Category: Religion and Philosophy    Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Just recently I had the misfortune to witness several cases of male chauvinism in action. I was taken back and even a little angry about the injustice. Since one of my spiritual gifts is discernment, my heart was heavy from the incidents.  I felt deep conviction to find specifically why I was so bothered. This led me on a journey that was quite interesting and revealing. This letter is one of a series of writings about this subject and why it has spiritual ramifications to the perpetuator of such behavior.

First I would like to define male chauvinism. It is a term used to describe the belief that males are undeniably superior to females. The word "chauvinist" was originally used to describe one who has a fanatical loyalty in one's country. The word was later applied by the "women's liberation movement" in the 1960s and used to describe men who believe women are inferior, speak to them as inferiors, or treat them negatively based solely upon their gender. In order to describe why this is so damaging we must go to the roots that define gender. The roots are in Genesis (Imagine that!)

Genesis Chapter 2, verse 18. The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

          Notice a few of things here. First the Lord God said. That is a perfect source of information. Second "It is not good for man to be alone" that would be your creator defining a problem that needs to be fixed. And thirdly "I (God) will make a helper suitable for him" Think about that! God himself says He will supply a helper for man! If I am not mistaken doesn't that make the woman a gift for the man from the greatest gift giver ever? Wow! That alone should put a little more value on the woman at least from a believer's perspective. But that is not all!

            The next two verses state: Genesis, Chapter 19: "Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. Genesis, Chapter 20: So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field But for Adam no suitable helper was found".  Now there's something for the guy that treats his dog better than his wife. He had the man name all of the creatures God had made and could not find a suitable helper for Adam out of all that! Now check out the next two verses!

Genesis, Chapter 21: "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs, and closed up the place with flesh. Genesis, Chapter 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man". How about that? You go to sleep one night and wake up with part of you missing and not even a scar or anything to let you know what happened! The God makes a woman from one rib and brings her back to the man. I wish I could have seen Adam when he saw his rib come back to him as Eve.

            The next verse says: Genesis, Chapter 23:

"The man said,  "This is now bone of my bones
       and flesh of my flesh;
       she shall be called 'woman',
       for she was taken out of man."

Now I would say that Adam was impressed! Why was he so impressed to say that she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh?  I believe that Adam recognized that this new person was the part of him that was missing and she could and would complete him again.  With that in his mind he felt compelled to cherish, protect, and make her a part of him and his life. In short he needed her in order to function as a complete person again. WITH THIS IN MIND HOW CAN ANY MAN CONSIDER HIS WIFE, SISTER, MOTHER, AUNT, OR ANY FEMALE INFERIOR TO HIM?  My friend, if you do that you are actually limiting your greatest asset because you are not allowing yourself to be a complete person by the standards that God put in place at the garden.

I am going to continue with this subject the next time because it is so involved and relates to so many problems of our world today.  But I will leave this letter with the next verse.

Genesis, Chapter 24: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Notice the relationship here. One flesh, I don't see a superior being in either gender here. What I see is a clean partnership with the man as head or leader and the woman as helper which means more than just doing the labor. She has much to contribute in order to complete us men. Which, by the way is her calling.    Until later, Dave