We Live in an Upside Down World!

With my repeated incoming messages that emphasize worldly ideas, we must stop and make some sort of comment. All I can say is that we do live in an upside down world. I recall that Paul was accused in this way: “These man who have upset the world have come here also” (Acts 17:6). This is exactly what the enemies of God were doing. They wer turning the world upside down and that is what we do when we turn to Christ and allow Him to judge what we do. We’ll just respond to one aspect of this.

This is one report that we find:

Women’s rights are the fundamental human rights that were enshrined by the United Nations for every human being on the planet nearly 70 years ago. These rights include the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn a fair and equal wage. (https://www.google.com/search?q=women).

Another report has it this way:

On March 22, 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification. First proposed by the National Woman’s political party in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was to provide for the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. (https://www.google.com/search?q=women%27s+rights&oq=women).

Yet another review of this issue is found in this location:

Issues commonly associated with notions of women’s rights include the right to bodily integrity and autonomy, to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to hold public office, to enter into legal contracts, to have equal rights in family law, to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to have reproductive rights, to own property, and to education. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights).

Also, notice this explanation:

Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right of consenting men and women to marry and found a family.

(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 16 of CEDAW stipulates that, “1. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations […]”. Among the rights included are a woman’s right to freely and consensually choose her spouse; to have parental rights to her children irrespective of her marital status; the right of a married woman to choose a profession or an occupation, and to have property rights within marriage. In addition to these, “The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect”.

Polygamous marriage is a controversial practice, prevalent in some parts of the world. The general recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, state in General Recommendation No. 21, Equality in marriage and family relations: “14.[…] Polygamous marriage contravenes a woman’s right to equality with men, and can have such serious emotional and financial consequences for her and her dependents that such marriages ought to be discouraged and prohibited.”

Cohabitation of unmarried couples as well as single mothers are common in some parts the world. The Human Rights Committee has stated:

27. In giving effect to recognition of the family in the context of article 23, it is important to accept the concept of the various forms of family, including unmarried couples and their children and single parents and their children and to ensure the equal treatment of women in these contexts (General Comment 19 paragraph 2 last sentence). Single parent families frequently consist of a single woman caring for one or more children, and States parties should describe what measures of support are in place to enable her to discharge her parental functions on the basis of equality with a man in a similar position.

These and a hundred other discussions regarding women and society show the mentality of this one nation—of America. We wonder what it must be like in other countries or in the world at large. And, as you can see from these brief quotations, some are more Biblical and some are totally unbiblical. Unless we are able and willing to examine further we won’t be able to see or understand truth.

In order to really review these brief comments we will need to go over them one by one in light of what God says.

First, it would be good to firmly grasp in our minds and hearts what God has revealed to us. We know (or suspect) that not all of our readers will concur with this. Some might strongly disagree with our approach and say that we need to “keep up with the times” even if this disagrees with what God has clearly said. They might be more inclined to take a liberal approach and say that instead of being bound to a “book” (the Bible), we should be open to other thoughts and modern views even if these disagree with what God has revealed in His Word. As you will see, if this is your understanding of reality, we know that you will not agree with what we write. In fact, you may very much disagree with it.

God has made all people, according to His will and for His truth. Sometimes this may be contrary to our own views. Yes, this is true. Yet we are bound to Scripture even if this conflicts with the opinion of others—even a majority of people! And these “other people” may be our own family, our friends, preachers and pastors, theologians, and others. We know that what we stand for does conflict with what you may read or what your teacher or professor may tell you. But, as we said above, we are to be judged by God’s Word and not by the fallible words of men (or women). See John 12:48-49.

Of course, we know that in the beginning (of creation), God made the man first, then the woman (Genesis 2:18, 24; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:8-9, 11-12). The woman and the man do have a unique relationship. In one sense, they are equal since God has created both. They are one physically and are absolutely equal regarding their humanity, their personhood, . But, in an entirely different sense, the man is “over” the woman  (Genesis 3:7-17). Thus, even though there is an “equality” regarding their humanity, the man and the woman (the husband and the wife) do have a different position. The man is over the wife. The woman is under the man.  (1 Corinthians 11:1ff.)

