So, I know what you may be thinking. Yes, I am a feminist. No, I don’t think I’m better than a man (or men, or anyone really for that matter, I believe we all have a unique and beautiful place in society). No, I am not a hot debater out to set the world straight that women can do this and that too and that we are not sissies (or whatever other word could fit in that sentence). And no, I am not a know-it-all out to fit all your opinions into a box that fits my requirements.
So now that the stereotypes are out of the way, I’d like to tell you a few things about feminism and what got me on board in the first place:
- Feminism, Real Feminism, is not what you think it is. Real feminism isn’t about girls being better than boys. That’s childish to say, and I think it just isn’t true. But it is about women’s equality, and that in this world we are all equal. I believe that firmly, and I’ll tell you why in this post. I know that some of you think that a woman’s place is in her home, under her husband. And I’m not here to accuse you or tell you that you’re wrong in what you’re doing, but I do think that there are some things that should be clarified, which I’ll talk about and point out later in the post. Real feminism not only deals with women’s rights, but also is about justice, mercy, integrity, and so much more. It is linked to a lot of things, and I believe it is one road of redemption being paved by God.
- Jesus Feminist, by Sarah Bessey. In Jesus Feminist, Sarah uncovers a few things about feminism in the church and shares her own personal stories about wrestling with it. Having read this book recently, my views about feminism and the church have begun to change in a positive way (not that they were negative before, just more positive). This girl is on fire for God, and having read the forward for the book, I was instantly hooked by one thing: what Sarah envisions for the church. She talks about the church in a metaphor, about it being like a campfire, misfits and loners finding rest in the body of Christ and coming to know Jesus in a beautiful, very realistic way. And she isn’t a fire-breathing debater; she is like a friend in the wilderness, just standing by and holding your hand as you stumble through life. She talks realistically about falling, getting back up, and practicing her scales of patience, love, understanding, and peace.
- Feminism is actually God’s vision for the church. I know, I know. I just went real deep, real fast. I get it. At first, I was caught off guard too. But I have some things to share with you backing up this point, real hard facts that support this point. You know Corinthians, and a lot of other passages saying that wives should submit to their husbands, and there are many passages that say the wife is indeed under her husband. I will argue with passages and their interpretations, saying that it didn’t really mean this or it didn’t really mean that on my own terms. But here’s some evidence of what those chapters actually meant, and they come from different sources, and yes, even biblical scholars: Paul often times was only speaking about one woman, and in the full context of what he wrote, in line with his full ministry work, Paul was not against women in leadership and had no problem with them being voices in the church or big parts of ministry. Also, various biblical scholars have said that the apostles/saints/disciples in those days accepted a patriarchal culture because they didn’t want to have any reasons for anybody to be against the church and because they thought Jesus was coming back really soon (like, seriously soon). Also, some women in particular churches were interrupting often in gatherings to ask questions, which is not at all bad, but it just wasn’t the time for it. In that day, it was just revolutionary to even go home and have women ask questions about church to their husbands, so in a way they were defying patriarchal culture. Another point to make is in Genesis, when Adam and Eve were being banned from the Garden of Eden. When God was talking about her fall, He distinctly said in Genesis:
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.” -NET
Note: Patriarchal culture was a part of the fall. I don’t want to criticize people or cultures who still practice that, but the domination of the husband was/is a part of the fall. Lastly, when God made Eve, the name He chose for her in original Hebrew is actually a name He called himself: Ezer Kenegdo, which literally means “man’s perfect match”. It’s quoted in the Old Testament various times, in different contexts, none of which are dismissive or reference in any way to women being second to their husbands.
- Jesus was/is a feminist, and never treated women lesser than their husbands. Even among a patriarchal culture, Jesus still treated women like regular people, the way we’d treat them today. He went up to them and talked to them directly, made eye contact, and did not go through their husbands, something that was virtually unheard of in that type of culture and day. He even talked to a Samaritan, one of the group that Jews were not even supposed to hang out with, but even more groundbreaking was the fact that it was a woman. He did not refuse women because they didn’t go with their husbands, and He didn’t shame them or point out their sins. He didn’t equate their worth with their gender, but rather the fact that she was His daughter, His very own. He looked beyond the flesh. After all, it says in the bible that the Lord does not see flesh and bone but the heart. It is the heart that He cares about, and no matter what gender, a heart that is devoted to Him is what He wants.
Those are just a few of the reasons why I support feminism. I know that some of you may carry baggage with this word, and I know that in some cases it can be a taboo. I also know that many of you have been hurt in the name of submission, and for many of you it may have caused some wrestling and souls in your life. But I don’t want either one of these cases, and that is what true feminism is about. Christian feminism is a movement designed to follow the redemption and defines women as wonderful (and needed) parts of this world. It supports the scripture in Galatians 3:28:
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -NIV
We are all one in Christ Jesus, and we all have wonderful things to offer, different strengths and weaknesses which can be used for God’s glory. We are all equal, and we’re all here for the same purpose, because of the same person. And when we each bring our gifts to the table, wonderful things begin to happen. We begin to see that we are all connected, a big family of diverse cultures and personalities, but yet all one in the same manner. We are all born of Christ, and Christ alone, and we are all equally loved by Him as His own. We are His children no matter race, gender, past, future, or present. We are all one.
Also, Sarah Bessey shared another take on marriage that I’d like to share with you today. It’s called egalitarianism (which I know is a broad term, but she used it in reference to marriage, so I am going to use it that way as well). Basically, it isn’t placing women above men in the household or placing men above women, but it’s rather a practice about putting one another first in your relationship. It’s about continual surrender for the other person, about learning more about and chasing after their heart, and about laying yourself down for their sake. It doesn’t mean that the man doesn’t lead, but it also isn’t exclusive to him leading either. In a way, both can lead, each trading position at certain times while still keeping the other in mind, like a well-thought-out dance. It doesn’t mean there is no stepping on toes or stumbling, but it does mean that there is no domination in the marriage, only treating each other as an equal and important part of the relationship and respecting each other as a God-made creation born in Christ. It’s about mutual submission, continually sacrificing of oneself for the other person. And it isn’t in praise of either person leading, but just of celebrating how both were made and who has made them.
So no, real feminism is not about debating our worth, and it isn’t about proving to people that we’re equal or even better than men. It also isn’t about degrading submission or throwing it aside as a dumb tradition. It (submission) is in no way dumb, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it when being practiced correctly (there is no right way to practice this, but I know of people staying in bad relationships in the name of “submission”, which actually isn’t real submission at all or what God intended), but should be a very important part of our relationships (even the non-romantic ones). Actually, it’s about a movement of God, about women standing up and finding their voices, but also about celebrating both gender’s roles and importance to the world. It’s about justice, and women learning to have a unique voice in areas of injustice, hurt, pain, and the tragedies of this world. It’s about men and women being a team, not against each other or thinking the other more important, and it’s about redemption, reclaiming what God has given us and celebrating how He made us.
I’m curious-what are your thoughts on feminism? How has the church defined that for you-is it taboo or is it supported? Have you been hurt in the name of feminism? Or are you the opposite, and have been hurt in the name of “submission”? I’d love to hear your thoughts, no matter if you agree with me or not. Feel free to share your opinions. I’d also encourage you to read Jesus Feminist, and see what your thoughts are after reading the book. If you would like to check out a link, just click on the ‘books about identity’ tab at the top of the screen. You can click here to read another article by Relevant on feminism.
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