Whether you come from a denominational background where women were relegated to wearing jean-jumpers and filling up their husbands’ “quivers” with children or if you come from a background where “federal headship” was often espoused or even if you come from an accommodating to liberal background as to the role of women; I believe we can all interact on this discussion.

We revisit this issue and do so at the risk of inflaming passions on all sides. But what group is more apt to speak of the role of women within Christianity than the very group that advocates the consummation of Christianity?

As we look closer at the text of the Bible it is amazing to see how women have played an important role beyond some of the stereotypes.

For instance, many of Christ’s most profound teachings were first expounded to or in relationship to women:

·  The Nature of Sin (how none were without it) – to the adulterous woman.

·  The Nature of the Resurrection – to Martha.

·  The Nature of God (being Spirit & to be worshiped in spirit) – to the woman at the well.

·  The Nature of Love (how love is expressed) – to the woman that anointed Christ’s feet with her tears.

These are just a few, I’m certain people could bring out many other examples.

But what is even more striking is these women “reasoned” with Christ by interacting with Him. The disciples were surprised that Jesus was even talking to the woman at the well, for she had two strikes against her; one her gender and two her ethnic status.

Probably the most poignant example of women reasoning with Christ is the woman with the “demon-possessed” daughter. She too had the wrong ethnicity to be “blessed” thus it appeared the Lord would send her away. She could have merely agreed with Christ that she was not worthy to have her daughter healed but instead she “reasoned” with Christ. ( Mt 15:22-28)

And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." – Mt 15:27

Can you appreciate the audacity of this woman? Not only is she of low class being not the correct ethnicity but she is also the incorrect gender to challenge a “master”. Can you imagine some of the denominations of today where women are told to be silent in church, cover their heads and only ask their husbands questions at home? But this woman had the nerve to actually question not simply a “man behind a pulpit”, but the very Lord Himself.

And what was Jesus’ response? Did he rebuke her forwardness? No, but rather He declared:

Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. -- Mt 15:28

The point is, that women have not been considered quite up to the task of reasoning the Scriptures. And it is not only men that would pin this on them but also and often women themselves. They often look to men as sources of biblical knowledge that they themselves cannot “reason”.

I want to encourage women to dig into Scripture themselves. Especially from the standpoint that we advocate the Consummation. I want to raise my daughter to be able to “reason” from the Scriptures along WITH her husband. Often, wives acquiesce that role almost exclusively to their husbands, thus the wife’s faith is only as solid as the husband’s. This ought not be. I want to encourage mothers, daughters, and sisters to make solid their own foundation and faith in Christ. I am not encouraging them to be argumentative or mouthy – for the Lord knows we have enough men that fit that role.

And lastly, I encourage men to interact with women in such a capacity, then perhaps as the Lord Himself showed, we can accept and appreciate the “reasoning” women may engage us in from Scripture. Then, perhaps in this way we can encourage the making of reasonable women that will become our wives, our daughters, and our sisters.

In Christ reasonable,
Roderick