This may sound somewhat irrelevant, but it bears very much on our discussion. We must remember very clearly that the man has authority over the woman (in regard to position) but equal regarding their humanity. This is why we can read (among other maters) that “Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:3). The Greek points out that “head” here refers to authority. The man (the male) has “the last word” regarding things. We will have cause to return to this point as we proceed. We just want you, the reader, to understand this thoroughly.

We know that this is not something that most people will agree with and accept. Nearly all political people will totally reject this. Nearly all educators will throw it away. The world at large will reject this (the entertainment world, your neighbors and family, and others). Political statements will reject this and choose to endorse worldly and humanistic standards. Nearly everyone will choose to look at this from a sociological standpoint and reject God and His inerrant Word.

Even most religions will deny these facts! We refer to the world religions, as well as the various denominations and sects within Christendom. They will surely feel “liberated” and say that this matter of “headship” (Ephesians 5:22-33) or the authority of the man over the women (or the husband over the wife) is “outdated” or passé or just plain wrong (see 1 Corinthians 11:3). To say this another way, nearly all “religious” people, including professing “Christians” (including educators, preachers, pastors, priests, and others) will reject what God has revealed regarding “headship” and accept what culture dictates.

Anything else will be rejected. They will say that they must do this for headship is outmoded, obsolete, outdated, old-fashioned, or archaic. Probably they won’t even listen to you or read your words. They are intent on rejecting the truth and accepting contemporary culture. Isn’t this right! We hope that you will be different—but are you willing to accept the truth of Scripture? Are you willing to receive what God has said regarding this rather than what most of contemporary society accepts and promotes?

Thus, we read the following (which is what we read above):

Women’s rights are the fundamental human rights that were enshrined by the United Nations for every human being on the planet nearly 70 years ago. These rights include the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn a fair and equal wage. (https://www.google.com/search?q=women).

Is this true? Although much (or even all) of what we will read is true, within that truth are many falsehoods. For example, to be “educated.” Is this really a right? Does a woman have the “right” to go on to a high-level of education? At one time, no one went beyond high school. Then some men did. Today, we understand that actually more women to go college and graduate, more than men! This sounds like a falsehood, but it is true! If it is God’s will that a woman marry and have children (generally-speaking), how can such a woman receive an education that may take 10 or 20 years of their life? We wonder about this.

Some of this, we know, is unclear. Before “suffrage” we know that a woman couldn’t vote and now (according to this excerpt) the government is advocating voting for all. Further, why should a woman (who is usually forbidden to work), earn an “equal” wage? We wonder! But let’s go on to the next excerpt:

On March 22, 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification. First proposed by the National Woman’s political party in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was to provide for the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. (https://www.google.com/search?q=women%27s+rights&oq=women).

We know (and we assume that you do too) that the “Equal Rights Amendment” was a terrible legislation—but, sadly, most Americans accepted this. We don’t know what other parts of the world might think (including Russia, China, India, Europe, etc.) since in many of these places the Biblical worldview is utterly rejected and woman are expected or required to work to help support a family.

According to what we read, this “Equal Rights Amendment” provided for the “legal equality of the sexes.” Was this right? Is the male and female “equal”? Equal in all respects? As we have seen from God’s own word, yes, there is an “equality” regarding their humanity—but not an equality regarding the position that God has given to each one! Let’s keep this in mind. (After all, we will be judged by God’s Word and not by the fallible and changing philosophies of the world. John 12:48).

The next excerpt that we may notice would be this:

Issues commonly associated with notions of women’s rights include the right to bodily integrity and autonomy, to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to hold public office, to enter into legal contracts, to have equal rights in family law, to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to have reproductive rights, to own property, and to education. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights).

Yes and no. This says that a woman (or a wife) has the “right” to “bodily integrity.” We just spoke an hour ago with a woman who divorced her husband because of his physical harm of her. Of course, this should never happen at all and God would not approve of it. However, does this justify an actual divorce and then a subsequent remarriage? In some respects, perhaps leaving “bed and board,” but does it really justify a divorce—especially a divorce that encourages remarriage?

