Gloria Steinem said a
feminist is “anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and
men.” Is God then a feminist by her definition? If feminism in its purest sense
is the quest for justice and equal rights for women, then God was the first
feminist. God created woman in his image and bestowed on her equal dignity with
man. By a woman’s mere existence, God has bestowed on her human rights that
transcend race, economic status, and physical ability.
Jesus
showed us clearly what gender equality should look like. Women financially
supported his ministry (Luke 8:3). He reinterpreted laws to protect women
socially and economically (Matthew 5:27-32). Jesus selected women as the first
witnesses of His resurrection from the dead (John. 20:11-18). All of this took
place in a culture where women were essentially second-class citizens.
Christianity does not support patriarchy. It defies it and turns it, and turns
it upside down. Christian feminism is a school of Christian theology which seeks to advance and understand the equality of men and women morally, socially, spiritually, and in leadership from a Christian perspective. Feminism and Christianity are not opposites. They are interconnected. It is easy to see how some Christians feel that the rebellious nature of feminism does not fit the purpose of a peace-and-love-oriented Christianity.
The inherent dignity of men and women has often gotten lost as corrupt people with power oppress others without it. Whether we hold power in our culture or not, God equips us to live as image bearers. God’s feminist ideals don’t correlate with the world’s secular ones. If Christians wish to pursue gender reconciliation, what should they know?
1. God assigns important
work to all humans-In one breath; God expresses
mutual purposes for male and female: God
blessed them and said to them, “Have many children. Fill the earth and take
control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule
over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28, ERV). Although different
physiologically, God intends male and female to complete each other in a unity;
children are the fruit of a couple’s union. Scripture also points at important
work of single people and those who do not have children (1 Corinthians 7:8-9).
Clearly, God’s assignments include a range of possibilities. The Hebrew words
for subdue and have dominion point at
taking care of, serving, guarding, watching over, preserving and caring for
others and the world. When we honor each other’s unique callings, we build
God’s realm.
2. God
can restore broken and divided humans to wholeness and unity-“All the glory You have given to Me, I pass on to them. May that glory
unify them and make them one as We are one, 23 I in them and
You in Me, that they may be refined so that all will know that You sent Me, and
You love them in the same way You love Me.” (John 17:22-23, VOICE).
In the words of Henri Nouwen, Jesus brings divided
humanity to a new unity. The world pays attention when we treat each other in
the ways we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Evangelical feminists believe
there is hope for redeeming communities from age-old conflicts (Ephesians
2:4-9).
God has given us power to embody Jesus in the way we
live our lives. Doing so enables us to rise above attitudes of superiority. It
enlivens us to oppose structures supporting inequality. Ground is fertile for
bringing hope and wholeness to lives and communities in Jesus’ name.
3.
God designs females and males with equal dignity-Then God said, “Now let’s make
humans who will be like us. They will rule over all the fish in the sea and the
birds in the air. They will rule over all the large animals and all the little
things that crawl on the earth.”
(Genesis 1:26, ERV).You and I have dignity because we bear God’s image as
humans (Genesis 5:1-2). Male and female equally reflect God as unique persons.
Neither is superior. When we treat others with dignity, we value God’s image in
them. Mistreating others is mishandling God’s masterpieces.
4. God
intends male and female to contribute their unique strengths to benefit each
other and the world-God
orchestrated a parade of animals to show the first man he could not possibly do
all the work alone (Genesis 2:19-20). He was half a community without someone
to help. In Created in God’s
Image, biblical scholar Anthony Hoekema explains that the man
couldn’t reflect the plurality of God alone. The description of the woman as “a
help” is the same word used to describe God and military protectors and allies
(19 out of 21 times in the Old Testament). God only declared humanity “very
good” after completing the masterpiece. We do well to honor the strength of
women working alongside men.
5. God
needs Christians to fight sinful injustices-“That’s because we committed crimes against our God.
Our own sins speak out against us. We know we are guilty. We know we have
sinned. We rebelled against the LORD and lied to him. We turned away from our God and left him. We planned to
hurt others and to rebel against God. From hearts filled with lies, we talked
about it and made our plans.” (Isaiah
59:12-13, ERV). The Old Testament traces what happens as a result of humans
abandoning God’s purposes. To this day, many experience less-than-human
treatment, especially women and children.
Attitudes of superiority play into devaluing others
through stereotyping, minimizing, competitiveness, withholding resources, and
dominating. Sin is the belly of sexism, racism, classism and other forms of
systemic inequality resulting in inequitable
education/training/opportunity/pay; harassment; domestic and sexual violence;
pornography; sex trafficking; slavery; and other crimes.
As Christians, we are called to fight for justice in
these areas (Isaiah 1:17). It can be easy to criticize the way some people have
gone about fighting for justice in various women’s issues, but Christians
should respond to even misguided justice efforts graciously in Jesus’ name.
Three main branches of second-wave feminism take differing approaches to
overcoming gender inequality. Radical feminism, associated with deep hurt and
anger, emphasizes female jurisdiction and overcoming evils of patriarchy.
Liberal feminism, known for valuing androgyny, seeks
reform through education, equal political rights and economic opportunities,
and exploring terminology and values. Marxist feminism pursues economic
opportunity, freedom from racial and gender oppression and prosperity to all.
“My feminism means daily affirming the full
humanity and capabilities of women as part of God’s beloved creation.” (Jennifer Bailey)[i]
[i] Sources used:
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