Living Unbounded By Feminist Fear
If I am to reclaim my life and find joy in the everyday, I want to live unbounded by feminist fear.
The feminists chief argument is this: If we don’t stake our claim to equality, demanding it even, we may be abused, taken advantage of and/or treated like property. The reasoning goes like this: we need feminism to protect women and to ensure they are treated with dignity, respect and equal rights.
The thing is, I don’t need to take claim to the name “feminist” to care about women, and people in general. We are commanded as Christians (not feminists) to love one another as ourselves (sin perverts this command, not “men”).
I realize there are different types of feminism, 1st wave, 2nd wave, radical, etc. I also understand why Christian women would naturally gravitate towards certain “whitewashed” notions of feminism, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries. That is a whole other discussion that deserves to be unpacked more fully, but today’s post is not the place.
My heart’s desire is that we as women would be loosed of fear and instead live under the authority of a God who gave His life for us, the ultimate violators in disrespect, injustice, and abuse. If anyone understands women, it is Jesus, who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6,7). He submitted to the Father…to the point of death. Why? That we would know Him. Life is worth so much more then the experience we have on earth. We get so stuck in the here and now that we give up on the eternal.
Do you trust God?
If we trust Him, then we can trust that what He commands is good and worthy…and for His glory (not ours). If you have a hard time accepting His commands with respect to submission, authority, gender roles and servant hood (which I think will need to be outlined in another post) then I would say your issue isn’t with equality, feminism, or patriarchy; your issue is probably with God.
Truly, there is so much more to say, but I think if I try and squeeze it all in today’s post, I will not do justice to the validity of certain complaints, questions, and comments. Again, this topic cannot be brushed aside with only platitudes and generalities. Suffice to say, I want to reclaim my life without reclaiming my life. I am reclaiming my life (and challenging you in hope) to reclaim yours for the glory of God and the sincere joy that can only be imparted in obedience.
I don’t want the protection of feminism…I want the protection of God. Now that’s living in freedom.
More tomorrow…join me over coffee and more of this series by clicking here!
Check out this post I wrote on feminism vs femininity
http://christinnjon.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/548/
That last comment on that post is by a feminist who came from a feminist site.
I love posts like this one!!! I know that God blesses those that follow his commands, and it's just so great to read posts like this.Julianne :)
I love posts like this one!!! I know that God blesses those that follow his commands, and it's just so great to read posts like this.Julianne :)
Love this post! Especially SIN perverting Scriptural intent – not men. Great point. I have said that were I choosing a religion based on it's sacred writings' views on women I would be left with only two choices – Christianity & Wicca. Clearly I am not espousing Wicca but of all the major world religions they are the only two with a foundational premise that values women. Christianity being the ONLY religion that values women as equal, though different, than men. Which is why I am always completely befuddled by "feminists" who hate Christianity. Only in the Bible do we find a Divine Being who purposefully uses women and men and is delighted by both.
Wow, I had never looked at it as a trust issue with God. So far, this series is very thought provoking! :) I can't wait to read more!
Wow, I had never looked at it as a trust issue with God. So far, this series is very thought provoking! :) I can’t wait to read more!
If feminists used their energy to fight for difference and not equality, women's lives would be much better.Praise the good Lord, I never was a feminist, I'm feminine.Alfazema
If feminists used their energy to fight for difference and not equality, women’s lives would be much better.
Praise the good Lord, I never was a feminist, I’m feminine.
Alfazema
Great post Sarah Mae!! You have said it all so well and I fully agree. I am also loving reading all the comments!
Great post Sarah Mae!! You have said it all so well and I fully agree. I am also loving reading all the comments!
Sarah, I'm sorry I'm late, but I am trying to catch up so you will be getting sporadic comments from me.Ok, so, "(sin perverts this command, not "men")", I totally agree and I am ready to reclaim my life with you.Thanks for the challenge!smooches,Larie
Sarah, I'm sorry I'm late, but I am trying to catch up so you will be getting sporadic comments from me.Ok, so, "(sin perverts this command, not "men")", I totally agree and I am ready to reclaim my life with you.Thanks for the challenge!smooches,Larie
SarahMae-You are SO SO SO SO SO on-track and Rock (biblically) – Solid!http://visionarydaughters.com/http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org/index.htmlhttp://www.solofemininity.blogs.com/http://deuteronomy6five-nine.blogspot.com/http://girltalk.blogs.com/These are some incredibly encouraging sites (blogs) for women to get some like-minded, Biblical womenhood encouragement! they are written for God's glory. (a truly refreshment)gratefully,HveHope (Jackie)
SarahMae-You are SO SO SO SO SO on-track and Rock (biblically) – Solid!http://visionarydaughters.com/http://www.beautyfromtheheart.org/index.htmlhttp://www.solofemininity.blogs.com/http://deuteronomy6five-nine.blogspot.com/http://girltalk.blogs.com/These are some incredibly encouraging sites (blogs) for women to get some like-minded, Biblical womenhood encouragement! they are written for God's glory. (a truly refreshment)gratefully,HveHope (Jackie)
Hey Sarah – GREAT post! Thanks for sharing these things.
Here is a post I wrote a while back that goes along with your series here:
http://yoursacredcalling.blogspot.com/2008/08/real-womens-liberation-movement.html
Hey Sarah – GREAT post! Thanks for sharing these things.
Here is a post I wrote a while back that goes along with your series here:
http://yoursacredcalling.blogspot.com/2008/08/real-womens-liberation-movement.html
Holy smokes, Sarah! So well said! I especially love where you said that you hoped "…women would be loosed of fear and instead live under the authority of a God who gave His life for us…" So powerful and freeing!
Happy New Year!
An intriguing post along with the comments. While I only recently found your blog, I have enjoyed many of your posts. I'm curious what feminist writings you have read for this post. In my own faith journey, I am more convinced that sin perverts God's beauty in regards to gender difference. While I consider myself a third or possibly fourth wave feminist, this does not negate or mean I trust God any less. I am encouraged by your blog even when we don't agree on everything.