A Woman's Worth, by Elaine Stedman
Some of the material in this present writing is excerpted
from an earlier book published in 1975, titled A Woman's Worth.
Another writer has preempted that title to set forth a quite different
agenda, therefore not to be confused with the theme of this book.
The compulsion to write this book was born out of my own experience
in the business world, as wife and mother, as friend and counselor.
At that time it appeared little attention was directed within
the Christian community to the basic issues of identity and equality,
and biblical terms such as "submission", "authority"
and "headship" were in serious need of review. The church
had long been remiss in giving honest and in-depth consideration
to our sexuality. To fill this vacuum, many reactionary and polarizing
views were being aired.
Our hope was that as Spirit-instructed and gifted men and women
sought with integrity the biblical perspectives that would clarify
and heal us all, the Body of Christ could address our wounded,
confused society with the radical and revolutionary realities
of Truth and Love which God has revealed to us through His Word,
that our understanding of God would inform and correct our perceptions.
Twenty years later, it seems we are in danger of losing more ground
than we have gained through the avid--sometimes morbid--and far
too introspective discussions that have been spawned in the name
of "religion." The system of hermeneutics once considered
the norm for evangelicals, has been virtually turned on its head.
Biblical interpretation is at the mercy of any who can offer academic
degrees, and/or compelling subjectivity (the two combined are
powerful, indeed), and it appears women are now being given preferential
treatment as theological gurus. Overreaching for "equality,"
men have too easily abdicated their leadership responsibility
and women have too eagerly replaced them. And once again the unity
of the Body of Christ has been jeopardized as extreme positions
are taken and categories are hardened. We have not yet learned
the difference between compromise and the consistency of biblical
Truth. Biblical truth is multi-faceted and dynamic. It is neither
simplistic and rigid nor fanatical and arbitrary.
Is this issues-captivated church, consumed as we are with relational
fever, the spectacle of God's character the world so desperately
needs, even hungers, to see? Are the questions we raise, the answers
we seek, coming from transformed minds, obedient wills and hearts
hungry to serve purely for Jesus' sake? Is our discussion bringing
healing to our brokenness, and are we now instructed to face our
circumstances with godly contentment, knowing that God says who
we are and why we are here?
Does the "city set on a hill" now more convincingly
model a community that relates and serves like our Master? Has
society benefited from our debate, from the role-shifting, lexicon-dueling,
the "biblical" presumptions? Or have we premised our
debate on the secular value system, simply cloaking it in religious
biblical terminology? Are we self-deceived, religious entrepreneurs,
in a struggle for personal power and prestige?
My husband, who faithfully pastored me for more than forty years,
is now in the Presence of the Lord Jesus whom he served so well.
It was his desire that I again address our mutual concerns for
biblical coherency, and particularly for the straightforward,
"simple" message of who are in Christ. It is this shared
concern which prompts me to offer this revived and somewhat edited
reprint of AWoman's Worth.
Grants Pass, Oregon
May 1996.