Women and Their Number One Complaint

I know the old saying, "can't live with them, and you can't live without them," but I am not so sure that's all true. If I had to live with some of my buddies, I would go insane with all the sports, sloppy house keeping, and belching.  However, I do want to talk about an issue most Christian women won't, or if they do they get labeled the "B" word.  That of course is not fair, nor should it be a Christian practice. Of all the complaints I hear from women this is number one.  It's the dirty little truth women live with, and put up with but hate every minute of it. 

First of all, many husbands don't pay much attention to their wives, unless they want sex.  Then "honey" is important, but when it comes to actually hearing her out on an issue, or if she is giving her option, often it goes unheard. The most annoying to women is in the church or ministry setting where they are not heard, or taken seriously. In my research, 9 out of 10 women could tell you horror stories about the way they have been treated in Christian settings, just because they are women.  Now, as in anything, there are exceptions, and if you are one of those women reading this today, count yourself lucky, because many of your girl friends aren't so lucky.

My sense is that many Christian males think that leadership and oversight is not in the mix for a woman, therefore she doesn't weigh in on decisions equally as a man. Now most male Christian leaders aren't even aware of this attitude, that's what is so weird. Some male leaders make a doctrine out of this and institute it throughout the church, but others who say they have no discourse against women in leadership still have an edge where women aren't as important on spiritual matters as a man. God designed Adam and Eve as a team, sin messed this up, and it continues to confuse people in the church today. Sin brought different rules to the game where women were to serve their husbands, and were relegated to a second in command to a man. However, in Christ, there comes a restoration of respect for each other, so that neither side of the gender coin is misrepresented.  As a result of sin, women were not meant to be left alone to lead, but neither are men. It has been said that women are more vulnerable than men, but the reality check on this is troubling. I can't tell you how many male Christian leaders have fallen to sexual sin...either on the internet or in their personal ministry offices. So why are women more vulnerable?  I have been around long enough to understand that God has a design for both women and men, and it does not place women at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to including them into the mix of leadership roles in the church. 

Galatians 3:28 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I have personal examples of where Christian male leaders have treated women worse in attitude than in the marketplace.  At least in the market place they have laws to prevent such male dominant behavior. It's more subtle in the church world, in fact I would say it's rampant because the church world is run primarily by men.  

What? You think I am going pink on you?  No, I am not a feminist supporter, but I am a woman supporter and will defend them against male mistreatment in the body of Christ.  Women, because of Christ have a spiritual right to be honored and heard at any table of decision making in the body of Christ. If you are a Christian leader in ministry, your responsibility is to broaden your leadership paradigm to include women into that process, and not only as a token gesture of respect. Women play a significant role in the body of Christ and should be listened to and honored as co-leaders in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Keeping it honest and truthful..K