A puzzling question has come up again and again in my journey of the past year: Where are the women?
Is it just me, or are the men always the ones to use their brains and to speak up? They read the theological articles and keep the conversations going. They initiate Bible studies and talk for hours on end about biblical topics. They are the ones expected to get up early in the morning to spend time with God. The women? You might find one here or there, but it seems someone’s got the idea that it’s “man’s place” to think spiritual thoughts.
Yes, I’m making a blanket statement. {Or rather, asking a blanket question.} I’m honestly disturbed to find many women to be quite silent and quite unmotivated spiritually. In my experience, the ratio is pretty near bleak. Where are the women?
I suppose they’re sitting idly by, waiting for men to do the job. Perhaps they’ve allowed the biblical views of family and church leadership to leave them without a mind of their own. And rather than search the Scriptures for themselves, they’ve left it up to their fathers and husbands and pastors to do the thinking and digging for them. To their own demise.
It’s high time women of God step up in the simple matter of their own personal devotion to the Word of God. I, of all people, am a proponent of God-given functions in the church and home. I don’t intend to take over any kind of spiritual responsibility that is not my own. Not even close. But I think it’s a Christian woman’s right to pursue knowing God on a deep and personal level. And on God’s terms, not on anyone else’s.
It seems to me a Godly man should want a wife who fears the Lord rather than merely living in the shadow of her husband’s holy fear. He should want a wife who is so hungry for the Word that he must spend his moments with her there before he quibbles with lesser things. He should want a wife who asks questions, expresses convictions, and lives in the light of the truth she treasures. A woman who is more concerned with lasting food than the food that perishes. Her godliness and her character take her to such a place. How can he resist it?
And it seems to me that men who are appointed to lead the people of God should desire for the women to yearn for the Word just as much as the rest of the church body. These leaders should encourage women in their pursuit of holiness and should spur them on in their hunger for God and his truth. They should want the women they shepherd to be active members of the body, not passive, starving souls swayed by every whim.
Am I right?
Then where are they?
It’s not that I think Christian women haven’t made the Bible their life goal and the fill of their every waking moment. It’s that I think they don’t do much more than read it, if that. How do I know? I’ve been there. And I watch others do the same.
And I’m simply looking for women who treasure the word as if their life depended on it. Because it does.
[image credit: pixabay.com, journeyoftheword.com]
Journey of the Word 
Well, I know for a fact that you are a Bible discussing woman 😉 And, I’m glad and glad to know you for it. Generally I know why I believe what I believe and can defend it to an extent depending on the subject, but discussing with you gives reason to look even closer and dig even deeper.
LikeLike
There are many women in our community who are very vocal. I find myself wondering where the men are.
LikeLike
So interesting! I’ve received similar feedback. I guess for me it’s been both. But as I live in a “seminary world,” there seem to be so many men who dig into the word deeply and love theological discussions…while the women are too busy with other things and are all too willing to leave the “serious talk” to the men.
LikeLike
I like this topic. Thanks for posting. I think oftentimes, women have been conditioned in certain areas of the world to delegate the theological thinking to men. I’m always encouraged and inspired to visit places where that is not the case. It gives me hope and shows me a possibility for here as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great question. I had similar thoughts when I was in grad school about 10 years ago and surrounded by men. I feel like most women my age did not grow up being encouraged to pursue deeper study. There were a few here and there, but it was not a huge focus. (Visiting today from #FaithFilledFriday where we’re neighbors.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great points, and I’m sure it can swing both ways depending on your community and age and season of life – I often remind myself that for this season my time with God, my bold faith, is shining first for my children, who will have me as their first role model. In other seasons, I have been boldly standing, full of faith for others to see me, and that season will come back again. While reading this I am reminded of Paul’s description of Timothy, and who his godly model was…
Thank you for sharing this with the Cozy Reading Spot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm, guess I have not seen this in my area of the country. We live near a college and seminary(where I went to school) and there are many men and women of theology and Biblical scholars here. I am, in personality, probably more on the reserved side, but I definitely discuss theological issues with my family and friends often, especially in these times when Truth, God’s existence, morality is questioned at every turn.
LikeLike
Yes, I guess it’s different depending on the area and your circle of friends. For me, I’ve always struggled to find women who will study the Bible, and it seems to be brushed off as a men’s thing.
LikeLike
In Jesus’ time, women weren’t really given as much importance in the society. Too bad really. I’m sure they have more detailed story. Seriously though, even today, this seems to be an issue not totally resolved.
LikeLiked by 1 person