and are blessed by allowing her to become the best she can be. A successful/fulfilled woman is one who's husband does not feel threatened but feels enriched as his wife is an extention of himself.

Not all Apostolic women have been blessed with such a man in their life. I know a woman close to me that is in bondage every day of her life due to the fact she married a man that uses the submission and authority over her to alienate her from family and friends and uses the children as pawns to inflict hurt to those who will not allow themselves to be manipulated by him. This woman submits to her hurt but I believe that God will honor her in the end and break the yoke that has her tied up in knots literally and figuratively.

I do believe that the progressive Apostolic church has learned the value of woman and encourgae women to function in the gifts that God has blessed them with. These type of churches are on the rise and have a broader vision and more successful and growing church. Those churches which hold to the denegration of woman are churches that grow in number for a short time and then lose as many as they gain or they maintain their small isolated group and never show any noticeable growth.

Man and wife are one, not two with one of more status than the other. They are a unit that functions together as one entity. For this reason I always honor the Pastor's wife as Pastor as much as the husband. God being the best example of how to treat the women in his life. While on the cross he commanded on of his disciples/brother take care of his mother at his passing. God honored Martha and Mary by intimate fellowsh and restoring their brother Lazarus from the dead. God used Esther to save the Jewish nation from being destroyed. God used his mother Mary to give birth to the promised Messiah that saves the world generation after generation.

God loves and uses women in positive ways and never in th Bible did I see where Jesus applauded any man for misusing his position to embarrass, denegrate, or condemn women...even the prostitute was used to deliver God's spies, and the woman caught in adultery was not made to take the punishment for her sin over that of the man she was caught with. God uses women.

I love Jesus because he loves women and does not leave us out of the promise.

Blessings, Rhoni

Finally someone with some common sense and intellect. Thank you Rhoni. However, I will say this even though the woman was cursed in the garden, Jesus removed the curse, now women can be all that God has for them to be. There is no more curse. I disagree God will honor your friend. The bible does not command a woman to stay in an abusive relationship, contrary the opposite is true. She obviously has a boundary issue and needs counseling.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by crazyhomie

Finally someone with some common sense and intellect. Thank you Rhoni. However, I will say this even though the woman was cursed in the garden, Jesus removed the curse, now women can be all that God has for them to be. There is no more curse. I disagree God will honor your friend. The bible does not command a woman to stay in an abusive relationship, contrary the opposite is true. She obviously has a boundary issue and needs counseling.

I truly believe it is as you say...but counselors are not accepted by most Apostolic churches especially if they are womenMany still find themselves knee deep in the curse put on them by satan through their men.

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I truly believe it is as you say...but counselors are not accepted by most Apostolic churches especially if they are womenMany still find themselves knee deep in the curse put on them by satan through their men.

Maybe you can help her then, if she wants help that is. I have some wonderful resources we can recommend.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by crazyhomie

Maybe you can help her then, if she wants help that is. I have some wonderful resources we can recommend.

Dear Crazy,

I find it takes years for a woman to grow up and mature to gain the strength and the knowledge to even know that she is bound. Many times women are do depressed and even on anti-depressants knowing they have a problem but not knowing exactly what it is.

Thank God for Pastors who preach/teach about healthy relationships that are pleasing to God in dating, and in marriage. Some have nothing to compare to so they don't know they aren't happy until one day it dawns on them...it is then that I or others like me can affirm them and tell them they are not wrong for wanting out of an abusive relationship or an abusive church.

God is the Wonderful Counselor and when we fall into his arms, he protects, comforts, and sets us up upon a rock.

Thank-you Jesus for real men and women of God who can teach others the ways of God as seen through God's eyes and not man's eyes.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I truly believe it is as you say...but counselors are not accepted by most Apostolic churches especially if they are womenMany still find themselves knee deep in the curse put on them by satan through their men.

Oh my gosh...
I know that counselors are not that accepted in many Apostolic church, but it has nothing to do with gender. It's a mistrust of your profession. We had a female counselor here once and we arranged for her to do marriage classes...hardly anyone came. Was it because she was female? If so why did my Pastor even bother to allow her to start the classes? In fact he encouraged it.

I started a thread about this kind of stuff not too long ago about the paradigms of our thinking. I related a story about how I was driving my car and a friend, who is black, was in the passenger seat. I got pulled over and I commented "I wonder why he is pulling me over? I did nothing wrong"" and immediately he said "It's because I'm black"

Don't let your life experiences cause you to look at the world with a distorted false view. Step back, look at the forest and not just the trees, Take an OBJECTIVE look. Our churches for the most part don't trust your profession, not your gender.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by crazyhomie

Finally someone with some common sense and intellect. Thank you Rhoni. However, I will say this even though the woman was cursed in the garden, Jesus removed the curse, now women can be all that God has for them to be. There is no more curse. I disagree God will honor your friend. The bible does not command a woman to stay in an abusive relationship, contrary the opposite is true. She obviously has a boundary issue and needs counseling.

She's beautiful, highly educated, successful, and intimidating to men everywhere too.

If you don't believe me, I can point you to posts that will fill you in.

Originally Posted by Coonskinner

She's beautiful, highly educated, successful, and intimidating to men everywhere too.

If you don't believe me, I can point you to posts that will fill you in.

i'm not intimidated by beautiful, intelligent women.

[Coonskinner]

Originally Posted by crazyhomie

i'm not intimidated by beautiful, intelligent women.

Bully for you.

How are you with direct questions?