Don't be born a man...

My inspiration for a blog can come from the most unusual places. This one comes from the lyrics of a country song and a recent exchange with a friend.

I've listened to county music all my life. Growing up in Texas my daddy played in a country band. He sang and played the fiddle. Now here in rural Missouri our local station plays classic country and ever now and then I hear a tune that my dad sang in my growing-up years. "Faded Love." "Cold, Cold Heart." "Fraulein."

An observation from an adult perspective: sometimes the lyrics in the old classics celebrate infidelity or unrequited love, but I brush it off as classic country culture. I always assume that Christians know the love triangle and cheating are contrary to Christian faith so I continue to enjoy the music.

Recently, however, I heard a song on our local station that reflects our current culture. This time the lyrics really disturbed me. The song: "Don't Be Born A Man If You Can Help It!" A google search failed to bring up the lyrics, so my thoughts come after hearing the song only once. The recurring gist of the song declared that women are taking over every area of life that previously had been a man's domain. A plumber with pink tools, a beautiful truck driver, a mechanic... always with the refrain, "Don't be born a man if you can help it because women are taking over the world."

The song was cleverly written with humor, but the tale it told broke my heart because I suspect it proclaims the heart of many men today, even in the church. So many people, both women and men, continue to believe that there are areas of life off limits to women--and many of them sincerely base this belief on their understanding of the Scriptures. But, on closer examination, our Scriptures say something else!

Jesus often encouraged women to participate in society in ways prohibited by the culture of his day. For example, Mary, sister of Martha, sat at Jesus' feet, learning from him. Mary took the place exclusively reserved for a man and Jesus said she had made a good choice.

Then there is the woman who came though the crowd to get close enough to Jesus to touch the hem of his garment. When Jesus turned and asked the one who touched him to come forth, the woman made herself known. Jesus required the woman to testify to her own actions which she quickly did. In that day women were prohibited from giving testimony. Luke's gospel also mentions that women taveled with the disciples and helped support Jesus and his followers out of their own means.

In the first century church, women were encouraged to serve according to their spiritual gifts. Phillip's daughters spoke messages to the church. Phoebe was a deacon, entrusted with responsibilities between congregations. Priscilla taught and ministered with her husband Aquila. At the end of the letter to the Romans a feminine name is listed as outstanding among the apostles! Junias, by name.

The word "apostle" means "one sent with a message." The first messengers chosen by the Lord after the resurrection were women! Women went to the tomb and the resurrected Lord sent them back to the other disciples to tell them he is risen!

Jesus brought an equality for women and men. So I say, don't be afraid to be born a man because women are not taking over the world. With the Lord's help we can be equal partners working together.