Christ for Femenism

An argument for female leadership and an end to gender-based oppression within Christianity.

There are several Bible verses which seem to indicate that the ‘traditional’ gender roles are a decree from God. That a woman should get married, have a family, and take care of the kids. That women should take a back-seat to men as the weaker gender. One verse says that women should cover their heads, another that they should not speak in church but rather ask their husbands any questions they have after they get home.

The Catholic church and many other denominations do not allow women to hold clergy/ministry positions. They cannot preach or lead or help make important decisions. For centuries culture and religion have said that woman cannot, and should not, do everything a man can do.

This is wrong. Christians should never use Bible verses to legitimize oppression based on gender. Today, we would all agree that slavery is wrong, and God does not condone it. Yet Christian slave owners used Bible verses to uphold their ownership of human property. It took a war to put a stop to it.

Things have been changing, but the problem isn't fixed yet. We need to stop the church from oppressing women and silencing their voices, for several very Biblical reasons.

Women were leaders in the first century church. They did not take a back-seat role, but were directly involved in preaching, teaching and leading. Lydia is one example, she was an independent merchant, and a church met in her household. Women such as Phoebe were church deacons, something that is not allowed in many churches today. Non-Biblical sources from the same time period also mention female Christian leaders, even female slaves who were deacons in their church.

The Church is often referred to as the ‘bride’, as a woman. Who better to lead, then, than women? If the church is to live out the qualities of an expectant bride-to-be, the women are the best leadership example, not men.

Jesus worked to free the oppressed, and came to reach all people not matter what their station in life. He spoke with social outcasts as if they belonged and lifted people out of the dark place a cruel society had force them into. He fought oppression. When the church denies women equality with men and leadership positions, it oppresses them. This is contrary Jesus’ life and teaching.

We hear that all are equal in Christ. Therefore, women share equal status with men

Jesus taught men and women equally (Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well) in a time when society said a religious teacher should not be seen speaking to a woman.

Women took care of the disciples needs and were an integral part of Jesus’ ministry, as much as their culture would allow. Jesus did not prevent women from holding leadership roles, the culture did.

Document analysis shows that the parts of the Pauline letters which tell women to be silent and submissive were most likely added to the text at a later date and not written by Paul at all. Additionally, those parts of the text are difficult to translate accurately. The subservient position of women, the oppression of one gender by another, is an invention of the hierarchical, organized church corrupted by power, and not part of Jesus’ teaching or the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.


Oppression of Patriarchy: A Lesson for Fathers

When the church says:
Women must be silent.
Your daughter hears:
I am not worth listening to.
When the church says:
Men must lead, a woman cannot.
Your daughter hears:
There is something wrong with me.
When the church says:
Submit to your husband.
Your daughter hears:
My opinion does not matter.
When the church says:
Women cannot teach men.
Your daughter hears:
I am stupid because I am a girl.
When the church says:
Only men can be elders or deacons.
Your daughter hears:
Nothing I do will ever be good enough.
When the church says:
Men are strong.
Your daughter hears:
I am weak.
When the church says:
Family is the point of marriage, you should settle down and have children.
Your daughter hears:
There are no opportunities for me. My skills and talents are pointless.

What do you want your daughter to hear?
If you want your daughter to have a strong faith, teach her to lead the debate against learned men.
If you want you daughter to be sure of herself, teach her to lead men and women equally.
If you want your daughter to love, teach her to lead others in righteous paths.
If you want your daughter to have high self esteem, teach her not to let anyone talk down to her. Not even a preacher.
If you want your daughter to know she is worthy, teach her to speak and applaud her words.
If you want your daughter to live free of shame, teach her that she is the equal of a man.
Or else you crush her soul with the weight of your arrogance and pride.