More Than a Helpmeet

Despite the distinguished role of women in its founding and early growth years, the Seventh-day Adventist Church today, like many other churches, is largely a patriarchal institution, built according to male models and dominated by masculine thinking. By and large, "the brethren" make its administrative decisions. Male seminarians direct its theological development. Its ordained ministry is a male prerogative."¹

Unfortunately, the old adage, "It's a man's world," is perceived by many women today to include the church. Further, the Old Testament documents some rather discouraging samples of women's role and status. 

For example:
-- Lot's action in offering his virgin daughters to appease the mob 
-- Abraham attempted to ensure his own safety by twice giving his wife to local  princes
-- A "fair, young virgin" was found to warm David when he was old

These stories, and others like them, have given many Christian women, and some men, too, the impression that "women aren't quite as valuable as men." This misconception is further compounded by the interpretation placed upon texts such as Genesis 2:18. "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18, emphasis added).

And so it has been assumed that God provided Adam with a sort of "offsider" who was there to assist and "help" him. Today, if we place an advertisement in the paper for a help the subservience of that role is clearly understood. A "help" is not an equal partner and in our language help, means an inferior position, no matter how much it is appreciated. In fact, it is often common parlance for servant.

While the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary says little on this text, other writers do not mince words: "If one human being is created to be the helper of another human being, the one who receives such a helper has a certain authority over the helper." ² But was that what God originally intended when those words were spoken?

It's interesting that the translation applied to the Hebrew word for help, ezer, is different in this verse from the same word used in other situations. This word as a noun is used 21 times in the Bible and means "succourer, rescuer, empower and strength." Translation renders ezer as deliver, strength, power and help. This is the word used to describe God in Psalm 40:17.

It's also used to describe the warriors fighting alongside David. In 1 Chronicles 12:18 the word is used twice - once to describe God. In no sense does it infer subordination of the arriving warriors or of God. It seems significant that where it is applied to the creation of women the translators have given it the flavor of inferiority and subordination.

What about the "meet"? It's also translated as "fit for him" (RSV) or "suitable for him" (NIV).  The Hebrew word is kenegedo, and in choosing translations such as "fit, worthy, suitable," the translators have favored a patronizing interpretation. This word appears in the Bible only once.

In later Mishnaic Hebrew, the root means "equal."³ Freedman comments: "In my view there is no basis for translating kenegedo as 'fit' or 'appropriate' as the traditional translators do when they describe woman as a fit helper."

Eve was created as a power (or strength) equal to Adam. This view seems to be supported by other expressions of equality such as the covenant code in Exodus 21 and 22. God recognized the inadequacy of the creation of Adam alone, by saying, "It is not good for the man to be alone" and the female of the species was created, intended to be ezer kenegedo - a power equal to him.

God values all of creation. That is why Jesus came to this earth and died for us. Jesus died for all of us, regardless of our gender. What more wonderful demonstration of His love could we have?  God loved us enough to die for us, and described woman as ezer kenegedo.

As Christian women we devalue God's supreme love when we give way to feelings of inferiority and see ourselves as of lesser value than our brothers in Christ. We should be encouraged as we realize the role God intends for us -- equal, strong and working together, brothers and sisters, to spread the gospel and hasten Christ's return.

¹ I Yob. "Male & Female: Balancing Their Roles in the Church," Ministry, March 1992.  ² G. Knight, The Role Relationship of Man and Women, Melody Press, Chicago, 1985, page 31.  ³ R D Freedman. "Woman & Power Equal to Man," Biblical Archaeology Review,  January-February 1983, pages 56-58.

North American Division: The first retreat for Spanish speaking women in the Potomac Conference was held in March. The keynote speaker was Miriam Salcedo de Gonzalez, speaking on the power of prayer. The Conference English retreat was in April with Rose Otis as the featured speaker.

When the Hispanic Women's Retreat was held in Florida, five sisters who had not been together in 10 years came. One of them, Ileana Douglas, was the early morning devotional speaker. She is vice president for academic administration and academic dean at Pacific Union College. The attendance at the Hispanic retreat has increased from 331 in 1990 to 457 this year.

The women of the Idaho Falls Church, Idaho, held their recent brunch in a local restaurant; they intentionally chose a neutral location hoping more non-Adventists visitors would come. It succeeded: 8 of the 34 who came were non-church members. Dianne Emsley spoke on "The Happy Side of Life," emphasizing the regard God has for His followers.

South American Division: Patricia Muller, who works with both ADRA and Women's Ministries, reports that some exciting joint projects have been started in Peru responding to local needs:  literacy, local handicrafts and training in housekeeping (so that the women can work in hotels and homes) and others. The women receive orientation, find sponsors, and have monthly seminars. In 1998 there was only one such project and there are now 35. Projects such as this help the women gain self confidence, self esteem and economic support for their families.

South Pacific Division: This year has marked the very first time a conference-wide women's  retreat was held in the North New South Wales Conference, Australia. According to Avril Lockton, 160 women aged 18-80 had a "break away" from home and church duties at "Connexions 2000."

In Queensland, some 300 young adults showed their support for the prevention of child abuse during a human rights weekend. Although not a specifically WM program, this is the type of program that can make a difference for women. "I'm dead against child abuse," says Sharon Olschewsky, a member of the organizing committee. We salute women who make a difference.

Southern-Asia Division: In her Mid-year Committee Meeting report to the Division, Hepzibah Kore reported on a number of areas in which Women's Ministries is addressing issues of special challenge to women:  Illiteracy: 58 literacy classes are being conducted besides the project planned for the Garo area; WM has helped develop the primer to be used in that program; tutor training will begin soon.  Poverty: 35 projects such as tailoring, handicrafts, knitting, weaving and basket making are being conducted. A gift of 16 tailoring machines has been given to widows. The book, When God Provides was translated and the profits have help ed two students at Surat Nursing School. Of the 49 nursing students who have received GC scholarships, 42 have finished their studies.