| | I have heard a lot of people who berate the Bible in the name of Feminism. Now, I've never called myself a Feminist (in fact, I once wrote a poem entitled "Anti-Feminazi Manifesto"), and when women try to re-imagine the Bible based on their compulsive need to be better than men, I really start to get frustrated. An honest and unassuming reading of Scripture gives a portrait of a God who cares passionately about women and their needs, and presents many heroines who are excellent role models for any young woman. Scripture also gives significant guidance to women on how to behave, in addition to the general guidance given for all believers. You could almost say Scripture spoils women: we have a clear picture of the character God wants us to have laid out for us to follow.
The most blatant example of this is in Proverbs 31. One of the commenters on a Revelife post today got me thinking again about this passage of Scripture, which I believe is one of the most maligned passages in the Bible. As a young woman growing up, I heard interpretations of this passage that went something like this: "Proverbs 31 tells young men that God wants them to marry good women and to avoid contact with sinful women. A good woman is one who will be modest, faithful to her husband, a good mother, who will take care of the house and support her husband in his work." You can probably guess that I don't think that's a very accurate description of what is actually going on in this passage. As I got older, I began to realize that a much different picture is painted here.
The first definitive quality of "the Wife of Noble Character" is that her husband has full confidence in her. He knows he can count on her for anything. This doesn't just apply to keeping his shirts ironed and having supper on the table in time; rather, it refers to a trust so complete that it destroys need. He knows he lacks nothing because he knows he can trust her to make a wise decision about what should be done.
This "Wife" is also an incredibly productive, hardworking woman. She's a working mom, in fact. She's up before sunlight working at what she does best to provide for her family, and she is really good at her job. She's so good that Proverbs compares her productivity with a merchant ship laden with treasures. She's so good that she earns enough to buy her own property, which she uses as another source of income. She's tough, smart, and capable: "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." (v 17) And because she has accomplished so much, so well, when disaster strikes she's confident that her family will be okay: "When it snows she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet." (v 21) And on top of all that, she dresses well and strives to present herself beautifully: "Her clothes are fine linen and purple." (v 22) But she is never stingy or selfish; she gives liberally to the poor (from her own earnings, we can assume) and has compassion on less fortunate people.
In fact, she is so remarkable that her husband is respected merely because of association. Her husband is accorded a place of honor because her goodnes reflects on him and raises him up. Proverbs speaks of her having strength, dignity, wisdom. And, despite what our culture might lead you to believe, this is not a thankless job for her. In fact, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." (v 21) And the honor she receives is not just from her family--in public, before her whole community, she receives "the reward she has earned."
Feminism has never offered a vision of womanhood superior to this. This Biblical ideal, the Noble Wife, is everything I could and do hope to be. Confident, respected, capable, talented, generous. If I am half the woman described here, I will have reason to be proud. And reading this, I know that to God, no woman is a second-class citizen. Rather, He has designed women to be brilliant, vibrant members of their communities, who are honored by their families, their coworkers, and their world.
|
| | Posted 5/14/2009 7:32 PM - 6 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
