Today’s question is, “Is God and/ or the Bible sexist?”
In this video I’ll answer that question from a biblical perspective.
Then afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
Sexism is one gender, usually male, having dominance over the other gender, usually female.
The Bible contains many references to women that, to our modern mindset, sound discriminatory
towards women.
But we have to remember that when the Bible describes an action, it does not necessarily
mean that the Bible endorses that action.
The Bible describes men treating women as little more than property, but that does not
mean God approves of that action.
The Bible is far more focused on reforming our souls than our societies.
God knows that a changed heart will result in a changed behavior.
During Old Testament times, virtually every culture in the entire world was patriarchal
in structure.
That status of history is very clear—not only in Scripture but also in the rules that
governed most societies.
By modern value systems and worldly human viewpoint, that is called “sexist.”
God ordained the order in society, not man, and He is the author of the establishment
principles of authority.
However, like everything else, fallen man has corrupted this order.
That has resulted in the inequality of the standing of men and women throughout history.
The exclusion and the discrimination that we find in our world is nothing new.
It is the result of the fall of man and the introduction of sin.
Therefore, we can rightly say that the term and the practice of “sexism” is a result
of sin.
The progressive revelation of the Bible leads us to the cure for sexism and indeed all the
sinful practices of the human race.
To find and maintain a spiritual balance between the God-ordained positions of authority, we
must look to Scripture.
The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old, and in it we find principles that tell
us the correct line of authority and the cure for sin, the ill of all humanity, and that
includes discrimination based upon gender.
The cross of Christ is the great equalizer.
John 3:16 says, “Whoever believes,” and that is an all-inclusive statement that leaves
no one out on the basis of position in society, mental capacity, or gender.
We also find a passage in Galatians that speaks of our equal opportunity for salvation.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized
into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one
in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
There is no sexism at the cross.
The Bible is not sexist in its accurate portrayal of the results of sin in both men and women.
The Bible records all kinds of sin: slavery and bondage and the failures of its greatest
heroes.
Yet it also gives us the answer and the cure for those sins against God and His established
order—a right relationship with God.
The Old Testament was looking forward to the supreme sacrifice, and each time a sacrifice
for sin was made, it was teaching the need for reconciliation to God.
In the New Testament, the “Lamb that takes away the sin of the world” (see John 1:29)
was born, died, was buried and rose again, and then ascended to His place in heaven,
and there He intercedes for us.
It is through belief in Him that the cure for sin is found, and that includes the sin
of sexism.
The charge of sexism in the Bible is based upon a lack of knowledge of Scripture.
When men and women of all ages have taken their God-ordained places and lived according
to “thus says the LORD,” then there is a wonderful balance between the genders.
That balance is what God began with, and it is what He will end with.
There is an inordinate amount of attention paid to the various products of sin and not
to the root of it.
It is only when there is personal reconciliation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ that
we find true equality.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
It is also very important to understand that the Bible’s ascribing different roles to
men and women does not constitute sexism.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God expects men to take the leadership role in
the church and the home.
Does this make women inferior?
Absolutely not.
Does this mean women are less intelligent, less capable, or viewed as less in God’s
eyes?
Absolutely not!
What it means is that in our sin-stained world, there has to be structure and authority.
God has instituted the roles of authority for our good.
Sexism is the abuse of these roles, not the existence of these roles.
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along with links to several related questions.
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