Genesis 2:21–23 (RSVCE): So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; 22 and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man"
If it weren't for women, nothing would get done in the church. I always heard this, but didn't realize how true it really is until I became an Episcopal Priest. At every level from the Vestry (local church leadership board in the Episcopal church), to children's education and pastoral care, women lead, organize and do the work of the church. Of course, that is not to say that men do not do any work or lead in the church, but a casual glance around almost any church in the US and women far outnumber men.
There are a number of opinions on why so many men resist full engagement in the local church, but I will save that for another day. I don't want to talk about the why's of male assimilation into the church. I want to talk about Creation as a symbol of equality.
Sexism in the church or anywhere has always baffled me. The fact that women do most of the real work is one reason, but it's not the main one.
The term God uses for woman in relationship to Adam "helper" or "help-mate" is from the Hebrew word ezer. It is not a term of diminishment or subservience, but rather a word often used to describe God in relathip to humanity. It is a term of love and devotion.
When God created woman, He did not take her from the Adam's foot as something to be trampled upon or pushed down. God did not take her from his head where Eve could be lorded over by Adam or become some intellectual concept. God took her "from his side to walk with him; from beneath his arm to be guarded by him, and; from near his heart to be loved by him."
Creation is about love and devotion. It begins in God's for humanity prompting every action in the first seven days. It continues with Adam's, not to just to the Creator but to the one from and by his side - "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Genesis 2:23).
(this concept and some wording in quotes come from a poem author, title and date unknown).
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