Introduction – In an article titled The Gift of Femininity, Elizabeth Elliot says:
The more womanly we are, the more manly men will be, and the more God is glorified. As I say to you women, "Be women. Be only women. Be real women in obedience to God."
I. The Beginning of the Current Thought Problem.
A. Though feminist philosophy has been around for longer, the contemporary mindset finds its roots in the writings of Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem.
B. Friedan wrote her seminal book The Feminine Mystique in 1963.
C. In the 1970's Gloria Steinem popularized even more Friedan's ideas by writing articles for the newly created New York Magazine.
D. Sadly, the evangelical church was not far behind in adopting these ideas.
E. However, it was neither Friedan nor Steinem who authored the philosophy that power provides self-actualization and happiness, Gen. 3:1-8.
II. Where Does a Woman Find Her Worth?
A. This is an important question because motivation is key to fulfillment and obedience.
B. Where should a woman find her worth? In Christ!
III. A Look at Proverbs 31:10-31 from the Perspective of Single and Married Women.
A. Often single women glaze over these verses because they read v. 10 and think, "this is for a married woman," yet that is not the case.
B. This epilogue of Proverbs is a twenty-two-verse acrostic; each line starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
IV. The Bible Has More to Say about Femininity than Proverbs 31.
A. The biblical woman is a helper, Gen. 2:18.
B. The biblical woman exhibits graciousness, Pro. 11:16.
C. The biblical woman lives a pure life, 1 Pt. 3:1-2
D. The biblical woman is modest, 1 Tim. 2:9-10.
E. The biblical woman has a gentle and quiet spirit, 1 Pt. 3:4.
F. When married the biblical woman submits to and respect for husband, overall submission to and respect for authority, Eph. 5:22, 33.
G. The biblical woman teaches and is taught by other women, Titus 2:3-5.
Conclusion
God calls us to be man and to be woman for his glory. Both created in his image with equal worth. Each created to be different from each other. When we live out and celebrate and cultivate manhood and womanhood, we are ready to serve God according to the way he created us.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2013/11/christian-femininity-pro-3110-31.html
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