Challenging the Pedestalization of Women in the Church
In Christianity, Women are frequently elevated to an untouchable status, often regarded as morally superior or sinless, especially in contrast to men.
This trend is particularly evident when discussing biblical figures like Bathsheba, where the modern narrative has been crafted to portray her as an innocent victim of King David’s power and authority.
But if we examine the situation critically, there’s ample reason to question this assumption.
Bathsheba was not an innocent victim; she was just as complicit as David in their shared sexual sin.
In the church culture, this pedestalization of women—presenting them as incapable of significant wrongdoing—has led to a distortion of biblical truth.
Let’s break down the case of Bathsheba, explore her potential motivations, and dismantle the harmful ways that men in the church, influenced by modern feminist ideals, minimize women’s sins while overemphasizing the sins of men.
Bathsheba’s Role: Not a Helpless Victim
The typical narrative often attributes David’s sin with Bathsheba solely to his power, authority, and unchecked lust.
They assume Bathsheba had no choice in the matter.
But this assumption is based on nothing more than speculation.
There is no biblical evidence that Bathsheba was coerced or forced into committing adultery.
The passage in 2 Samuel 11 clearly indicates that David saw Bathsheba, desired her, and sent for her—but it never suggests that she resisted or was reluctant.
Bathsheba, like David, knew what she was doing was sinful.
While it’s possible that she was intimidated by David’s status as king, it’s also entirely plausible that she knew the benefits of sexually engaging with the king.
Let’s be honest about the societal dynamics of that time: women sought financial security and protection through men.
Bathsheba could have very well seen an opportunity for herself by aligning with David.
Being connected to the king brought lifelong security. If she bore his child, she would secure not only her own future but the future of her family.
This wasn’t just a matter of attraction; it was a power play.
Bathsheba’s compliance may have been driven by the recognition of what a relationship with the king could mean— status, power, and security that no ordinary life could provide.
For all we know, Bathsheba may have seen this as her moment to secure a place in the king’s court.
The Double Standard: Bathsheba vs. Esther
Let’s contrast the church’s treatment of Bathsheba’s story to the story of Queen Esther.
In the book of Esther, we celebrate her as a hero for bravely approaching King Ahasuerus to save her people, even at the risk of her own life.
We honor Esther’s courage and admire her strength in standing up to the king, breaking protocol, and putting herself in danger for a greater cause.
Had Bathsheba resisted David’s advances and reminded him of God’s commands, we would have celebrated her in a similar way that we celebrate Esther.
But instead, based on the biblical record, Bathsheba made no such stand. She did not stand firm in righteousness, nor did she attempt to dissuade David from sinning.
She participated willingly, and for this, we cannot absolve her of responsibility.
Yet, the church often excuses Bathsheba and paints her as a victimwhileglorifying Esther for doing the exact opposite.
Why?
Because the modern narrative has adopted a warped view of gender roles, particularly in regard to women.
Women are viewed as pure, innocent, and incapable of wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, men are always framed as the aggressors or oppressors, especially when it comes to sins involving power, sex, or authority.
The Pedestalization of Women in the Church
What we see in the story of Bathsheba is a microcosm of a larger issue in the church today: the pedestalization of women.
This tendency to treat women as sinless or morally superior to men is a direct consequence of the feminist influences that have infiltrated the church.
Even the most conservative religious circles are not immune from this influence.
Men are viewed as inherently flawed, their sins seen as worse and more dangerous, while women’s sins are minimized or excused altogether.
The church, eager to distance itself from accusations of sexism, has adopted the idea that women are inherently better than men—morally, spiritually, and emotionally.
This idea has become so ingrained that even when women engage in clear acts of sin, they are given a pass.
Bathsheba’s sin with David is ignored or downplayed, while David’s actions are highlighted and condemned as evidence of his failure as a man and leader.
How many sermons have you heard about David and Bathsheba?
Likely dozens.
How many preacher even dare to suggest that Bathsheba was complicit in sin in any of these sermons?
I’ve never heard it done once.
But the Bible does not teach that men and women are to be held to different moral standards. Romans 3:23 (NKJV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Both men and women are equally capable of sin, and both are equally accountable before God.
The Weakness of Men in the Church
Part of the reason this pedestalization persists is because of the weakness of men in the church.
Many men have been taught, either explicitly or implicitly, that their natural masculine traits are bad or sinful.
Masculinity, leadership, and strength are often vilified in modern discourse, leading men to retreat into a passive, apologetic stance.
Men, in an attempt to remain in the good graces of women, have bought into this pedestalization.
They downplay women’s sins in the hopes of securing approval, attention, or sexual access.
These men have sacrificed their God-given authority and responsibilities in exchange for the illusion of harmony, but this “harmony” comes at the cost of truth.
Instead of standing firm on biblical principles, men have abdicated leadership and allowed feminist ideas to take root.
The church has created a culture where men are expected to bear the full weight of sin, while women are absolved by virtue of their genetalia.
This is neither biblical nor just.
Bathsheba’s Story: A Lesson for the Church
The story of Bathsheba is a reminder that both men and women are responsible for their actions.
Bathsheba was not a helpless victim in her encounter with David; she was a willing participant in sin.
To excuse her behavior is to deny the reality of human sinfulness and to perpetuate the false idea that women are inherently more righteous than men.
The Bible calls us to hold both men and women accountable for their actions. Bathsheba’s sin was real, and her motivations—whether driven by fear or ambition—do not excuse her complicity.
• James 1:14-15 (NKJV): “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” This applies equally to men and women. Both David and Bathsheba were drawn away by their own desires, and both sinned as a result.
The church must stop excusing women’s sins while condemning men’s. Pedestalizing women does a disservice to the entire body of Christ. It is time to return to a balanced, biblical view of sin, where both men and women are equally responsible for their choices and actions.
The Truth About Bathsheba
The pedestalization of women has distorted our understanding of biblical narratives like Bathsheba’s. Bathsheba was not a victim, nor was she innocent.
She was a woman who very likely made a calculated decision to engage in sin with David, just as David made a calculated decision to pursue her.
Both David and Bathsheba were equally guilty.
It’s time for the church to stop excusing women’s sins, stop vilifying men for their masculinity, and return to the biblical standard of accountability for both sexes.
Only then can we address the real issues of sin and righteousness that affect all believers, male and female alike.
