Biblical Womanhood

​In October, I started a discipleship group for young ladies (12-18) in my area.  We had eleven girls at our first meeting where I shared this message on biblical womanhood.

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​What is “biblical womanhood”?  It’s a common enough question with a variety of answers.  I would say the most general definition could be stated like this:  the way in which the Bible defines womanhood or the role and desired characteristics for women.  But what does this actually mean and what does it look like?

​We live during an age that has much confusion surrounding the role and desired characteristics for women.  The world says “She must have a successful career!”  The conservative Christian movement says “She must stay at home and raise children.”  And there are a plethora of ideas, beliefs, and convictions in between.  Even among devout Christians there are differences.
 
Therefore, I pose to you the thought that there is no set “look” or definition to biblical womanhood but rather defining characteristics.  Now hear me out. 
 
Biblical womanhood doesn’t mean that we all must look and dress alike—that we all must have the same personal convictions or make the same life decisions, listen to the same kind of music, or fix our hair in the same way.  If it did, than we would all be exact replicas of each other.  But God never intended that!  He made us unique and different from one another for a reason, so let us not become hung up by those who tell us biblical womanhood must look like “this.”
 
There are distinct marks and signs of Christianity—such as gentleness, patience, kindness, love, and godliness—but the plans and purposes God has for each of our lives are not the same and will therefore, look different. We dress differently, have different opinions, and listen to different kinds of music.  In short, we wear biblical womanhood differently.  It looks different on each of us.  We are not meant to be exact cookie-cutters of each other.   There are lines and boundaries that we must all adhere to (e.g. modesty, respect toward parents, fruits of the Spirit, overall godliness, etc.), but within those boundaries there is much room for variety.
 
Think about the various women in your life that you consider stellar examples of biblical womanhood.  They probably all look a little different and have slightly different personal opinions and lifestyles. 
 
I can guarantee that Mary the mother of Jesus looked very different from the late Elisabeth Elliot.  In fact, if Mary saw Elisabeth she might be inclined to be astounded by Elisabeth’s dress, manner of speech, and prominent leadership role. 
 
But was one woman more biblical than the other?  No!  God used each of them, in their time and place, to accomplish great things for the Kingdom.  They looked different, had different convictions, lived extremely different lives, held different careers, and sang different songs in their worship to God.  But they were both godly women and stellar examples of biblical womanhood because they faithfully served the Lord and trusted Him with their lives no matter the cost or challenges that came with it. 
 
Whether we’re called onto the mission field to pour out our lives as single women or led into the work force to faithfully serve God as an engineer, doctor, nurse, architect, etcetera.  Whether we marry young and raise 10 kids or never marry or have children, no matter what our life seasons look like, if we’re faithfully following God and obeying His Word, then we are all living in biblical womanhood.  These things don’t define who we are in the eyes of God.  One career path is not more “biblical” than the other.  If it’s God’s will and God’s direction, then who are we to say one way is more “biblical” than another?
 
God uses people in all walks of life—young, old, married, single, rich, poor, working, retired.  So let us be careful not to judge or feel judged based on our own personal conviction and life calling and how they differ with another’s. 
 
So to sum this all up:
 

• Be who God made you to be.

• Don’t let others define who you are or what you are supposed to do.

 

• Above all else, God wants us to be true representatives of Him. 

 
 This is the overarching definition of biblical womanhood.  So go out and wear biblical womanhood in the style that God has placed upon your heart, walking in purity, modesty, and love and see how God will use you and where He’ll take you as you follow Him faithfully.  Shine your light, glorify God, and remember that it’s okay to be uniquely you!