As found in the Roman Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, and many other denominations women are still treated as second-class citizens. There are churches in America and abroad in which women aren't allowed to speak out loud unless they get permission from a man first. There are several churches in which women aren't permitted to preach from the pulpit.
A recently written book, "Resignation of Eve" by evangelical minister Jim Henderson argues that unless the male leaders of conservative Christian churches do some serious soul-searching-pronto, the women who have always sustained those churches with their times, sweat and cash will leave. In droves. And they won't come back. This is because women of faith are increasingly breadwinners, single moms and head of households and their children, traditionally brought to church by them, will thus join the growing number of Americans who call themselves "un-churched."
There is a natural, and deliberate movement by women of the church to challenge the system of sexism and collectively demand that their gifts not be ignored any longer. Women are proclaiming that God has called brave dames like Deborah as recorded by the book of Judges to be bold and relevant leaders for such a time as this. Deborah was nobody's victim, she makes Xena the Warrior Princess look like Lady Gaga. Although, she lived more than 3,000 years ago, Deborah was the quintessential modern woman. She was a wife, a judge (one of 12 in Israel) and "a prophetess." Against 900 iron chariots and a powerful general named Sisera, she took action. At Barak's request, Deborah went to Mount Tabor with the troops and with God's help, they defeated the Canaanites.
The woman had backbone. She was nobody's trophy. In fact, she picked up the trophy for God in her celebration and praise of victory amid adversity. Women like Deborah, it is time to resign the position of being Eve in that all biblical women spent their time turning men on to sin? Using their feminine wiles to trick ditsy male relatives? Being silenced, humiliated, traded and man handled? God is looking for a few brave dames, like Deborah. Their judgment inspires. Their wisdom springs from a tight relationship with the Holy. And at the end of the day, they sing full-throated victory anthems, not about roaring human complacency, but about thundering Holiness.
Follow Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@pastorbilljr
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You get an "F" for simile on that one.
Gaga is one helluva warrior woman, who has had an amazing effect on the global dialogue concerning gay acceptance and the problem of bullying. She's quite the role model, and (in many ways) the quintessential modern woman.
Here are some options that would have worked better:
Deborah was nobody's victim, she makes Xena the Warrior Princess look like...
Edith Bunker
Marge Simpson
Laura Bush
Betty Crocker
Alice Kramden
Rachel Ray
Women no longer need men to provide, and protect them. It is conceivable that the next stage they would no longer need an unseen force to gather their strength.
Even with all their faith when God failed them, it was his will.
As the official story goes, Holy Creator/cretin 'Yahweh' gratuitously inflicts agonizing pain (commonly known as torture) on all childbearing women forever (effectively sealing his status as All Time Biggest Torturer / Abusive Father on Earth). That womankind have continued to flock back TO him makes the last 6,000 years or so, somewhat less than their proudest moment.
Don't get me started on the men-folk.
We can tank Zeus, all of the other dusty bookshelf gods, but mainly women themselves, for the advances in gender equality that women have made, fighting the men in robes nearly each and every step of the way.
Have you ever attended a southern baptist church which allowed a women to be a pastor?
Do not walk in the garden with God.
In the brush there are serpents,
spiders, bats that
bite, bite, bite,
and in the water are alligators,
crocodiles, sharks with
teeth, teeth, teeth.
An elephant may charge
at any moment
a leopard may leap.
You will be trampled, eaten
and skewered.
The apples cannot be trusted.
be blessed with happiness
and not fear of the creatures God hath made.
So quit hiding behind men.
Why is life such a fear?
http://reluctant-messenger.com/essene/gospel_of_peace.htm