What Does a Modern Day Christian Woman Look Like?
Tell someone you are a Christian and you can usually expect to be subjected to some sort of suspicious scrutiny, particularly if you are a woman. Non-Christians are often great, self -proclaimed experts on what a Christian should look like and how they should behave, particularly when it comes to women. If you hold down a high- powered job, dress well, go to church and pray to God, you can expect overt or veiled criticism from the non-Christians that you meet.
We’re often told by non-Christians that the bible is a patriarchal text; so let’s just take a quick look at some of the inspirational women in the Bible. Where better to start than with Mary, mother of Jesus; a young woman to whom God gave the most important role in the whole of human history. Mary demonstrated the quiet courage, which is the hallmark of Christian women and hers is the supreme model of motherhood. Read about Mary in Luke 1: 26-56.
Motherhood is a recurrent theme in the Bible. These days it can often feel that motherhood is looked down upon, as though motherhood is less important than a good job. Read about Hannah in the first two chapters of the Book of Samuel. Hannah demonstrates the unshakable faith of a true Christian woman. Childless, she continued to pray to God, never doubting that her prayers would be fulfilled, and in due time God rewarded her with a son, Samuel.
‘A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.’ Proverbs 15:1
The Christian woman is a woman who uses kindness and generosity to help others and resolve conflict. In the first book of Samuel, chapter 25, you can read about Abigail. In the face of her husband’s stupidity and hostility, she used her skills as a peacemaker and brought food and drink to David’s men, resolving the conflict and saving the lives of many. In the Book of Esther you can read about another heroic Christian woman who used her skills to prevent the genocide of the Jews in her kingdom.
If you think that the Christian women found in the Bible are all meek and mild then think again. Deborah was a Judge, which meant that she was a military leader; her wise decisions gave the Israelites 40 years of peace; you can read about her in Judges 4&5.
So, to return to the question ‘What does a modern day Christian woman look like?’ The answer is that God will give each of us the answer. A Christian woman will put God before everything else, and prayer and reflection will guide her conduct. Through kindness and generosity she will help her neighbors by action and example.
‘She opened her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.’ Proverbs 31:26
Inspirational Bible verses about strong women
The one woman I haven’t mentioned so far is the one who has often been cited as an example of woman as a sinful temptress, but Eve’s sin is also Adam’s and the Bible is never critical of women because they are women, in fact the Bible celebrates women’s skills and virtues when they are used in the service of God. If you thought that empowered women only came into existence in the 21st century, then consider this quotation from Proverbs 31: 16-17.
‘She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.’
Isn’t that an amazing, inspirational quotation, which demonstrates that with God’s help a woman can do anything that she sets her mind to. We’ve seen how the Bible celebrates women as peacemakers, but it also celebrates their wisdom in general.
‘She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.’ Proverbs 31:26
The message is clear: women who take God into their heart and focus on serving God above all else, cannot fail.
