What is the role of women in Christianity today?

Answer 1

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said,....... thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

According to the New Testament:

1 Corinthians 1434-36Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church

Ephesians 522-24Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Colossians 318Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

1 Timothy 2:9

Women are to dress modestly, "with shamefacedness" -- "not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array."

1 Timothy 211-15Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing.

2 Timothy 3:6-7

For of this sort are they which creep into houses and leave captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth

1 Peter 3 : 1-6

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

AnswerThe role of women in Christianity today depends almost entirely upon the context in which women find themselves or choose to be involved in.

More conservative Bible-believing women will tend to be in churches of this type which themselves tend to have various more conservative expressions of The Bible verses outlined above). Those of a less conservative leaning will be in churches of that kind exhibiting less obviously or consciously the Biblical characteristics mentioned above and more akin to what everyone considers 'normal'. This will relate to all areas affecting women's roles including their participation in church leadership etc.

The modern 'womens rights' movement has had a dramatic impact on the role of women in Christian churches , especially since WW2. This is one of the issues which is definitive in some respects between those who wish to follow the Biblical model and those who follow the 'women's rights' model and see the Biblical model as repressive and outdated.

Answer 2

That seems to depend on who you ask. The general/historical point of view seems to be that a woman plays the part of an adult child she cooks cleans and looks after the kids and should not worry about intellectual pursuits or take leadership roles in the family or community that would compete with the male hierarchy as it stands today, Even today many women in the Christian world have had to put up with the glass ceiling in both church affairs and in the community in general. A woman's role should be the same as that of any person male or female and that is to play an active part in the development of development of our understanding of religion as well as assume more leadership roles in the community in general. Keep in mind what the men in the church did to the memory of Mary Magdalene for being at least the equal of the disciples.

Answer 3

Both genders are called to preach the gospel and help save souls if they can, both genders are supposed to care for orphans and widows, and both genders can be a good influence in the life of others.

Answer 4

What a man can do.....even better.

Answer: Women's roles are generally of the nurturing kind. Biblically they were required to let the men do the preaching, although there is debate over whether this was due to the cultural outrage which might have come with female leadership. Usually the words associated with women were "Helper" and "Mother".

Answer

It depends upon whether you mean 'Christianity' as the religion, or 'The Church' - for they are very different.

In some churches, notably the Roman Catholic Church, women's roles are very different from men's. Men still hold the power, as well as the exclusive right to preach, be deacons, priests and bishops and too hold any heriarchical office. In some more extreme evangelical churches (eg Armish, some Bretheren churches) women are still segregated from men physically in worship and not even allowed to speak in Church. However, in most forward-thinking Chhurches women have an equal standing with men. As an example, in many Anglican Churches women can become priests and bishops, and can hold any office that a man holds.

However, in Christianity the picture is very different. There was no segregation of women's ministry in the early Church - a remarkable situation for a society that treated women socially different and inferior to men. We hear of prophets (eg Anna) who was a woman, and church leaders (like Priscilla and Lydia) who were women and evangelists (like Mary Magdalene) who were women. The early Church had women priests presiding at the eucharist (eg as displayed in the Fractio Panis fresco in the catacombs). So in Christianity there isn't (or shouldn't be) any distinction between men or women. Paul made this absolutely clear in his letter to the Galatians (3:28):

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

So, in Christianity, women's roles are identical to men's roles. But sadly in the Church there are still pockets of prejudice and even misogyny that will take a long time, it seems, to eradicate altogether.