Few days back, a local Daily carries an article “God’s Warning message to Women”. Out of curiosity I read through the message and find the warning message to be extremely partial and dangerous. For those of you who have missed the article I repeat here few points: 1. The Lord says: in the beginning of the earth, I blessed the women to be productive, fruitful and fill the earth, but they have failed to keep it and rebelled against me by destroying their virginities and seeds in their wombs. 2. They have killed many human beings secretly from their womb which were conceived by adultery. 3. Their indecent way of dressing lead to commit adultery and crimes in the land. 9. For the wickedness have been greatly increased because of the women. They have followed the life style of Jezebel. 10. Therefore, I am going to pour out my wrath upon women. (For full detail see Morung Express, 29/08/2011).
If we carefully analyse this warning message, it has clear evidence of a strong bias against women. This reminded me of the kind of society we have (patriarchal society which also favours man) and the kind of Christianity that came to our land with all dominant and imperial images such as King, Lord, Ruler, Almighty, Protector and so on. These patriarchal/military/masculine images of God encourage men to think that they are king, protector and lord of women. In patriarchal society, all blames were put on women especially sexual immorality. Women generally being weaker (physically) than men can never force a man into sexual conduct whereas man with his prowess often commits such unwanted thing forcefully. Even if a woman commits adultery, it is with the consent of man. Sadly, women are considered as ‘keepers of sexual morality’ and obliged to be very careful all the time and men as ‘free perpetrators’ in everything in patriarchal society. When rape is committed, the victim (woman) is blamed as being too indecent in the way of dressing or because of her lewd behavior. But rape victims include 4, 5 years old girls, and 60, 70 years old women too. No one is spared regardless of their age and dress. It will be too presumptuous to think that all rape incidents are due to indecent dress of women. It will be too perilous for us to deny that usually rape is committed by ‘deranged man’- who have lost control of moral life. This ‘deranged man’ can be corrected by giving harsh punishment.
Well friends, the most difficult part of this warning message, to me, is not about what is going to happen to Naga women because of their sinful conduct but about God who is going to take such harsh action on women but not on men. What kind of God He is? And more so, will God be able to restore order and justice by punishing just one sex (woman)? Why will not God bring judgment to men who are the perpetrators of such crime? If there are 100 women prostitutes in our land today, it is because there are 1000 men prostitutes!!! It is not only women’s body (womb) that is holy but equally men’s body is holy (if we are to believe the scriptures). Why then is God trying to protect men but so judgmental towards women’s conduct? Why God has to bring in Jezebel- to teach women of today? If Jezebel was a wicked woman, as mentioned in the warning message, why should Naga women fight for sharing of power both in the church and society at large? Jezebel, of course, was a powerful woman (who has a weak husband like Eve has Adam as her husband) who was hated by men in her days. Hence, one is forced to think that the employment of Jezebel is a tactical ploy to discourage women to become a liberated being.
Jesus Christ, the God whom I believe, did not appear to be like the God described in the warning message. Jesus was so kind to women. Raised by a widowed-mother-Mary, Jesus perfectly understood women’s vulnerability in patriarchal society. He talked to Samaritan woman (John 4) - who was the victim of divorce law; healed the 12 years bleeding woman (Mark 5: 25-34) - who was ostracized and considered unclean by man-made society; saved the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) - who was, unlike man, the victim of adultery, etc, etc. In short, Jesus redeemed the prestige of women and gave them meaning of life. Hence, women became the life-line of Jesus’ ministry –who were with him during his ministry, crucifixion and the first to see the resurrected Christ. So, Jesus is not a God of partiality. Jesus is not a threatening God. Jesus is a loving and caring God. He came for all people (man and woman, Jews and gentiles). He died and resurrected for all people. He became the hope of all people. Jesus is our Immanuel who is with us in all our daily struggles.
