We often hear cries from today’s media about women’s rights. Certainly, women do have rights, but of what rights is the media speaking? Many want women to take their “rightful” place as military combatants, police officers, construction workers, chief executive officers, governors, and all other previously male-dominated positions. The media has been most vocal about a “woman’s right to choose,” which is a sanitized way to say that a woman should have the right to kill her unborn child. As a Christian woman, I do not want these “rights” that society is trying to bestow upon me.
From a historical perspective, society has jumped from one ditch into another with respect to the rights of women. God made the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to be lifelong companions as husband and wife. He created Adam before Eve, but Eve was not an afterthought. God knew before He made the man that He would also create a female counterpart for the procreation of mankind (Genesis 1:27–28). Eve was to be a helper for Adam, and she was comparable to him in every way. Biblically, women are not inferior, as characterized by some cultures, nor superior, as portrayed by so many Hollywood movies. God intended women to be treated with love and respect by their fathers and husbands; however, history witnesses that this did not happen very often.
Now, it seems that Western society is trying to right the past evils of mistreatment of women by pushing women to be more like men. Perhaps the thinking is that being male is more advantageous than being female, so in order to be more equal, women should be more male. Whatever the case, women are expected to pursue careers and share the role of breadwinner, which takes them away from their families. This, of course, means that men are seen as equally responsible for tasks that were traditionally done by women.
Just as we see the masculinization of women, we also see the feminization of men. The reversal of male and female roles is all around us; it is just another example of mankind discarding God’s way of life. All types of modern media are replete with men at home caring for the children and women on the job managing men. Young people are growing up thinking that this is the natural order of things. No wonder there are so many broken homes—no wonder there is such confusion about gender!
The Power of Homemakers
Even the word “rights” now has a negative and combative connotation, so in this article we will talk about God-given roles and responsibilities that should shape a woman’s expectations. Society has painted the traditional roles of wife and mother—with all the responsibilities they entail—as menial, beneath the dignity and intelligence of most women. They want women to share equally in providing for and leading the family. They promised fulfillment and happiness through careers, but this has not happened. According to research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, homemakers are generally happier than women who work full time (D. Hamplová, “Does Work Make Mothers Happy?” 2018, vol. 20, pp. 471–497). No, thank you, society. I prefer God’s way.
Western society would have women in the workplace earning a wage, but God says women should expect to be financially supported by their husbands and to become homemakers (1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 2:4–5). A homemaker is a vitally important role in the family, in the community, and in society at large. Far from being mundane and unskilled, it requires all the expertise of a manager, purser, administrative assistant, personnel director, arbiter, teacher, and nurse’s aide, to name a few. Women should never allow themselves to feel put down or apologetic about being homemaker; it is a most noble profession. Being a homemaker provides women with the perfect environment in which to build godly character and wisdom. By managing their own households well, women are preparing to rule nations and manage angels, just as God intends (1 Corinthians 6:2–3).
One of the main reasons for marriage and family is that God desires godly offspring (Malachi 2:15) and teaching the next generation is a huge responsibility. Parents have a godly responsibility to rear their children in the admonition of God and teach them His way of life (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Proverbs 22:6). Much of the day-to-day instruction and application of God’s law has been the mother’s domain because, as a homemaker, she has naturally spent more time with the children. Women can expect to play an important role as teacher and guide of their children. However, many women spend most of their waking hours outside the home, and this vital responsibility to teach and train the next generation does not receive the attention it deserves. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 57.4 percent of women worked outside the home in 2019. This was up from 43.3 percent in 1970. The trend is going in the wrong direction, and we see the impact in broken families and lawless children who become lawless adults (Proverbs 29:15).
Can you imagine a world in which women as homemakers consistently teach their children values that will benefit them for a lifetime? Can you imagine the impact on neighborhoods and society? What impact would that have in the classroom or for the police? Children would learn to submit to authority, to treat others with respect (Matthew 7:12), and not to steal—and the impact on society would be monumental. People could take walks downtown without fear. Insurance rates would decrease because there would be virtually no theft or vandalism. These are only a few of the positive benefits; I’m sure you can think of many more.
Feminine Character
I know that this is Satan’s society and that many Christian women living in it will not be able to fully live up to these expectations. I was not able to do so when my children were young, and I worked outside the home. The truth is that Christian women working outside the home have a greater burden to bear, because they still have the responsibilities of homemaker and mother. Of course, things will not go as perfectly as you would like, but God is not unaware of your struggles. As you work in support of your family, don’t buy into the satanic lie that women need to work outside the home to be fulfilled. Ask God to help you, to inspire you, and to bless your efforts to fulfill all your responsibilities—and keep His perspective in mind.
Christian women should reflect the feminine character that God intended. More often than not, society portrays successful women as brash, egocentric, vain people who dress provocatively to attract attention. Such ungodly attitudes and styles are often mimicked by women in every age group. However, God expects His daughters to have a gentle and quiet nature, as opposed to a brash one (1 Peter 3:3–4; 2 Corinthians 10:1). Godly women will have outgoing concern for others—godly love—as opposed to being self-centered. Christian women should set an example of modesty in their decorum and dress, and not be provocative (1 Timothy 2:9). In fact, kindness, goodness, and gentleness are aspects of God’s character, which He wants all of His people to emulate (Galatians 5:22–23). God has given women a wonderful opportunity to display His nature in the role He has ordained for them, and we should eagerly desire to do so.
Men and women are created in God’s image with equal potential to be born into the Family of God (2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26–29). Christian women have God-given roles and responsibilities that are righteous expectations. Among these are the expectations to be keepers at home, to teach and educate their children, and to reflect God’s character in a uniquely feminine way, to name a few. Don’t allow society to make you feel apologetic for pursuing the path that God has designed for you, the path that ultimately leads to true happiness and fulfillment. Go forward and pursue the expectations—truly God-given rights—of a godly woman.