Bev Weddle writes in response to an article of mine appearing on the internet:
I read your comments about the role of women. I’ve been reading the same thing for years and you have a right to your interpretation of the scripture. I would like for you to understand though that your words are wrong in my case when you say those that have a problem with women’s submission have “diminished respect for the authority of God and his holy word.” I have the highest regard for God and his Word and believe it and will live by it. But, I believe in the mutual submission of all people men and women alike. Christ is the head of my home and has the last word in all that is done. I lived under the heavy hand of male oppression for years and have found freedom in Christ. I’m not using it as license to do as I please but I’m am no longer willing to be under the bondage the church and it’s leaders have tried to put on me for years. There are some like me out here who do have the highest regard for God and his word yet do disagree with you. Chaplain Bev Weddle
First, I respectfully submit that the reason that you have heard for years about the submission of women in the home and in religion is because Scripture teaches that doctrine. In recent years, largely due to societal changes, contemporary modifications have affected the divinely given roles for men and women. Scripture, however, has not changed nor has there been any new revelation for nearly 2,000 years. As far as God and the children of God are concerned, the respective but distinctive God-given roles for men and women are unaffected by contemporary practice. Efforts to apply political correctness to biblical roles are misguided. Consider the following passages respecting the relationship between the roles of men and women in the home and Christianity.
“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. 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” (1 Timothy 2:9-15).
“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. . . . Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Corinthians 11:3, 9).
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:22-24).
“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; . . . 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” (1 Peter 3:1, 5-6).
Second, your assertion that “you have a right to your interpretation of the scripture” is biblically inaccurate. Instead, Scripture reads:
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
The biblical principle contained in the above quotation speaks to the divine origin of Scripture and that mortals are obliged to infer what God precisely states or implies in Scripture. Therefore, none of us “have a right to your interpretation of the scripture.” Personal opinions or preferences do not set aside anything that God has specified in Scripture.
Third, it is a noble goal as you state: “I have the highest regard for God and his Word and believe it and will live by it.” It is impossible, though, to exhibit “the highest regard for God and his Word” while living in open rebellion to it. For instance, your statement “But, I believe in the mutual submission of all people men and women alike” conflicts with the passages above regarding the submissive role of women to men in the home and Christianity.
Fourth, the biblically submissive role of women to men in the home and the church does not grant men the right to abuse their wives.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29).
The “heavy hand of male oppression” that you cite does not justify negation of directives from God regarding the respective but differing roles of men and women.
Fifth, the “freedom in Christ” that you claim for yourself must correspond to the same granted by God respecting the roles of men and women. Biblically, the equality between men and women pertains to redemption as indicated by the following passage.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
Otherwise, the differing roles of men and women remain constant. Despite political correctness in modern society, perhaps nothing better illustrates the unchanging roles for men and women as God designed them than the immutable fact that the female of our species still must birth our offspring. The apostle Paul alluded to this role in 1 Timothy 2:15, “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” The “bondage” you decry is not the workings of feeble humanity but the device of Almighty God.
Sixth, your signature (i.e., “Chaplain Bev Weddle”) indicates the extent to which you advocate movement from roles assigned by God to women in the church to roles designated by God for men in the church. Except in cases where women address women and children or in instances in which (such as a Bible study) where women participate with men but do not subordinate the class to them, the New Testament prohibits women from being preachers. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:12).
“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” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
You write: “There are some like me out here who do have the highest regard for God and his word yet do disagree with you.” From the biblical evidence submitted above, I propose that your disagreement is not with me, but with God himself. Doubtless we can see the futility of arguing with God. Please do not disparage any mailman who faithfully delivers a message from God in heaven. Please defer any displeasure with such messages to the mailer — God.
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
