I remember specifically learning two things in my 8th grade geography class (Don’t worry, Dad, I acquired much more knowledge, but two memories stick).
#1: “Culture is…?” “…the way of life for a group of people.”
“Culture is the way of life for a group of people. Culture is the way of life for a group of people.” We hammered this one, probably everyday.
#2: You can tell the level of godliness or godlessness in a culture simply by observing the value and treatment of women.
Not the number of churches? Not the laws concerning morality? Not the number of businesses named after biblical subjects? Hmm. Such a different conclusion than I might naturally make.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman…” [Genesis 3:15]
I do not make a point to measure a society’s level of godliness, but I have been thinking much about this connection to women as I observe the repercussions of devaluation all too apparent around me.
Women raising children on their own – children who will, unless the pattern is stopped, also bear children into fatherless homes – because why wait for faithfulness that will never come?
Women trapped in prostitution because of poverty.
Women who, when asked how can we pray, respond that they need protection from propositioning in their “legitimate” line of work.
Women who, though educated, do not have much hope of securing a job without compromising their purity in exchange.
But what can be done to something so set in a culture? How can cycles and normalities and things larger and more subtle than I can discern be changed?
More education?
More aid and money?
More social development?
More awareness?
More sexual harassment laws?
More enforcement of those laws?
No. It’s not enough. It never will be enough. What a joke that a social program, a grand idea, or a sum of money could be strong enough to take on the gates of hell.
But the man who broke the curse, becoming cursed;
but the mysteriously powerful shedding of blood;
but the 2000-year-old event that continues opening graves today.
“Woman, behold your son!… Behold your mother!” [John 19:26-27]
It’s not a sweet gospel hymn.
It’s not a pastel-colored holiday.
It’s not the weightless answer everyone in this town can rattle off.
It’s not an ancient story moved beyond relevance.
It’s the only hope these women have.
Jesus, hell is holding these women captive, and acknowledgement that “yes, I am a born-again” is not setting anyone free. We need the reality to be manifest HERE that the curse against women is broken and powerless NOW!
“And upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail.” [Matthew 16:13]
What if these women came into a community and met the One who is Faithful and True?
What if this community became the family who came around girls who are trying to build family around themselves?
What if this community valued the dignity of their women so much that they would provide for needs before allowing a girl to compromise herself for a job?
What if the way of life for the followers of Jesus was to give value, honor, and dignity back to women?
What if we built a church that had a culture?
“And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one… People will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security.” [Zechariah 14:9, 11]
Come, Lord Jesus.
-Amy
