MAN’S MANDATE OVER WOMAN
BY
MOST SENIOR BISHOP (PROF.) S. AYO BODE
CELICA CHURCH OF CHRIST,KM 7,NEW IFE ROAD,IBADAN.
Men and women are both human beings, but men are biologically different from women. Biological differences between men and women place no limitations on their mental and physical powers. Hence the belief that what men can do, women can do.
In the society as well as in the home, men’s roles are quite different from those of women. Men’s dresses are different from women’s dresses. In the professions women were left with less arduous tasks, not because they were physically or mentally incapable, but as a mark of honour. We are not trying to condemn women but we are out to clarify some issues on the role of women in both the household and in the church. We want our women to aspire to the highest heights in academics, business, politics, industry and military professions. Men, as fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, sons and friends want their women to reach the zenith of their chosen careers. It is God’s will and plan from onset that the woman should be subject to the authority of the man at home and that women must not have authority over men in the church. Women may be ignorant of the will of God and that’s why this article intends to show both men and women the principles of roles God had laid down in the home and in the church. (Gen.2 vs. 18-23, Eph.5 vs. 22-24, 1cor.14 vs. 33-37, 1Tim.2 vs. 11-15). God is not a God of confusion, he is a perfect arranger. His arrangement is never flawed, look at all his creations, it followed a divine order.
MEN’S AUTHORITY over women was ordained by God who is all wise and does not do anything without reason or purpose.
THE NINE RIBS OF MAN STAND FOR –
(1) Authority to possess through payment, in cash or kind. Gen. 24 vs22, 29 vs. 18-30.
(2) Authority to provide – Exodus 21 vs. 10
(3) Authority to protect – Eph. 5 vs. 23
(4) Authority to control/govern. Eph. 5 vs. 22-24, 1cor. 11 vs. 7-9
(5) Authority to inherit. Deut. 25 vs. 5-6
(6) Authority to discipline. Eph. 5 vs. 33, Numbers 5 vs. 11-31
(7) Authority to dismiss/divorce. Deut. 24 vs. 1, Matt. 5 vs. 32
( Authority to bless. Gen. 27 vs. 1-5, 27 vs. 12, Gen. 48 vs. 1
(9) Authority to anull. Numbers 30 vs. 1-16
IMPORTANCE OF VOWS
God attaches great importance to vows and the scriptures point out that it is better not to vow than failing to fulfil a vow. Eccl. 5 vs. 4-6. A vow unto God is an oath, greater than a written WILL or a legal oath in a court of law. Deut. 23 vs. 21-23.
Despite the grave consequences of a vow not fulfilled, God has conceded to the father of a maiden and to the husband of a woman the power/authority to anull/overrule or revoke any vow made by his daughter or his wife. Numbers 30 vs. 1-8, 10-13.
NOTABLE SCRIPTURES
(1) Woman is made to serve man’s interests, being made HELPER. Gen. 2 vs.18, 1st Peter 3 vs. 6.
(2) Married woman is under bond unto her husband. Rom. 7 vs. 2-3.
(3) Women are to keep silence in the church. 1st Cor. 14 vs. 34-35.
(4) Wives are to be in subjection to their husbands. Eph. 5 vs. 22-24.
(5) Women are not allowed to teach or exercise authority over men in the church. 1stTim. 2 vs. 12-15.
(6) Women should dress modestly. 1st Tim. 2 vs. 9, Deut. 22 vs. 5.
(7) Women should cover their heads in worship. 1st Cor. 11 vs. 13.
WOMEN NOT COUNTED
In genealogical record of the Bible as well as in secular history or social order, women are not counted or given prominence. Bible records scarcely mentioned women’s names except in special cases when they played significant roles. Examples-
(a) Adam had sons and daughters but the Bible did not record the names of the daughters of Adam. Gen. 5 vs. 4.
(b) The number of people registered during head counts as instructed by God did not include women. Numbers 1 vs. 18-20.
(c) The people who were miraculously fed by Jesus included women. But when the counting was done, women were left out. Matt. 14 vs. 21, 15 vs. 38.
(d) Jesus was careful not to appoint any woman into the council of Apostles/Evangelists.
