“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27).”
Just before Hurricane Irma arrived to batter Florida there was a news report that a man’s parents flew into the Sunshine State from India to assist their son in “disciplining” his wife. When authorities arrived at the home to rescue her they had to enter forcibly as the door had been blocked by the husband. They found the wife covered in bruises and learned that the man and his mother and father had “repeatedly and forcefully” beaten her for her disobedience. (1)
While such behavior seems obscene here in the West, it is not such an uncommon practice around the world to physically “discipline” one’s wife. In fact, in the ancient world, women were too often viewed as little more than property. Few in the West today recognize that it was the teachings of Jesus that elevated the status of women out of such deplorable conditions.
For women in Greece, before and during the time of Christ, they were not permitted to leave the home without their husband or a trustworthy male escort. (2) Wives had to retreat to her quarters if her husband hosted a male guest and they had very little freedom. Wives in Roman culture shared a similarly low status. Even among the Hebrews there was some rabbinical thought that men were not to converse with women because they would lead men into unchastity. (2) When the disciples returned and found Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well, they were not surprised that He conversed with a Samaritan but that “He talked with a woman (John 4:27).”
The Taliban forbids girls from attending school and learning as a boy may do. Under Islam, the Koran directs husbands to put disobedient wives out of their beds and to beat or scourge them until they obey (Sura 4:34). What a contrast to the direction of the New Testament in regards to husband’s relations with their wives. The husband is to love his wife as his own body (Ephesians 5:28) and be prepared to give himself for her, just as Christ did for His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:25-27). Paul admonished Husbands to “love your wives, and do not be harsh with them (Colossians 3:19 ESV).” Peter instructed husbands to show consideration for their wives as “the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7).” Typically, the man, being stronger, could be inclined to forcefully impose his will over her. Peter adds the warning that the husband should not abuse his advantage of strength and treat his wife dishonorably so that his prayers would not be hindered, that his privilege of coming boldly to the throne of God could be cut off by choosing to act in this fashion.
Jesus radically altered the status quo of the culture of His day and for all generations since then where His example is followed and His teachings are honored. Not only did He converse with the Samaritan woman at the well at Sychar, He revealed to her that He was the Messiah (John 4:25-26) and graced her with the honor to lead the entire town to Jesus (vv.29, 39-42). It was to women that He extended this same favor by revealing Himself first to them after His resurrection and charging them to tell the other disciples that He had risen (Matthew 28:10). Women were not only His disciples, they were among His ministry’s prominent financial backers (Luke 8:1-3). Women were free to approach Jesus directly, in violation of the culture’s mistaken norms towards women (Luke 7:37-39).
For some men it is a complete loss of erectile abilities. http://raindogscine.com/?order=3433 buy cheap levitra Kamagra soft tablets are chewable form of tablets which is favorites for those people who have been facing the problem since a long levitra online order time. This is a certified product, order cialis online raindogscine.com which will give you the opportunity to purchase drugs. Thankfully, women can now match that energy through female libido pills like Provestra that help boost blood supply to the male reproductive system. buy levitra from canada
Jesus did not come to earth to initiate a women’s movement, rather He came to provide redemption from sins for all, both men and women, for both are equal in Christ (Galatians 3:28).2 But His teachings remain and prove able to continue to change hearts and conquer the ugly and improper traditions of men.
“Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God (1 Corinthians 11:11-12).”
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/florida-man-india-parents-fly-beat-wife-domestic-abuse-allegations-a7931211.html
- Alvin J. Schmidt, The Great Divide, Regina Orthodox Press Inc., 2004, pp. 67, 69-70, 73