Further is it “right” for a woman to “hold public office” as this excerpt states? This seems to be way beyond what God would allow (see Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:9 and others). We again face the secularistic views regarding such things as law, work, wages, and marriage. Does God’s view have any bearing on this? Further, we feel very “nervous” regarding the statement about “reproductive rights” for this sounds very much like the presumed “right” to kill one’s own child! And we have already spoken about education and what this means. All in all, this does show a decided worldly perspective, one that the Christian woman and man must renounce!

We now must come to the last excerpt then our comments on this will be forthcoming: The first point under Article 16 says, “Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.”

This looks good and right, but is it? This says that “without limitations” regarding “religion.” Of course, we know that a Christian is not to marry one who is not a Christian. Is this what this item deals with? We read that there should be “equal rights” regarding marriage. Is this right? What if the one person has been married before and illegitimately divorced. As Christians, we know that such a person is not to remarry because this would constitute adultery. I wonder what this means regarding the “dissolution” of marriage? We know that this sounds like divorce and the Christian is not to divorce (Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18). Thus we must assess this point that it does have some questionable aspects.

Under Point 3, we read: “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” This does look good for God has created the family as the underlying framework for society. We do find it amazing that a secularistic paper that is so evil can say something so good.

As we continue to read, in Article 16, we read that “a woman’s right to freely and consensually choose her spouse; to have parental rights to her children irrespective of her marital status; the right of a married woman to choose a profession or an occupation, and to have property rights within marriage.”

Yes and no. Does the woman’s “right” to choose her spouse include the fact that she is not to divorce and that she (if she is a Christian) must marry another Christian? Further, if it must not be that a woman is to “choose a profession or an occupation,” would this document forbid that Biblical point (cf. 1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:4-5) that a Christian woman is not to remarry, is not to marry a non-Christian, and must be married to fulfill certain requirements? We wonder.

 

Under the section on polygamy, we read, “Polygamous marriage contravenes a woman’s right to equality with men, and can have such serious emotional and financial consequences.” Again, this is not really explained but this would be a good place for those who framed this worldly document to speak against polygamy, but it doesn’t directly do this. Further, we question the words, “a woman’s right to equality with men” for God, as we have seen, says that a woman and a man are not “equal” unless we define the words. Otherwise, the way this is worded, we have a worldly and even evil document.

We next find this statement: “Cohabitation of unmarried couples as well as single mothers are common in some parts the world.” This would be an ideal place to say what God does about this and to condemn “fornication” or the “cohabitation of unmarried couples.” Regardless of the fact that this may “step on the toes” of a large number of people, we can see that this would be a wicked and sinful experience that should be condemned in no uncertain terms.

The final part that we have chosen to copy is a long one but it contains several helpful points that shows the evil nature of this document:

. . . It is important to accept the concept of the various forms of family, including unmarried couples and their children and single parents and their children and to ensure the equal treatment of women in these contexts (General Comment 19 paragraph 2 last sentence). Single parent families frequently consist of a single woman caring for one or more children, and States parties should describe what measures of support are in place to enable her to discharge her parental functions on the basis of equality with a man in a similar position.

No, we must not “accept the concept of the various forms of family” for God has already given us the “form” that He approves of. Here we have statements that say: “. . . unmarried couples and their children and single parents and their children.” Are these “forms of family” approved of God? No, certainly God does not approve of fornication as a “form of family” or of “single parents” who have children. This would be ripping the very basis of what God says is good and right.

As we continue to read these lines, we receive the impression that the person or persons who wrote them were more concerned about the monetary support of the children and of the women than whether an arrangement is Biblical or not, moral or not, or right or not. Writing for a group of people, including those from many different backgrounds and many different religious and moral standards, the writers chose to write in such a way that no one would be offended and that those women in difficult circumstances would be affirmed.

This is why we began with the reference to an “upside down world”! When a person, a couple, or a group chooses to go their own ways and leave the ways of God, we have an “upside down world.” We have a world in turmoil. A world is chaos. A world without truth. We encourage all of our readers to pursue the ways of God regardless of what the world around us may choose to do. This is the only way to please God and do His will.