Feminism In Christ

The Plight of Feminist Philosophy

How is it that when women leave their jobs for their husbands they're setting back societal advancements, but if they leave work to spend more time with their children or to pursue a different dream it's more acceptable? Feminism is a stinky fish wrapped in silver and bows and we swallow it hook line and sinker. Women want to bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, clean the pan, and ensure everyone has had enough. Meanwhile, men are bringing home bacon, or not. They're frying it up when they want, or not. They're not cleaning it up, and don't have to bother too much with whether or not anyone has had their fill except him. There's a remarkable imbalance and women are tipping the scales to be lopsided against their favor. How peculiar. Are feminists on acid or what? Actually, what is considered feminism is really just a dogmatic approach to human survival, pushing symbiosis of the male / female species into a tailspin and its out of control.

Biblical Standard

Let's go back to the garden. Depending on how we view it, the story of Eden is told twice in two different ways. In the first narrative God makes male and female on the sixth day and doesn't mince words about the order or how it's done or anything like that. He just makes them. In the second account Eve is actually taken from Adam's rib after God recognizes that Adam needs a mate because he is lonely. Okay, let me confess that I like the first narrative better. The idea that men and women were created with equal status in the eyes of God brings joy to my heart. I like to believe the God of the universe was not unclear on the notion that if Adam had been alone in the earth there would be no one else, ever. Maybe that was the intent at first, but I don't think so. In the second narrative God is still not demeaning Eve, or womankind at all. He takes her from the rib of the man so that she can be his partner with equal footing and purpose. Perhaps there would be different purposes, but neither purpose would be less important than the other.

Proverbs 31

If we explore the Bible text more we can see that western ideas about how women should interact with the world around them do not match the biblical standard. I know it's socially acceptable in Christian circles for women to stay home and take care of the house and children, but Old Testament tradition contradicts this ideology. For example, Abraham's servant found Isaac's Rebecca doing work, Jacob found Rachel at work, Boaz noticed Ruth while she was working. In all of these instances the Bible never mentions that the work ever stopped. In fact, the Proverbs 31 woman is so misunderstood because in western culture it's biblical not to work, but this woman is a workaholic. The woman is in real estate, farming, she cooks and cleans, makes her clothes and her children's clothes. She volunteers to help the needy, brings in a second income, and is constantly meeting her husband's needs, whatever they may be. She's kind and has a good reputation everywhere. She owns her own clothing line, keeps an optimistic outlook, and never has idle hands. My goodness, I get tired just reading it. If all women were like her how would earth be? She's amazing, but she's not only a stay home mom. She's also not only a working mom. She does it all.

The Real Problem

Is this the heart of the "feminist" movement? Are women really begging to be Proverbs 31 women while men rail against it asking them to just get in the background and do nothing except please them and keep house? Why would that make men feel better? The answers to that are another blog, but in this context I would contend that the reason there is a feminist movement is that men have deliberately kept women from fully excelling in their God-given gifts and strengths. This requires that women fight to be the partners they were created to be. Men are getting trampled in the fight as women take roles in everything. Jobs and roles that have traditionally been attributed to men are being filled by women. While men are taking jobs and roles that have traditionally been filled by women. The question must be, does that matter? Have we missed the point of God's creation of male and female? The point was to compliment each other. Men and women are supposed to work in tandem to accomplish life's goals of continuing human existence. Fighting for the right to do that is a hinderance to God's original plan. And, it's unnecessary. What man in his right mind would say to his life partner, "No, I don't want you to help me." What woman in her right mind would say to her life partner, "No, I don't want to walk in my gifts and fulfill any calling." The fight is mostly about acknowledgement and relevance.

Perfect Symbiosis

As men and women we must be focused and diligent about letting our partners know how valuable their efforts are to us. Whatever the couple does to accomplish the goal of continuing humanity and maintaining its success in the universe, they should show overwhelming appreciation to one another as they work together to reach it. How do couples do this? Sit together and assess each other's strengths honestly. Look at the ways you compliment one another. Begin to consider these your own attributes. Remember, the biblical standard is that you have become one. If your spouse owns a strength so do you. On the other hand, if they own a weakness so do you. Your strengths blot out their weaknesses and therefore together your are as solid as a rock. Celebrate this by working together. Whatever your life's goals have been up to this point, try to disregard them. Instead, make your "couple goal" sustaining the viability of humanity. Go about centering your life around this purpose peacefully.

Adjust The Goal

Of course, money and materialism have become the goal. In fact, in our eyes if someone has lots of stuff; big, expensive stuff, we think they are successful. We've been conditioned to think this way because if we're not engaging in this process, our economy, and therefore society, would come apart at its seams. But, in keeping our eyes on that ball we've allowed the other to drop. So, humanity is a mess while money gets as much attention as possible. We need to take a step back and re-evaluate our work. Men and women need to work together, not war against each other, to correct societal ills, realign our mission, and put humanity back on track.