Every woman has a purpose, that means you!

Every woman has a purpose, that means you!
By Rev. Elizabeth D. Rios, MA
[Originally published in the Tristate Voice (NY), March 2003]

God has called you; He has anointed you. Now “deal with it.” In other words, He has done His part; now you go and do yours. I believe as women, we struggle with the call of God over our lives for various reasons but mostly because for too long churches have fostered judgmental attitudes toward women who preach, lead or work outside the home. Isn't it time we allowed God's women to fulfill their destinies—whatever that may be for them?

Women, especially mothers, are constantly on the firing line for their choices. Women today are not reared to be only mothers, as they were decades ago. Many go to college, seminary, graduate school, develop careers and use their talents to serve God in ways other than, or in addition to, caring for children. This does not diminish the role of mother nor devalue it. It's not easy, to be sure. Being a leader and working outside the home while mothering takes a lot of creativity, planning, prayer and good support systems.

However, no one and nothing can keep you from fulfilling the call of God on your life-except you. Although God may define your calling with a different title than you perhaps anticipated, if you look closely, it will still be your calling.

All too often, potentially influential Christian women are hindered in their God-ordained callings by their own responses to other peoples’ perceptions of what women should and shouldn’t do. Some may feel hindered by their seasons of life (too young, too old, I’m a mother, I’m divorced) and others by role definitions. Women do go through seasons in life when they may not be as active in external ministry while they focus on internal ministry in the home. We all need to acknowledge that there are preparation periods for all leaders when they are not seen by the public as “doing much” but God is always at work whether a woman decides to stay home with her children, focus on education with limited ministry obligations or is taking the time to nurture her spirit in extended quiet time with Lord. If you find yourself in a “waiting season” don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about not being active. However, in whatever season you find yourself in, when God speaks to you to go forth, none of the above should hinder you from fulfilling the call!

One key hindrance of going forward in our call at times is other women! A significant study done by Dr. Maria Perez y Gonzalez in 1993 revealed that women are other women in ministry’s greatest obstacles. Many women have brought into the patriarchal system and are more comfortable taking spiritual guidance from male pastors because of traditionally held beliefs that men have a greater spiritual relationship with God.

Another hinderance is the fear of being labeled a feminist. I am not a feminist in the secular perspective. I consider myself to be what is called an egalitarian as opposed to a complementarian. Egalitarians hold to the view that women should be able to do whatever men do in ministry, while complementarians see the role of women as different — that is, complementary to that of men. Other terms used to describe the position of women as equal partners in ministry are equalitarian or evangelical, Chrisitan or biblical feminist. In that regard, I would call myself a biblical feminist. Why are so many women afraid of being called feminist? Perhaps because of lack of education on the subject. Historically the basic aims of the women’s movement have been that women be accepted as equal members of society and be free to become full persons. A formal definition of feminism from Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary terms it “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes,” with a secondary meaning being “organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interest.” Secular feminism can take many forms and integrate various philosophies that don’t match our theology. Persons who consider themselves to be biblical feminists make an important break with the secular approach, it centers around the equal opportunity to serve as opposed to secular feminism’s gaining equal rights.

Gretchen Gaebelein Hull explains the differences this way: “secular feminists say “I want equal rights. I want to be able to compete on an equal basis with men.” The biblical feminist says: “I want to be free to be the person God created me to be and to have the privilege of following Christ as He calls me to do.” Hull goes on to say that “feminism (or any other ism) without Christ is just another power struggle”. Biblical feminists want to explore their conviction about equality of women in a biblical way and implement their findings according to biblical guidelines.
Biblical feminists advocate for partnership not competition, mutual submission and not domination by one sex or the other, the priesthood of all believers and not a male hierarchy. In conservative Christian circles feminism has become the scapegoat for many societal ills. Feminism has become the false target upon which to blame all problem areas in human relationships. Blaming feminism for all societal ills is simplistic, unfair, and unscriptural. It also places women in a no-win situation. The true enemy of a just society is not feminism or chauvinism, but us—men and women as the two components of a fallen humanity (I really could go on and on about this but this is not my dissertation).

Can believing women permit persons, or institutions to limit and stifle their witness for Christ, who first chose a woman to proclaim the greatest message of Christianity, that He is risen? (Jn. 20:17) Are Christian women to be silent in God's work today when so many women in the Bible were His messengers? Can believing women afford to bow to discrimination in the church world, while their equality in the secular world is a fact of life?

I dare say, as well, that I believe some women use Paul's words (1 Co. 14:34, 1 Ti. 2:12) as an excuse for their own lack of courage to become fully involved in proclaiming Christ. Be the woman who Jesus has anointed you to be, and do what He has called you to do. And if you lack courage to do that, do not shoot another sister down who has accepted what God told her to do! Be an encourager! Not a discourager! There is enough in this fallen world that keeps a sister down!
If you do have the courage to go forward, His timing and placement have been with much forethought and planning. Graciously respond to His placement and His plan. This is clearly a day when God is calling openly and specifically to many women and it’s not as a second choice! He desires to empower us with His anointing to help heal a hurting world. Every woman has a purpose, that means you!