Regarding work, what do we still need to learn after 2000 years?
Jesus’ interactions with women were radically counter-cultural. The way he spoke openly in public with them was shocking to prevailing societal norms. To those who prided themselves on knowing the Bible, it was utterly repulsive.
Did you know that the private conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well is the longest one-on-one conversation recorded in the Gospels? Even Jesus’ disciples were completely caught off guard when they came back and found Jesus talking to a woman. They were speechless and “shocked because he was speaking with a woman.” (John 4:27 NET).
It was the norm in Jesus’ day for women to be used, abused, and treated as property. According to Josephus, their testimony in a legal matter was not considered valid. A typical daily prayer for a Jewish male was to thank God that he was not “born a gentile or a woman”. One apocryphal writing went as far as to state, “better is the wickedness of a man than a woman who does good” (Sirach, 42:14).
Jesus changed how women are to be treated. He viewed women as divinely created beings worthy of dignity, honor, and respect. They were not to be treated as inferior or “less than” a man. Jesus has had more to do with affecting the role, rights, and liberties of a woman than any other person who has ever lived.
With his power and ability, Jesus could have taken advantage of women. He had deep and remarkably close friendships with women (Mary and Martha). Many of his closest and most faithful followers were women. Jesus opened his heart to them, even those who led immoral lives. He knew how to love women wholly and holy. He affirmed their femininity and didn’t make fun of them. He looked at them with pure eyes and touched them with holy hands. Women felt safe with Jesus. Note that…
- It was during a special dinner that Simon was hosting in Jesus’ honor with elite religious leaders that Jesus allowed a prostitute to wet and wipe his anointed feet with her hair. While he was perfectly comfortable and blessed her actions aloud, the leaders (all men) were repulsed. (Luke 7:36-50)
- It was to a Samaritan woman who was cohabitating with a man after five failed marriages that Jesus first revealed that he is the Messiah. (John 4:26)
- It was to women, and not his disciples, that Jesus first appeared after his resurrection. (Matt. 28:9)
Below are a few findings about what women generally are experiencing in our current societal workplaces.
- More than half of all women, 56%, said their financial situations had worsened in recent years. An overwhelming number of women, 60%, said they are more burned out than usual. This is an 11% increase from 2022. (USA Today, March 8, 2023)
- Women make only $0.82 for every dollar a man makes (PayScale 2021 survey)
- According to McKinsley & Company, for every 100 men who are promoted to managerial positions, only 85 women are promoted, in comparison.
- One report indicated that 99.8% of harassment cases go unreported.
I’ve also read that it’s not uncommon for a woman to easily feel less than, marginalized—feeling they must give up the distinctives and dignity of their God-given femininity to be valued, especially if they work in a predominantly man’s world, like business.
So, as Christians, how can we respond? I don’t believe gender overcompensation is a good solution. Yet, as God-honoring Christ followers, we shouldn’t either be afraid to an appropriate level of personal and organizational self-reflection. While the applications are many, here are a few good questions to consider.
If I’m a man, have I treated women with equal value as a person? Even if I’ve not acted inappropriately, do I view each woman in my work with the holiness and respect that Christ exemplifies?
If you are a woman, do you need to disown any false opinions of inferiority that you’ve attached to your gender and claim the honor, respect, and equality you have in Christ?
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (NIV)