TODAYS CHRISTIAN WOMENTODAYS CHRISTIAN WOMEN; a few thoughts about an obvious change of heart in the apostle Paul. Few things have brought more confusion to Christianity than the assumption that Western Civilisation is Christian Civilisation. In my own country, South Africa, missionaries amongst whom my great-great-grandfather John Allsopp was numbered, brought the Good News to the indigenous people. In John Allsopp's case, to the Xhosa people who lived on the South Eastern tip of Africa. A small village, Port St John's was established. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter ..." - 1 Cor 15, vs 3. Western culture
To the Xhosa people there was nothing indecent about these women in traditional dress.Unfortunately, along with the Good News, yes, still such good news today that Jesus died for our sins, missionaries also brought Western Culture. Worse, thinking that Western Culture was Christian Culture they sought to force that culture on the indigenous people.That is history, and there is no point in continually harping back on what is set in concrete. Such was the domineering spirit of John Allsopp, so determined to bring his Christian and European ways to the Xhosa people, he soon became known to friend and foe alike, to his family also, as Lord John. They said he thought he was the Lord! The apostle Paul saw with great clarity this danger, the possibility of bring Jewish 'culture' into Christianity. Thus he took a strong stand against practices like circumcision. Also he spoke very forcefully to his fellow apostle Peter when the latter refused to sit and eat with non-Jewish Christians. Peter for his part realised that not eating certain foods was a Jewish practice, and did not necessarily pertain to the Good News. It was a time of great struggle in Church History when Christians sought to see the true heart of the gospel, and to distinguish between culture and the true Faith. It was a time of controversy, as many false doctrines and practices sought pre-eminence. A blind spotDare we admit it? Could the apostle Paul have had a blind spot? Clearly he did not initially perceive that, along with the Good News, he also brought the Jewish tradition of the place of women with him into Christian culture?
"As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak ..." -1 Cor 14: 34
Whilst today evangelical Christians would be loathe to admit it, these were probably not God-inspired words. Or, has something been lost in the translation? Rather, much of this passage is what I would call a 'chapter of straw' to use Martin Luther's delightful phrase. In the same chapter Paul gets hopelessly confused over whether 'tongues' is "a sign for unbelievers" or on hearing tongues spoken, would unbelievers "not say that you are out of your mind?" The Resurrection of ChristWhat is astounding is that Paul continues in his 'women should remain silent' frame of mind in Ch 15.
"... Christ appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers ... then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me ..." - 1 Cor 15: 5
Anyone reading this passage for the first time would assume that the risen Christ was not seen by any women, but of course there was Mary ... a woman not deified by todays Christian women, but nevertheless, held in great respect. "Then the disciples went back to their homes (not having seen Jesus), but Mary stood outside the tomb crying ... ... but she did not realise it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" ... Then Jesus said to her, "Mary." John 20. A change of heartI suppose we will never know what brought about a change of heart in the apostle Paul. Certainly todays Christian women rejoice that current practice in the churches, most of them anyway, is not based on what Paul advocated in 1 Corinthians.Reading the last chapter of Romans, written only two years later, it's astonishing that we are reading a letter by the same author. "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers ...Greet Mary who worked very hard for you ...Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa ... Greet Rufus, and his mother, who has been a mother to me too." Romans 16. These thoughts about Todays Christian women have been uncomfortable for me. They challenge whether we believe that 'all Scripture is inspired'. Were these words of Paul only for the Corinthians? Were they only for the first century Christians? Should his teaching be regarded as pertinent to the whole Church Universal for all time? Certainly there are few Christian churches today who give credence to what Paul said two thousand years ago about the role of women in the church. And those who do, are in serious decline. Todays Christian women would question Paul's authority to speak for this generation about the role of women in the Church. And yes, I suspect that most of todays Christian men, even the most conservative Bible-believing men, in their more honest moments would admit it too. Not so? The Twenty-first century church would fall flat on its face if it wasn't for todays Christian women.
FOR EVERY SINGLE WOMAN ...Undoubtedly one of the nastiest diseases, osteoporosis is largely avoidable, if we start doing the right things EARLY ENOUGH. When you break your hip, it's too late!The causes of osteoporosis are now well known, and it behoves TODAYS CHRISTIAN WOMEN and in fact every single woman to take them to heart. Osteoporosis not only causes severe pain, but you lose your independence, the worst of all. Walking benefits are paramount ...
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