Eph 1:7, Romans 12:2, 2 Cor 3:18

Suzie Brock

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter recently wrote an article titled: "Losing my religion for equality" it had to do with him leaving the Southern Baptist Convention because he felt that they were discriminatory against women.

At first glance of the title I thought to myself "here we go with another feminist article and no-doubt anti -God."

Hey, as a card carrying woman I'm totally fine with the order of God, after all there has to be order, someone's gotta be at the head right? Personally I like the door being opened for me, being served first at a restaurant, being ushered along with the children off a burning plane or a sinking boat, fine by me.

So there we were, my husband Tom and I sitting in a restaurant ready to feast on an omelet the size of my head (generally against my policy). I paused to check my e-mail on my phone and the article popped up having been forwarded by a friend. My skepticism immediately kicked in and I began to read out load to my captive audience. Well I had not even reached the end before I burst out in tears right there in front of all the other patrons! Not sure what happened, I guess in that brief moment I felt a connection with the suffering that has been for so many women for far too long.

Tom looked at me in complete bewilderment, not that I don't occasionally cry in public but he couldn't figure out why this made me cry. I'm not discriminated against, oppressed, or held back in any way, I really don't know what it's like to truly be suppressed or treated as a lesser person. Sure, there have been the occasional moments where I have been questioned for speaking up front or for 'teaching' the word. Once after stepping down from the pulpit having just shared a message there was this crazed ex-marine who lured me into a conversation with him debating the 'right' I had as a woman to speak up front. This after the pastor of the church (the official covering that day) had invited me up to speak and my husband (my official covering everyday) encouraged me to do so. This guy actually got so enraged that he had to be surrounded and ushered out of the building! He was near striking me!!

Wow, all I did was get up and bring a word of encouragement about the faithfulness of God in my life, honestly, is that a crime?

What drives a person to that kind of prejudice and hate? To that question I am sure there are many answers, but the saddest reality is that there are women in this world in almost every culture who are today and everyday oppressed, suppressed, abused and shamed for no other reason than their God given gender.

Unacceptable.

And yet this brings me back to the title of this article.

This is not my battle. That is not to say that it is not a battle worthy to be warred, it's just not mine.

It is said that you should 'choose your battles wisely' and I believe that I have.

I have taken the Bible at its word when it says that our wars are not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of darkness that cannot be seen.

I have but one war, the battle to see God established in the hearts of every man, woman and child. Then and only then will the spirits of oppression and abuse be conquered. Until God is in his rightful place in the hearts of these there will be no freedom.

A man's heart must be changed from the inside out...otherwise we fight uphill constantly having to convince unconvinced hearts that God meant for men and women to walk in peace and unity and beside one another.

The woman was chosen from the beginning to be 'one equal to the task'.