Tough Question Series: What Does God Really Think About Women?

“What does God really think about women” is the tough question Pastor Dan preached on August 2 at Parma Heights Baptist Church. Other “sub-questions” under this one included Does God think women are lesser than men? How can God understand women/females if He is Father/Son and has no feminine qualities? It is commonly thought that the Bible is sexist and God is sexist but that is not the case.

Pastor Dan went to Genesis for the answer.

Man needs Help:

Pastor Dan gave a funny example of how his wife helped him get through the automated toll booth and figure out the toll. It was a funny illustration.

Everything God created in the beginning was good except the fact that Man was alone. The Lord god said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. (Genesis 2:18). Note, creating women was God's idea.

By referring to women as helpers, elevates their worth as opposed to lowering it. Helper is not the same as servant. Many verses use the same word to describe God himself and that does not in any way mean God is servant to man. (See Psalm 33:20, 37:40, 70:5, 115:9, 121:2 and 124:8)

Adam was incomplete in his ability to bear God’s image:

Pastor Dan pointed out how different men and women communicate by relaying a funny example of taking about a hair cut. If a woman tells a woman she got her hair cut, they can go on discussing haircuts and styles for quite awhile, but if a man tells a man he got a hair cut, the reply would most likely be “a haircut, hmm” and that would be it.

So God created man [mankind] in his own image . . . male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27) Pastor Dan pointed out that generally the following traits are reflected in men and women which together reflect the image of God:

Men GENERALLY:
desire to conquer
Value justice
Provide
want the truth

Women GENERALLY:
Love
are compassionate
are nurturing
follow their intuition
Show mercy

So where did all the conflict between the sexes come from?

Genesis 3:12-19 when Adam and Eve first disobeyed God in the garden by eating from the tree he told them not to eat from, Adam blamed Eve. In conclusion, Pastor Dan quoted John Piper at www.soundofgrace.com/piper89/5-14-89.htm:

The result of sin and the curse of our age is conflict between the sexes. This verse (Genesis 3:16) is not a description of the way things should be. This is a description of the way things are going to be while sin reigns. Dominating men and devious women. This is not the meaning of male and female in God’s image It is the ugliness of sin. But it points to Christianity because it begs for the healing that only Jesus brings.

If you’re in the Cleveland area, stop by and visit Parma Heights Baptist Church. We’d love to have you!

Are you a good helper to your husband? How has your wife helped you lately? It seems I'm always helping Gerard with something--fixing things, attaching Abby's leash, navigating to new places, making phone calls, posting his book reviews and giving computer assistance when needed, etc.

Other Tough Questions in Series:
Why Doesn't God Heal Immediately?
Will God Forgive Abortion?
Why Get Baptized?