Feminism: How Do We Respond?
- The Philosopher
- Dec 9, 2016
- 3 min read
As a Christian, how do we handle Feminism? How do we respond to claims of discrimination? What does God expect from us? Is Feminism wrong because is defies the Bible's teaching in regards to women? Or is Feminism good but it values men and women equally? Does God care either way?
First question: Does God really care about how I respond to Feminism? Yes, absolutely; God wants us to live in accordance with His Word, and to seek Truth. So we need to understand what Truth is and whether Feminism complies with it. So ignoring the issue is out of the question; we have to figure out what the Bible teaches in regards to Feminism.
The challenge in trying to judge Feminism in any context is how broad the term is. Trying to decipher and organize all the different variations on the movement is complicated and confusing. So can we possibly find a Biblical way to interpret Feminism in it's broadest and most general form?
Yes.
Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
When we become a Christian, we become part of the body of Christ. And in God's kingdom, we are all sinners who have been redeemed and saved by the blood of the Lamb. There is no distinction, because none is necessary.
But we are not in heaven yet. The world does not follow God's statutes, nor are they part of His church. So, if we are not living in a world who respects and values both men and women, isn't Feminism good?
Well, no.
Because just as the world is not part of the Body, we are not of the world. Throughout the New Testament, we are taught to "die to self" What does that mean? It means that you are no longer your own priority. If someone walks up and hits you for no reason, most people would say you can hit them back. But why? To make it "fair"? To get revenge? To show them how it feels? None of these excuses are acceptable before the Lord. We are to turn the other cheek. But does turning the other cheek mean that the offender is right or justified in their action? By no means; rather it means that because you are a Christian, you put the eternal need of that person above the fact that you were wronged. You die to self and let it go.
How does this apply to Feminism? Well, we cannot deny that are times when women are discriminated against or taken advantage of. But is that what defines you? Hopefully not.
If you have put your faith in Christ Jesus, then His blood and salvation define you. Your purpose in life is become a light in our dark world and point people to the Lord. If you spend your time focusing on whether or not you've been wronged, ultimately you are focusing on yourself, not God. You are more concerned with making your voice heard and seeing to it that you are treated fairly, rather than making sure that the people in your life know Truth.
The message of Feminism may be that men and women should treated equally, but the reality is that Feminism is about you and what you think you deserve. Yes, things are not always fair or pleasant, but you're a fool if you think that's not true for every other person. Feminism screams that the "needs" and "rights" of women must be met, and anyone who disagrees is a selfish misogynist. But this is a lie. This is an attempt to lure women away from their higher calling: to serve their Lord and Savior in every aspect of their life, thus bringing Him glory and shining into a fallen world.
Is it wrong to believe that women should be treated with respect and paid fairly? No, of course not. Is wrong to make that belief the defining feature of your life? It is if you're a Christian. Feminism is a slippery slope that encourages women to think only of themselves, so I urge all Christians to resist the temptation to be seduced by this movement. Not because they are always wrong, but because the focus of their hearts is.
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