What about Phoebe?

There's a lot of talk these days about how the Bible's ideals and moral principles are obsolete for today's society; the result of man's attempt to enforce order and control over weak-minded and/or ignorant individuals.
Perhaps the most hotly contested topic of all is the role of women in the church, and indeed the rest of society.

Understandably there are many individuals who are offended by what the Bible says in verses like Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18, and especially 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
For this reason many people, including Christians, have come to the conclusion that the Apostle Paul was a sexist. (Even though the Apostle Peter said the exact same things in 1 Peter 3:1-6) However, there is one passage of scripture that I would like to present as evidence to the contrary:

"I (Paul) commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me."
~ Romans 16:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT) 

Paul clearly thought very highly of Phoebe, and did not see himself as superior to her. In fact, he even went so far as to instruct the Church in Rome to welcome her as someone "worthy of honor."
She was not a subservient, voiceless puppet. She was a person; Paul's sister in Christ, and a great help to him on his missionary journeys--something that would have been completely counter-cultural in the first century AD. 

Furthermore, the Bible goes on to tell us that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT) )

Are we then permitted to choose which verses apply to us and which ones do not? Obviously not! Either the Bible is the Word of God, or it isn't. We don't get to pick and choose. Just because something is hard to understand or is offensive to our 21st century culture, doesn't mean that it is any less relevant. Cultures may change. But God's Word endures forever. (1 Peter 1:25) 

See Also:

Women and the Bible: Is Bible Sexist?