On the way back to Taipei the other day my wife asked if I had changed my mind to be under the leadership of a female pastor. In fact, I didn’t remember why she brought up this controversial issue in Christian world. The role of women has undergone a drastic change over the half century since the women’s movement took place in the late 1960s in the United States. The movement advocates total equality between women and men in all areas of life; not only men but also women can become the dominant role in society.

What does the Bible say about women and their role? In Genesis 2:15-25 God created man first and he found out it was not good for that man to be alone, so he made a helper just right for him (v 18).  Then the man called her “Woman”. The role of women should help men complete the tasks that God has assigned to men and women. It doesn’t mean that women are inferior to men or their role is less important than men’s. They both are co-workers and cooperate with each other to fulfill God’ s purpose in them.

Abigail was one of the great women in the Bible who exemplified the value and importance of women to men. To pacify David’s anger and revenge, Abigail did her best bringing food and gifts to David without her husband’s knowledge. David said to her, “Thank God for your good sense. Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands” (1 Samuel 25:33). Abigail saved her husband and family with her wisdom and discretion. She was indeed a good helper.

No matter what role a woman plays in her lifetime, most important is how she plays it.