NYM Ministries: A Better Way to Treat Women (from Today's Native Father #118)

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PRODUCT/RESOURCES INDEX Today's Native Father Archive of Articles Free booklets Marriage/Parenting Tip Calendar of workshops E-mail questions or comments	This article is from Today's Native Father, issue #118, November/December, 2001. Related articles from this issue: What Do You Need Me For? Keepers of the Home What Difference Does the Gospel Make?
	A Better Way to Treat Women A Bible Study by David Hertzler
	Jesus and his followers, the apostles, set very high standards for men in their treatment of women. Use the following exercises to score yourself on your treatment of women. As mothers and sisters. Read 1 Timothy 5:1-2 What does the phrase “with all (absolute) purity” mean? Put this into action by completing the sentence: “When I look at a woman…” Should it make a difference if the woman you look at is your wife? Score yourself on a scale of 1-10: “I tend to treat the women in my life… As mothers or sisters As slaves or tramps 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 As having equal rights. Read John 8:3-11 If the woman was “caught in the act of adultery,” do you think she was by herself? What did the Law of God actually say about such cases (Deuteronomy 22:22)? By singling out the woman for judgment, what attitude did the religious leaders display toward women? Toward he Law of God? Score yourself on a scale of 1-10: “I tend to treat the women in my life…” As having equal rights As having no rights 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 As partners in ministry. Read Mark 15:40-41 and Romans 16:1-2 Traditional Jewish religious leaders avoided women as much as possible. What was different about the ministries of Jesus and Paul? A woman’s ministry is not always the same as a man’s. Does different mean less important? Score yourself on a scale of 1-10: “I tend to treat the women in my life…” As very important to my ministry As unimportant to my ministry 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 As equals in faith and spiritual power. Read Acts 1:14, Acts 5:14, Acts 9:2, Hebrews 11:35 Peter calls the wife “the weaker partner” (1 Peter 3:7). Is this a reflection on her spirituality? In what ways is the wife weaker than the husband? Have you ever benefitted from listening to your wife’s spiritual counsel? Score yourself on a scale of 1-10: “I tend to treat the women in my life…” As equals in faith and spiritual power As people whose words can be safely disregarded 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Add up your score. Ask you wife to score you on the same scale. Discuss any differences you find. Compare your score with those of other men around you.