(e) Paul did not appoint or give order for any woman to serve as Deacon/ess.
WHY WOMEN MUST BE RULED OVER (1st peter 3 vs.7, Eccl. 7 vs. 26-28, Proverbs . 19 vs.14, Proverbs . 31 vs. 10-31) Women are morally WEAK, MISCHIEVOUS, TREACHEROUS and AVARICIOUS.
Examples –
(a) Eve – made friends with the serpent and caused Adam to sin against God. Gen.3 vs.9-17
(b) Sarah – misled Abraham to pick her hand-maid for a wife and thus displeased God. Gen. 16 vs.3
(c) Hagar – was a house-maid to Sarah who elevated her to become a co-wife, but she rebelled against her mistress. Gen.16 vs.5
(d) Lot’s wife – was unable to take her mind off her possessions left behind in Sodom and perished. Gen.19 vs.26
(e) Potiphar’s wife – unsuccessfully seduced Joseph and thereafter implicated Joseph into prison. Gen. 39 vs. 1-20
(f) Jezebel – aided her husband to dispossess Naboth of his cherished orchard by organizing Naboth’s death. 1st kings 21 vs. 1-19
(g) Peninnah – was blessed with children but she was wicked to her mate. 1st Sam. 1 vs. 1-8
(h) Job’s wives deserted him in time of trouble, the one who remained taunted him to curse God and die. Job 2 vs. 9-10
(i) Samson’s fiancée – betrayed him and went to marry one of Samson’s associates. Judges 14 vs.12-20
(j) Samson’s wife (Delilah) betrayed Samson and handed him over to his enemies who ridiculed him and murdered him. Judges 16 vs. 1-31
(k) Rebecca forestalled Isaac’s plan to bless Esau. Gen. 27 vs. 6-30
EMANCIPATION STRUGGLE
Women are not satisfied with their status in society as prescribed by tradition and religious precepts. They have struggled for and won the emancipation battle in many facets. There is no forbidden ground for women anymore in politics and the professions. Women are now into politics, aviation, sailing, medicine, soccer, boxing, farming, wrestling and so on. After trying unisex outfits, women are now outright into men’s wears. The most formidable armed robbers in our society these days are women! Islamic and traditional religions still keep women within the confines of their religious precepts. But in Christendom, the fence has given way and new things are happening: female apostles, pastors, evangelists, bishops and what have you. If Jesus tarries His second coming, the women may have an easy dream for the papacy.
Whatever happens, any woman who does anything in the name of religion, politics or the professions beyond what her husband permits/allows, has carried her emancipation struggle too far and it is a sin against God.

Good afternoon Kunle,

In as much as I understand and agree with some of the points raised by the "good" Bishop, I was quite uncomfortable with the tone of the article in general. I kinda get the general impression that this article was written by one who is a male chauvinist (no offense intended).

If we want women to aim for the very height in their chosen profession in the secular world why then must there be a segregation of duties along gender sensitive lines?

I believe firmly that the girl child should be allowed to choose and become whatever she desires without any form of "restrictions". We shouldn't be the ones to determine what females can or cannot do. If a female wants to lift blocks for a living then by all means allow her if she has the strength for it.

I do agree that in the home a man has the added responsibility of being the "bread winner" but this by no means imply that the lady cannot play a similar role if it comes to that.

Though some individuals believe that the man is supposed to have authority over the woman and by extension the family, I am of the opinion that the man and the woman should share this authority such that no decision is taken until both parties come to an understanding. In other words decisions should be taken together and not in isolation.

For the "good" Bishop to suggest that women may be ignorant of God's will for them in the home is very misleading indeed. Some women understands God's will more than their male counterparts.


Thank you!