Dear friends, before we look at this subject, we should pay more attention to not what is allowed or not, but rather to how this affects my relationship with the Lord, how He looks at it, and what is meant by this holiday.
First, we need to address the historical origins of the holiday. It came into being as a day of women’s solidarity in the struggle for women’s rights and emancipation, i.e. freedom from dependence on men and submission to them and, as a result, giving women equal rights with men in public and labor activities.
In 1945, the Charter of the United Nations became the first international document to establish the principle of equality between men and women. Since March 1975, International Women’s Day has been celebrated by UN member states.
International Women’s Day was preceded by Women’s Day, organized by US socialists. On February 28, 1909, under the auspices of the Socialist Party of America and Socialist Women’s Communities throughout the United States, demonstrations were held “for equal voting rights.” Later, the last Sunday of February was now declared Women’s Day. At first, this holiday was celebrated by socialists.
The annual celebration of International Women’s Day began with the Second International Conference of Socialist Women, held in Copenhagen in 1910. Until 1914, this day was celebrated in different countries on different dates in March.
In 1913, women first held rallies in France and Russia on March 2, mass demonstrations also took place in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, the Netherlands on March 9, and in Germany on March 12. In 1914, women in Austria, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, the USA, Switzerland, and other countries celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th.
February 1917 in Russia became an important milestone in the history of the holiday, since February 23 (March 8), 1917, was marked by a revolutionary outbreak that marked the beginning of the February Revolution. Later, the Petrograd Bolsheviks took advantage of the celebration of International Women’s Day to organize rallies and meetings against the war, high prices, and the plight of women workers, spontaneously turning into strikes and revolutionary demonstrations.
In 1921, by decision of the 2nd Communist Women’s Conference, it was decided to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 in memory of the participation of women in the Petrograd demonstration, which was one of the events that preceded the February Revolution, as a result of which the monarchy was overthrown. At that time, the holiday was dedicated mainly to “courageous” women who had achieved success in “male” professions.
Over time, this movement developed into feminist sentiments. However, gradually the holiday lost its feminist overtones, becoming a day of congratulations to women, girls, and even young girls in the family, work, and educational communities. The holiday includes the well-established tradition of giving flowers and other gifts to women. (Wikipedia).
But look at today’s unstable marriages, increasingly broken families and, as a result, children suffering from this, then we must admit that something is wrong with our views on the family. And this despite the fact that today you can find many books by various authors giving recommendations on how to preserve the relationship between spouses and the family. If all this does not work, then where does wisdom come from? What are the best tips to follow?
Feminist sentiments appeared precisely as a result of the birth of this holiday. And it would seem that there is nothing wrong with this current perception. We must admit that the original feminist struggle did provide some of the basic freedoms that women need as individuals. Just think about those Arab countries where women are not even considered as a person. They live their entire lives not only with their bodies covered but even with their faces hidden. And this is how she lives her whole life, without a face, with no personality or individuality, so that no one except those close to her family will even remember her by at least her appearance, let alone as a person. Another good freedom acquired by women is freedom from violence and the right to basic freedom – life.
However, over time, the feminist movement began to cross boundaries making men despised, and even hated, going to irrational extremes. Society has created an effeminate image of a man who is incapable of responsibility, masculinity, care, and protection. And the irony is that in the eyes of women themselves, a man has become not the head that they themselves desire, but some kind of miserable semblance of a man. They themselves are not interested in such a man.
It is important to note that although feminists initially had a negative attitude towards the Bible, considering its foundations outdated, it was the teachings of Jesus Christ that brought women many of the freedoms that they have today, for example, the fact that she is no longer part of a polygamous family. The Lord did not originally intend for the family to be this way. Christ Himself speaks about this: “The Pharisees also came to Him, tempting Him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” He answered, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” They said to Him, “Then why did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to send her away?” He said to them, “Moses, for the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is not good to marry.” But He said to them, “Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given.“ (Matthew 19:3-11). So, as we see, the Lord originally intended one woman for one man. In our society, this is really difficult to accept because people have become hard-hearted. If someone is married, they might have multiple partners outside of marriage. They don’t understand how you can have only one companion or one soulmate for your entire life.
Although the Bible is now despised as a book of outdated principles, the wisdom of our Creator expressed in it teaches precisely those principles that help strengthen the relationship between husband and wife and ultimately preserve the family. One historian said: “It was the birth of Jesus that marked the turning point for women in history.” The teachings and example of Jesus Christ, especially in the Western world, have resulted in many more privileges and rights being enjoyed by women than ever before in human history.
However, among women, the desire for career growth, independence, and occupation of higher positions has led to the fact that almost every second marriage ends in divorce, children are deprived of maternal care, affection, and love, and husband and wife cannot find a common language. The imbalance has led us to where we are now. Moreover, this attitude has permeated our churches.
What does God value in a woman? What is precious to Him? The Apostle Peter writes: ”Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, as they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing. But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.“ (1 Peter 3:1-4 ).
And the Apostle Paul says this: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.“
(Colossians 3:18-19). The Lord, knowing our hearts established this certain order provided that a woman should be submissive to her husband, and the husband should not be hard, angry, rude, or bitter but show gentleness and kindness, showing love in action. I understand that it is possible that even just these passages of Scripture are already jarring on someone’s ears. This only shows how far we have strayed from God and are rebelling against His institution. That is why God gives up such a person to the stubbornness of his heart and various impurities, which are also expressed in same-sex relationships.
Only in God can a husband and wife find a truly happy relationship, submitting to the truth of the Creator of all living and nonliving things, Who designed and ordered this beautiful world as He saw fit.
It is better to give flowers more often and also to show gentleness, care, and love to our wives more often. Unfortunately, we often bring flowers to the grave where they are no longer needed.
Therefore, let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind. I am glad that God even turned this holiday for better in Russia than it was originally meant to be as they intended to make a woman more like a man. Fortunately, over time it only more and more emphasized the tenderness, weakness, defenselessness, and, finally, the femininity of our precious mothers, wives, and sisters. Let a woman remain a woman, and a man be a man.
God bless you!
Max Volkov in Christ