Chapter number two of my small group book, section one = "Pretty in Print." This section was about how as women we have fought so hard for so long for equal rights, that we may have swung the pendulum too far in the opposite direction, and how do we have biblically based femininity in a post feminist world? The author asserts and I agree, that we may have robbed our gender of the uniqueness we've been created to exhibit and experience by our zest to be 100% equal. Do I agree with this as much as I would guess most Christian women do? NO WAY...I'm a pretty darn liberal, feminist for being a Christian conservative. How's that for irony? ;) But I like how she says "You are a paradox - a potent mixture that surprises with your controlled energy, who inspires and entices by your mysterious grace, whose lifestyle causes others to reconsider and refocus their presuppositions, drawing them toward the God who makes a woman so rich, deep and captivating." That's exactly how I feel actually...a potent mixture of paradoxes. A woman wanting to be seen as equal, but treated tenderly and yielding.
In this section she asks: What Biblical principles of womanhood strike you as stifling or repressive? Why do you think you feel that way?
The only thing that I can think of is not specifically a principle, but the way I've watched women (I think) misguidedly apply them to their lives. I've seen women hide behind who God calls us to be as women and use those thing to justify not being strong, or standing up for ourselves. I've seen women continue down destructive paths, using "This is how God wants me to be as a women," as an excuse to not be strong as well. Yes we are supposed to yield at times unconditionally, but one of my other favorite versus is Proverbs 26:11 - "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness." God has used this verse with me in the past and I'm returning to it now again in my life, that you can forgive people, but if they continue and continue with the same behavior that you've repeatedly forgive them for, and return to their vomit so to speak...I don't have to keep returning with them. I don't have to wait to be hurt again and again and again, hiding behind "Oh but this is who God wants me to be."
"It's Good to be a Girl," section two. So...God has made us unique from men and we're supposed to play a specific role. Problem is, most of us Christian women have no clue what that looks like! I know for a long time I had no clue and I still struggle with it. Few places in our life is our Godly knowledge, or lack thereof, more noticeable then with our understanding of the Biblical definition of womanhood. How are we to be aware of what this faith entails, if we are not aware of God's intention for creating us fantastic creatures? I personally believe that the secular world has a HUGE misconception about how God desires a woman to be seen in the world. This is due to lack of understanding of His word. If we look at Genesis 1:27, it says you were created in God's likeness, "God created man in His own image...He created them male and female." We as women are worth no less then our male counterparts, clearly different, but only in function, not in value. I agree with the author, that "The false perception that an inequality of value exists between men and women has caused many women to be taken advantage of."
God never meant for us to be less then men. Sin made things messy and that was somehow the message that was passed down, however never His intention. His belief is that we are good, necessary, important and worthy.
The Lord has placed each of us where we are right now and the circle of those around us are in NEED of each of us. You my dear sweet thing, are not an addendum or a last minute after-thought. Without you, much would be lacking! How's that for awesome? I think He kind of fancies us!! I should bookmark that to read...you know...33 seconds from now when I am struggling to believe it myself! Not only did God never intend for us to be second rate, when Jesus came, he tried to redeem His intentions. Look at John, where Jesus engages the woman at the well. He not only engages her, but invites her opinions on issues that women were not expected to have any knowledge on during that time. Despite culture's dislike for women at that time, Jesus treated her like a person of intelligence, someone who mattered, and someone who was worthy of him.
The question asked of this section was: How do you raise daughters to be ambitious, educated, and sure of themselves while at the same time help them appreciate the rewards and blessings of submission.
Well hot diggity... heck if I know! When I think of that, I think "Ask my friend Joey!" Her daughter Jayna
Section three: "Role Reversal." The title of this section is a little off in my opinion as I took the section as less about role reversal and more about why submission is not a bad thing! It talks about the referee in a football game, and how without the limitations, rules and guidelines, the game and the players talents would be in chaos. A metaphor I've heard plenty of times before, in relation to God's rules for our lives. In this section it relates to relationships, and not just marital relationships, but submission and authority in relationships in general. Human relationships were not designed to be constant struggles for power and strength, but rather self-controlled acceptance of clearly outlines roles. I truly believe that this is true and the environment where our strengths can be best used. As crazy as it sounds, I do believe that submission is where we find ultimate freedom.
By keeping ourselves within the divine roles of submission, to LEGITIMATE authority, that's where we find ourselves inside the most protective covering of the Lord. When we're not, when we're fighting for our own power to be displayed where ever and when ever we so desire, that's when we see our strengths, coursing through our nature and personality, we find our inability to yield to authority established by God. The hardest part I think is when that authority is not legitimate and abusing the powers entrusted to them by God. Each must still, even then, respect the position, regardless of how inadequate we believe that person to be carrying out their job. There's obviously limitations to this, that the author touches on later.
Here's where I think she addresses the "Role Reversal" of the section. "And while some of these rights have been worth defending, such movements have primarily been crusades to position women not only on equal footing with men but above men - in some cases above God Himself." In these times, we fail to realize that our most powerful right of all is to yield to appropriate authority with dignity. I do see a society where women have gone above the authority of men and men have passively neglected their roles as leaders. I think this is because somewhere along the lines we were told that submission meant waving our white flag and fading into some lesser way of living. When that's not what it is at all...it's working within the confines of the best ways to display your strengths.
Back to the misuse of authority...Those that misuse their authority WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD, and have to answer to how wisely, carefully, devotedly and Biblically they handled their roles as well. However, this does not even sort of ascertain that you must submit to anyone who leads you into sin or is abusive toward you. If your conscience is questioning if this is God's will, versus a simple issue of pride, use proper discernment.
I will champion God's model for womanhood in the face of a post feminist culture.
