AP

The Dangers of Feminism

Many Christian women are falling victim to the allure of feminism. There is a lack of clarity from Christians, especially from Christian male leaders, on this topic, often because they’re afraid of offending people.

What is feminism?

The core values of feminism are:

• the rejection of traditional roles of a woman (wife, mother, and homemaker)
• the rejection of patriarchy
• pursuing independence by chasing a career

We will consider each of these points and what our Lord has to say about them.

Patriarchy

The Western world says it’s time for women to throw off the shackles of oppressive patriarchy.

But God instituted a patriarchal system: our God is our Heavenly Father (not our Heavenly Mother/Parent); Jesus Christ our Lord is a man (not a woman or gender-neutral); and the head of every woman is a man (1 Cor. 11:3).

There may be no shortage of men who abuse women within the God-given patriarchal system. However, our God, who is a consuming fire, has vowed that his anger will burn against those who mistreat vulnerable women (Hebrews 12:29; Exodus 22:22-24).

But the fact still stands: God designed the patriarchy; to be against patriarchy as such is to be against God. 

Roles of women

Women are not to pursue their own selfish ambitions, but to fulfil their God-given roles.

Instead of listening to our gender-confused world, let us heed God’s Word on the roles of women in creation, marriage, the family and the church:

In creation, God created Eve to be a helper. Women are to help people in showing hospitality, serving in humble ways, caring for the afflicted and devoting themselves to every good work. (1 Timothy 5:10). The Lord is described as Israel’s helper and to be a helper is a great privilege (Psalm 33:20). 

In marriage, women are to respectfully submit in everything to their husbands, and husbands to lovingly lead their wives as Christ leads his church (Ephesians 5:22-33).

In the family, women are to love their husbands and children, and be homemakers (Titus 2:4-5).

In the family of Christ, the church, women are to be spiritual mothers to younger Christians. (1 Timothy 5:2). Women are to teach and admonish others, in all wisdom – but not to teach or to be in authority over men (Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:11-15).

However, it is understandable for women to be hesitant about submitting to a man, because this is part of God’s curse (Genesis 3:16), and there are hardly any men who are worth submitting to.

Nowadays we have male feminists who try to appease women. Some may have good intentions, but many have ulterior motives in trying to get something out of women (let the reader understand). Women should be acutely wary of the motives behind any showy activism by feminist men.

In contrast, it is a joyful duty to wholeheartedly submit under the Lordship of Jesus, the God-man who loved sinners so much that he gave up his life to pay for their sins.

Independence

God said it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18).

God designed various relationships – marriage, family, friendships and the church – since he knows people need other people. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Since God designed us to be dependent on each other, to pursue independence is to rebel against God. The essence of sin is to be independent of God and how he wants us to live.

Our feminist world encourages women to prioritise climbing up the corporate ladder in the pursuit of such independence, to the detriment of their relationships.

“I don’t need no man – I don’t need anyone” is a proud catch cry. Our feminist world dupes women to believe they can be independent.

Heed the Lord’s words: Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:8). Those who live independent lives may have no one to help them when they fall (Ecclesiastes 4:10). The applause of society will not make up for the lack of true companionship.

Kirsten Birkett’s The Essence of Feminism is a good starting point, and from the Bible 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:33b-35; and Ephesians 5:22-33 need to be examined faithfully.

‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect’ (Romans 12:2).

– Patrick Jason