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Feminism: is it necessary?
I have had opportunity to read the local Christian newspaper ”Dagen” for a while now as they offer a month subscription for free. The discussion on feminism has become far too hot. Members from Pentecostal churches from all around the country ascribe themselves to the ideas of feminism and they do this with Jesus’ teaching in mind. This has put be to question if synergy between Christianity and feminism is possible and if it is really necessary? Does the Scripture and Christian tradition oppress women to that extent that we need to turn to worldy ideologies for help? I see the church being the instrument of oppression now and then, but this has happened or is happeing due to lack of knowledge of their own tradition. Or, is our faith poor enough that makes young people to seek alternative solutions for women’s oppression in another sources?
If there is everything in Jesus needed for life and godliness then I would personally feel braking the loyality with God when flirting with feminism, which is not grounded on Christian values. Not sure, if we can deliberately find common ground between our faith and feminism because they both hold the same compassion ideas. We are not to harmonise our faith either by trying to bring ourselves closer to unchurched.
I completely agree that the church has not treated women according to the best understanding of the word of God thoughout the history. Neither is true that the feminism is the answer to the women’s oppression and ill-treating in the world.
Feminism has many branches. Swedish feminism is socialistic under the surface, which in turn means that there’s a power struggle between men and women. Men are trying to hold on to their priviledges at all cost while women are out for liberating themselves from this evil power. Their view is a typical patriarchal hierarchy. This is nothing to do with Christian faith. We see God creating both man and woman in his own image in partnership, complementary in nature. Nothing to do with hierarchy.
I happened to read a book on the topic recently: Discovering Biblical Equality by Pierce and Groothuis. It is a great piece of literature on the subject. Some thoughts out of the book:
Genesis 1 and 2 nowhere suggests a hierarchial relationship between the man and the woman, and certainly not because of the ”order of creation.” Moreover, chapter 1 explicitly declares that the man and the woman share in God’s image and bear the same responsibilities.
In Gen 3 this harmonious unity between the man and the woman would be corrupted and distorted due to humanity’s sin. The sin begins the alienation and breakdown of the harmony that God had so effectively created in Gen 2. The sin’s breakdown of the creation order was not an abdication of divinely instituted hierarchy but the loss of loving harmony between the man and the woman.
Genesis 3:16-17 is best understood as a description of the new order of things, of how life will be lived as the result of the Fall, rather than how it should be lived.
Such hierarchy as described after the Fall is not presented as an ideal, rather as a reality of human history like that of the weeds that spring from the earth. The resolution of this conflict in equality and harmony cannot be found in these chapters but looks forward to a future redemption.
Jesus openly conversed with women despite the ancient practice of discouraging men from speaking with women in public. This is the part of Jesus’ restoration of women as it was initially in the creation story.
Jesus does not treat women primarily as homemakers. As women called out in Jesus’ hearing: ”Blessed is the women who gave you birth and nursed you!” Here we see this principle of woman primarily as mother voiced before Jesus. And what is his reply? ”Blessed rather those who hear the word of God and obey it!” (Lk 11:27-28).
Silence in women’s leadership issue in the Bible is therefore interpreted in quite limited way by many opponents. Why not take less limited view of the text? If the text does not actually prohibit something, either explicitly or in principle, one may well choose to do it – especially given the way Jesus explicitly affirms women.
When some argue to day that only men are to have authority in the church, they appear still to be arguing in this pagan vein of ”who is the greatest?” (Mk 9:34) – in this case, men or women. When the truely ”greatest” welcomes the little child in Jesus’ name, leadership no longer is a question of power but rather of service. Leaders are to be like Jesus, who came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many, not like Gentiles who ”lord it over” others.
Think also that so many women who have served better than men even without any official leadership position.
Accepting feminism as the answer to women reminds me the story in the OT where the Israelites required a king as the other nations had. It displeased God. We are again in the same situation today when the church, instead of digging into its rich tradition could find wonderful pearls of wisdom, flirt persitently with the world as if we badly need its help.
Look at Jesus who is up to restore the creation order again, bringing us back to God’s original plan for man and woman – partnership. Preach the gospel or at least borrow from godly principles if you want to change this part of the world. Yes, we need to share the same zeal and passion for women’s situation as feminists do. Not sure at all if we have found a right tool apart from the gospel.
If you would like to read a summery on Women in Leadership, then recommended is Mark Conner’s writing on the matter: http://markconner.typepad.com/catch_the_wind/2009/09/women-in-minist.html