I am thankful to Nagaland for Christ, Peace Prayer cell, H.Q Ghathashi, for publishing the Warning Message for wider discussion and public awareness. Frankly speaking, I do not have much experience about prophecy and how people with such gift use biblical messages. But the Bible passages that you told us to refer do not have any connection with women or their sin. Prophecy needs to be tested whether it is according to biblical teaching. If I have misunderstood or misinterpreted your message, kindly correct me.
Contact: zkpahr@gmail.com
If we carefully analyse this warning message, it has clear evidence of a strong bias against women. This reminded me of the kind of society we have (patriarchal society which also favours man) and the kind of Christianity that came to our land with all dominant and imperial images such as King, Lord, Ruler, Almighty, Protector and so on. These patriarchal/military/masculine images of God encourage men to think that they are king, protector and lord of women. In patriarchal society, all blames were put on women especially sexual immorality. Women generally being weaker (physically) than men can never force a man into sexual conduct whereas man with his prowess often commits such unwanted thing forcefully. Even if a woman commits adultery, it is with the consent of man. Sadly, women are considered as ‘keepers of sexual morality’ and obliged to be very careful all the time and men as ‘free perpetrators’ in everything in patriarchal society. When rape is committed, the victim (woman) is blamed as being too indecent in the way of dressing or because of her lewd behavior. But rape victims include 4, 5 years old girls, and 60, 70 years old women too. No one is spared regardless of their age and dress. It will be too presumptuous to think that all rape incidents are due to indecent dress of women. It will be too perilous for us to deny that usually rape is committed by ‘deranged man’- who have lost control of moral life. This ‘deranged man’ can be corrected by giving harsh punishment.
Well friends, the most difficult part of this warning message, to me, is not about what is going to happen to Naga women because of their sinful conduct but about God who is going to take such harsh action on women but not on men. What kind of God He is? And more so, will God be able to restore order and justice by punishing just one sex (woman)? Why will not God bring judgment to men who are the perpetrators of such crime? If there are 100 women prostitutes in our land today, it is because there are 1000 men prostitutes!!! It is not only women’s body (womb) that is holy but equally men’s body is holy (if we are to believe the scriptures). Why then is God trying to protect men but so judgmental towards women’s conduct? Why God has to bring in Jezebel- to teach women of today? If Jezebel was a wicked woman, as mentioned in the warning message, why should Naga women fight for sharing of power both in the church and society at large? Jezebel, of course, was a powerful woman (who has a weak husband like Eve has Adam as her husband) who was hated by men in her days. Hence, one is forced to think that the employment of Jezebel is a tactical ploy to discourage women to become a liberated being.
Jesus Christ, the God whom I believe, did not appear to be like the God described in the warning message. Jesus was so kind to women. Raised by a widowed-mother-Mary, Jesus perfectly understood women’s vulnerability in patriarchal society. He talked to Samaritan woman (John 4) - who was the victim of divorce law; healed the 12 years bleeding woman (Mark 5: 25-34) - who was ostracized and considered unclean by man-made society; saved the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) - who was, unlike man, the victim of adultery, etc, etc. In short, Jesus redeemed the prestige of women and gave them meaning of life. Hence, women became the life-line of Jesus’ ministry –who were with him during his ministry, crucifixion and the first to see the resurrected Christ. So, Jesus is not a God of partiality. Jesus is not a threatening God. Jesus is a loving and caring God. He came for all people (man and woman, Jews and gentiles). He died and resurrected for all people. He became the hope of all people. Jesus is our Immanuel who is with us in all our daily struggles.
I am thankful to Nagaland for Christ, Peace Prayer cell, H.Q Ghathashi, for publishing the Warning Message for wider discussion and public awareness. Frankly speaking, I do not have much experience about prophecy and how people with such gift use biblical messages. But the Bible passages that you told us to refer do not have any connection with women or their sin. Prophecy needs to be tested whether it is according to biblical teaching. If I have misunderstood or misinterpreted your message, kindly correct me.
Contact: zkpahr@gmail.com
