Mar 30 2009
Feminism: The Hope part1
Continued from Feminism: The Harm
This article has been waiting for completion for months. , I could never quite bring myself to finish it, notes on bits of paper, quotes stacking up, deadlines come and gone. There was always some new facet, another aspect to evaluate and include. I doubt I will ever have this completed to my entire satisfaction. It’s a work in progress, but if I don’t do it now, I never will 
Have you ever faced an oncoming storm? You’re in your car, speeding straight for it, boiling thunderclouds dark with rain overhead, oppressive humidity engulfing you. You grip the steering wheel tighter and strain forward, as if tensing your body will help brace your car against the wind. When I think of Feminism, I think of facing that storm, except without the protection of my car, without an umbrella, without even a measly poncho. Soaked, pummeled, helpless.What are we to do against such overwhelming strength?
We need hope
In this time of moral darkness, we need hope. I need hope. I need a battle cry, I need to know what I’m fighting and the tools to fight it. In my experience, the three points below make all the difference in the world.
1. Truth will never die
2. Live it.
3. Educate others.
1. Biblical womanhood will never be wholly extinct
Biblical womanhood is God’s truth, and truth cannot be annihilated.
2 Timothy 3:14 “But you must remain faithful to the things that you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.” (NLT) The foundation for biblical womanhood, the foundation for the church, the bedrock foundation for all our hope and faith and any movement in the right direction, is Jesus Christ. Biblical womanhood will endure because it is based of God’s character, He is the one who taught us, the author of scripture, the Way, the Truth, the Life.
After describing the hopelessness and coming ruin for the wicked, Prov 4:18 elucidates: “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” It is in the darkest hour that our light shines the most brilliantly.
Paul and Silas, when bleeding and chained in jail, they didn’t despair. What did they do? They sang!
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Heb 12:12,13 NLT)
God could have eliminated Adam and Eve from the beginning—took them out on the spot. But God saw the end from the beginning and put up with all the scoundrels in history, all the revolts against his word, because he knew the end result.
We will never face utter despair because Christ will bring His church to completion. His bride will be made ready for His return. He promised He would, and we can trust the one who taught us.
part 2 coming…
No related posts.
Great post! I love the second point “Live it!” and can’t wait for you to blog about that as well. I was on Yahoo!Answers today and mentioned in a question I asked (for a post I was working on) that I believed in submitting to my husband. One of the answers noted that at least I was not hypocritical like most Christian women.
I think that says alot about the Church and how we need to strive to follow God’s Word as best we can, even if it’s uncomfortable. No one said it’d be easy.
I also liked your point when you said “I need to know what I’m fighting”. That’s something I’ve been thinking alot lately when it comes to fighting Feminism. I’ve decided to read up on feminism, because truthfully I don’t know alot about it, and I can’t fight what I don’t understand. I checked out two books on feminism from the library, but I had to turn them back in before I could read them (I was reading another from the library as well at the time). Once I get the chance I will be checking them out again and filling my noggin with some informative research.
Oh, and one last thing, there was a typo that I thought you might want to fix. You put fee instead of feet in your last Bible verse. And I believe Silas is spelled with an S not a C. I’ll attribute it to your late-night posting.
Thanks Kirsten-
For an excellent, Biblically based coverage of Feminism – read “The Feminist Mistake” by Mary Kassian. It’s the best address of the topic I have ever read. Kassian is an incredible woman, she is a professor at Southern Baptist Seminary and writes with riveting authority. Radical Womanhood is also excellent, by Carolyn McCulley. Both proffer indepth overviews of Feminism as a movement.
Thanks, Christa! Those are definitely going on my list of books to read. Can’t wait for the lovely insight I’ll be aquiring!
Then again, it might be later over here than it is over there…
Wow! Great post, Christa! Those are tremendous 3 points, and easy to remember. I’ll be looking forward to part two.
I think this is possibly my favorite post you’ve ever done. Very uplifting!! Thanks so much for posting such encouraging words, Christa.
Lately, I am coming to realize that when it comes to feminism, you must fight fire with water – not fire. So often I am quick to come out with my guns blazing (and I believe there are times for that, like when protecting my girls’ modesty, or what they are watching…). But I am finding there is peace in knowing that I am not responsible for the “how” things are going to work out, I am only responsible for being obedient to the Word.
The Word tells me to be slow to speak, slow to anger,… to be gentle and humble… to love my enemies, to bless those who curse me,… to turn away wrath with a gentle answer.
Those who buy into feminism are deceived. They need my prayers and authenticity – and my Godly femininity – more than my disapproving eye. Wow, that’s hard sometimes, isn’t it??
Anyway, good post, Christa. Looking forward to the next part!!
Very well said! I was encouraged by your comment. “I am quick to come out with my guns blazing…” Yeah, that’s me too sometimes.
“Those who buy into feminism are deceived. They need my prayers and authenticity – and my Godly femininity – more than my disapproving eye.”
Thanks Shannon! I really needed to hear that reminder. There is a young girl in one of my college classes that has been so deceived by the pop culture approach to femininity and relationships. It hurts me so much that she doesn’t have the truth, and I’m terrible at communicating it to her. Your insights have really helped!
“This article has been waiting for completion for months. , I could never quite bring myself to finish it”
I felt the SAME so many times!!!!
Julie Maria
Thanks for these, I also love Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” We live in a lost, lost world, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, but the few who seek the narrow gate will have life.
What totally blows me away about God’s grace is that it is truly grace upon grace upon grace. First, He saves us, and then, it’s as if He says, I just gave you a gift, so I’m going to give you another gift, the joy that comes along with salvation. And then, He gives us another gift, the storing up of treasures in Heaven as we walk our Christian walks with faithfulness and sanctification. And finally, we have the ultimate gift of being in the presence of our LORD for all eternity!
When we are obedient to the Word, including (and in many ways especially) when it comes to Biblical gender roles and the picture of marriage that models Christ and His church, the joy and peace that come along with that really do surpass all understanding.
LP
I have recently started reading Captivating by jon and stasi eldredge…
Man, I have lived the transformation from feminist to…(I’m not sure what to call myself now) and this book really puts so much of what my journey has been…
that i am valued and essential as a woman…
Amazing book!!
Ms. Taylor,
I’m really curious about your site and your views about feminist theory in particular. Do you think you could enlighten me as to what, exactly, you are referring to by the term ‘Biblical Womanhood’ and what relation this term has to feminist theory? In particular, I’m rather intrigued by the accompanying graphic you’ve chosen for this post. I notice Betty Friedan’s The Feminist Mystique is replaced with the word mistake, while other notable feminist writers names remain unchanged. Was this intentional? Is feminine ‘mystique’ traditionally a biblical coinage? If so where does it appear and what are the implications of the term? When you have time I’d love to hear more about this!
Best,
Laura Lee
Hi Laura,
Sure thing, I’ll try to make this as lucid as possible.
The term “Biblical womanhood” is a term I use to refer to womens role as elucidated in the Bible. Short and sweet version- Men and Women are equal in value and dignity, but different in roles. Women, like a general to the president except being equal, are designed to be a helper.
Feminist theory or ideology is contrary to that belief.
Leaving other names, in the header, unmarked was not intentional. Mystique is not traditionally biblical coinage, nor has any religious ties.
I only dashed the title because I do not agree with Friedan’s position when defining the “Feminine Mystique” and how to protect it.
Does that make sense?