Jesus > Feminism
Feminist is not a word I use to describe myself.
And I am not convinced any Jesus follower can describe themself as one either.
Mad? Confused?
Good. Hopefully, that will keep you here long enough to decide for yourself.
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Let's clear up a couple of things first ok? We need to define some of these words that we throw around freely.
Feminism is defined as being an advocate of women's rights based on the equality of the sexes.
Who can’t get behind that definition? Of course, as Jesus followers we should see every single person as fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), we see that every single person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we see that equality between all people was and is the goal (Galatians 3:28) Ultimately, as Jesus followers we know that men and women were created equally and should have equal rights under the church, under the government and God. As Christians we’re all called to advocate, To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). As Christians, we can agree with this definition.
BUT that definition is NOT what we see in feminism today.
Today, the definition of Feminism changes with politics and agendas and public opinions and personal feelings. To clearly define this word today would be nearly impossible and goes way beyond being an advocate for women's rights. Today's feminism is not the original feminism movement of the feminism of women's suffrage (read more about the origins here), Today’s feminism is impossible to define and therefore should not be something we hold tightly to.
Still with me here? Let’s switch our view to women in the church for a second here to help further understand some of the issues with feminism today.
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The church has a long history of fighting over women in leadership, women in the pulpit, women in general. We are constantly arguing over complementarian vs equalitarians, we disagree so hard that we’ve created massive divides, spoke of each other unkindly and completely miss the point of functioning as the body of Christ. We have not been great at these conversations and have never developed a great biblical framework for the role of women in the church.
This lack of framework and the inability for women to find a place in the church where they feel their giftings are seen, understood and valued has caused many women to seek validation and value outside of the church. The world tells us we are valued and equal and can do anything if we “hustle hard enough” to achieve yet the church sits around debating over what exactly our value translates into. The church is really good at telling women were not to be but never tells women how they can impact the kingdom and the great commission.
We tell women how beautiful and precious they are. We say they are worth more the gold. We teach fluffy bible studies about being a wife or a mom. We feel like we support single females on their journey. We make pretty coffee mugs and fun t-shirts. But, when the rubber meets the road and I am in a horrible fight with my husband, when we are lonely, when my kid just broke his arm, I feel completely lost in my femaleness or my babe is awake all night and my pleading to God for help has not been answered those messages of beauty and value and worth do absolutely nothing to help me get through the hard things of life with a Christ-centred view.
We are not teaching women to engage in theology.
We are not teaching women the good spiritual rhythms of life.
We are not teaching women the importance of holiness.
We are hyper-focused on fighting for a place instead of being laser-focused on who already tells us we have a place.
This all means we have a super shallow faith which translates into being susceptible to the culture and being deceived and sucked into a system that is not celebrating our gender and femaleness and uniqueness but twisting it into something it’s not.
All this mess is selling women short of God’s intentions - not a cultural framework or secular idea can, will or should be added into our theology to attempt to accomplish the great commission but this monstrous void that has been created over our fighting in the church has led so many women to feminism as the only answer.
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To God - women are equal. Hard stop. No explanation is needed. So, where did the church miss this?
Historically, women were deemed lesser instead of partners, scriptures were (and still are) taken out of context, decisions were made in fear not faith and the church wanted to define roles based on gender instead of spiritual gifting (although there are biological differences that we just cannot pretend don’t exist)
God designed us to make men better. To complement and work together. To be a team. The man was not to do it alone. Women bring something to God’s table that men do not and God intended for women to be part of His mission not just as mothers and wives. Many churches deny this or twist or misunderstand this biblical truth and have hurt people badly. Instead of digging into scripture together we, as women, head on over to the cultural view of women and claim our stake. We look at all women’s issues through a cultural lens instead of looking through a gospel lens.
But there’s good news. The bible does have the answers and we do not need a cultural label to accomplish God’s plan.
God exalted women, not because of the worldview of equality but because we are to treat others better than ourselves (Leviticus 25, Romans 12:10, Phil 2:3) - that’s the only thing we need to know but o how we need to know it.
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So, if feminism is not the answer, if we do not need feminism to honour women and if we do not need a cultural framework to accomplish God's will can and should Christian women call themselves a feminist?
Well, if the title of this blog tells you anything…..
Here's the thing, if most women were honest with themselves and others they would say that they are not aware of the history and role of feminism. For example; read about the founder of planned parenthood Margaret Sangers and eugenics here. Feminist history is very often unbiblical and goes against many of our core beliefs.
So, if a Christian was to call themselves a feminist 1 or 3 things has happened;
Their faith is watered down
Their feminism is watered down
All the above
I am not anti-feminist but I am anti-anything that is not biblical and am very concerned with the idea of merging scripture and feminism or making statements like "Jesus was a feminist". Where is that idea in scripture? Jesus exalted women long before feminism emerged so to place a cultural label on a man who does not get on board with human ideas (cause we are called to get on board with His ideas) is wrong. Jesus' pro-women stance was not rooted in a cultural worldview but in the simple truth of putting others before himself.
Feminism has accomplished some amazing things in the past and I humbly stand on the shoulders of those hard-working women who just wanted equality. There is still work to be done when it comes to women (and many many many other groups of people) but calling yourself a Christian feminist is not the answer. It's not.
Friend, there is a place for you in the church. I know a lot of people are arguing about what that place is right now but personally, I don't care what they say because I know what God says. He says you belong. He says there is a place at the table for you even if others want to push you away from the table and roll your office chair as far down the hall as they can push.
Let's learn what the bible says about women, about some of these feminist soapboxes and discern for ourselves what is gospel and what is a worldview. Then, skip your way right back to the body and Christ and stop trying to find your identity and worth in a cultural framework.
Find it in God.
You do NOT have to label yourself a feminist to be a strong and grounded and theological sound female leader in the world and the body of Christ.
I am cheering you on!
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Some amazing books on women and scripture for further reading;
Two Views on Women in Ministry
The Right Kind of Strong by Mary Kassian
