Different roles but always equal

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:28

 

God created our first parents, male and female. He created them to be equal but with different roles to complete the “one flesh” order. But through the centuries, this design began to take a different shape through male dominance. 

 

In Old Testament Judaism, women began to be treated as second class citizens. One traditional daily prayer for the Jewish man was: “Blessed are you, LORD our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has not made me a woman.” 

 

Against this backdrop of this “male domination” mentality, Jesus began His ministry. He did not treat women like second class citizen but spoke freely and openly to them. When He traveled from one town and village to another, proclaiming the gospel, He was accompanied by His disciples and women. These women were noted to have supported Him and His disciples out of their own means (Luke 8:1-3). He made no gender distinction when He announced that His brother, sister, and mother are those who do the will of His Father (Matt. 12:46-50). The Apostle Paul also made no distinction with those who supported his ministry. In his letters, he commends women and describes some in Philippi as his co-workers, who labored with him in the gospel. 

 

It was never the plan of God for women to be treated as second class citizens; neither was it the plan of God to place the man above the woman nor the woman above the man. They were created equal. Paul concluded: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). 

 

If we ever felt that a woman was lesser than a man, let us acknowledge that God’s word has never decreed that. Yes, we have different roles on earth, but spiritually, we are neither male nor female.