Biblical Womanhood in a Postmodern Culture Lesson 1 Introduction

There is a controversy in the culture (including the church) regarding who we are as women. We have a challenge to be courageous and take a biblical stand against the prevailing winds of our culture. There is a caution. We are so steeped in our culture we may not know for sure if we are thinking biblically or culturally.

Terms to Know Gender Debate Feminism Evangelical Feminism Egalitarian Biblical Womanhood Complementarian

Marks of a Biblical Woman A biblical woman __stands___ on the Word of God. A biblical woman _____trusts____ the Word of God. A biblical woman ____obeys____ the Word of God. A biblical woman _____reflects___ the Word of God. A biblical woman ____rejoices__ in the Word of God.

Questions a Biblical Woman Must Answer Do I trust the Bible? Do I trust the Author of the Bible? Do I like the way God made me? Am I willing to bank everything on the authority of Scripture? Am I willing to allow the Holy Spirit to change my heart?

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We must think biblically or we will (by default) think culturally

Colossians 2:3-8 Paul says: I want you to have a “full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ….as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ.”

2 Timothy 3:5-7 “…having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at the knowledge of the truth.”

Prevailing Philosophies Rationalism Empiricism Existentialism Modernism Postmodernism

7 TENETS OF POSTMODERNISM Unlimited variation of words No rules of logic to govern dialog No limits to defining meaning No metanarrative Defiance of authority Deconstruction of Truth Relativism

Modernism Postmodernism Distorted sense of certainty Man in his pride thinks he is God Truth without God Postmodernism Distorted sense of uncertainty Man in his “humility” will not speak boldly for God God without Truth

POSTMODERN PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENT The American Feminist Movement 1st stage late 1700’s – early 1900’s Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott PUSH FOR EQUALITY 2nd wave 1963 Betty Freidan – Feminine Mystique PUSH FOR SAMENESS

The prevailing philosophy is postmodernism The plausible argument is feminism The empty deceit is evangelical feminism

“If a stick is very crooked and you wish to prove that it is so, get a straight one and quietly lay it down by its side.” Spurgeon

The Decisions We Face