Christian Feminism.

I created the Denton Women's Collective in December of 2010. We have a Facebook page (here) that caught my attention today. A woman in the group shared a photo that she took from the Marcus High School paper. She told the group we had some work to do, and she was right.

If you're a skimmer, please, just don't skim this article. Skim my words, don't skim this picture. Read it. All of it. A girl wrote this. A girl wrote this. I emphasize "girl" because that is exactly what she is. Her brain is still forming. She is more vulnerable now than she ever will be. This sweet, innocent, impressionable girl thinks this way because people influenced her to think this way.

Ahh, Christianity. The topic gets my brain racing. I was baptized Episcopalian, confirmed Methodist, and taught Sunday School at the Unity Church in Norman during my college days. Lately I have been listening to weekly podcasts from Community Christian Church in Missouri, because I can't find a church in my proximity that articulates my religious views quite like this minister does. The sermons can be found here:

I have written about religion and spirituality a few times before...

Stages of Religious Development

Thoughts on Christianity

Let's Take a Look at Jesus

History of Our Observable Universe...In Awe

God Is The "Why," Science Is The "How"

When I read this article from the Marcus High School student, I felt my blood boil. I was mad. I wanted to wake this girl up to reality instantly and make her apologize to the feminist movement, specifically the women who are rolling in their grave, knowing their efforts to allow women to vote are not appreciated by at least one 2012 female.

But then I realized (thanks to my a comment made by my sister) that this was "...ridiculously sad and disturbing..." more so than infuriating. My sister just graduated Summa Cum Laude (so proud!), which also, wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the feminist movement. Speaking of smart females and the feminist movement, I don't think Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the US who obtained a MEDICAL DEGREE, would agree with the author of this article either. Furthermore, I think most women with a job and/or an education, would pity the high school student.

Personally, I don't believe that "God" or "Jesus" would be disappointed in Ms. Blackwell for obtaining a medical degree even though at that time, no woman had done it. I think He would be proud that there was one more doctor who could help in the country. Because God isn't sexist...but religion can be. And distorting God's message of love into a sexist agenda is dangerous.

My goal in blogging about this is to reach as many women as possible, who do love their religion. I consider myself a Christian, but would prefer to be called "Christ-like" than "Christ-ian" for many reasons. I firmly believe you can be a Jesus-loving, God-adoring CHRISTIAN WOMAN who is a FEMINIST. Allow me to explain. Give me a chance.

First of all, I'm fed up with people clinging to cherry-picked Bible verses. We all know the verse commonly used against gay marriage. Leviticus 18:22 says, "You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Okay, you can't argue that the Bible speaks out about gay marriage in that verse. I wish it didn't, but it does.

Here's the catcher. Leviticus 19:19 says, "I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments." Okay. Wow. Where do I begin? First of all, walk in a church.  I guarantee that is one of the best locations for you to go if you want to see pearls and costly jewelry, even some (gasp) BRAIDS in those halls. I feel as though either of these verses would be fine to incorporate in Christianity...but not both. It is not logical to believe one part of a chapter and not another. So you either believe both or you believe neither. If you believe that God is against gay marriage, you MUST believe that gold, pearls, and braids are just as bad. If you don't believe this, you at least must admit your lack of logic in exchange for fanaticism.

Oh, also, if you are a Christian against gay marriage but have a cross tattooed anywhere on your body (or any tattoo for that matter), you are also a walking hypocrisy, so maybe consider that cross meaning love and acceptance rather than blind faith. Because Leviticus 19:28 clearly states, "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord."  Oh, and you can't be a football playing Christian against gay marriage, nor can you be a meat-eating Christian, if you take the Bible literally. Because Leviticus 11:8 states, "You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you."

If you believe God created you (yes), then don't you believe He is responsible for that brain of yours (yes)? And it's ability to have complex thoughts and rotating perspectives (yes)? Wouldn't it be a slap in the face of any creator to not utilize one of the coolest functions? That'd be like inventing the iPhone and no users utilize having songs or text messages on their phone. What's the point of making such an awesome phone? In other words, why wouldn't God just have animals running this planet? As humans, we are given the gift of the brain, and I believe He wants us to put it in High Gear and figure out the deeper meaning while we have this awesome gift.

Back to the photo. And being a Christian feminist. Let's look at Bible verses that support Feminism.

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." Wow. This verse even includes JESUS, the most distinguishing factor between CHRISTIANITY and JUDAISM.  This makes me proud to be a Christian, because the Old Testament was BEFORE Jesus. New Testament was AFTER. And after the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord, Christ...after HIS coming to the world, the Bible tells us that there is no male or female in God's eyes because we are all ONE. What a beautiful and uplifting verse.

While searching furiously for more verses in support of feminism, I struggled because I came upon many sexist messages. But that was when I reminded myself of another fact, which the author of this article is probably unaware of. The Bible as we know it is not complete. There were passages that men (not Jesus, not God) decided to take out. The Bible was CENSORED by MEN. Just keep that in mind. In a time way after Jesus, but way before women's rights, men had control over religion. If from the beginning, half the population was ruled out for a chance of having a power position in the church, half the competition was eliminated. Which gave men a huge advantage. Fortunately, I know the Methodist and Unity churches don't apply the verses against women working in the church. I've always thought highly of these denominations.

When I stumbled upon a verse often used in weddings, I thought of it with a new meaning tonight. "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:6. Reading the two verses I've cited back to back sounds amazing to me, and is the basis of my Christian feminism. There is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And what therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. Let not MAN separate. Think about it. I choose to believe God is speaking to women, telling us that no man can separate the Oneness he created. We are one. No matter what an institution decides to say otherwise.

Also, I want the author of the book (and others who think this way) to realize the comments, "I believe the feminist outlook is just another argument that will never be won," and "...my place in society is following the footsteps of the man..."are masochistic. You are not only attempting to set the women's movement back (which fortunately, you'll never be able to do), you are holding yourself back. My heart goes out to you because at this point in your life, you don't know any different. You've only lived under your parents' roof. You've only heard what you've been forced to hear. You haven't chosen to hear another perspective yet. However, when you move away from your family and spread your wings (hopefully at college, which is socially acceptable thanks to the feminist movement), you will quickly realize what real life is. And when you vote for your conservative political official who stands up against gay marriage and stands up against abortion, you can thank the feminists who paved the way, giving you your right to vote.

I'm not going to lie...the imagery of the "good ol days" appeals to me. Thinking of a sweet great grandmother who served her family her entire life warms my heart, and I aspire to be a stay at home mother for at least a portion of my children's lives. However, as you also mentioned, it is very hard to live that way in this economy. Unless you are born extremely privileged (which if you were, Jesus calls you to give up all earthly treasures, so feel free to reallocate as necessary), you will have to work, sweet girl. And trust me... When you are married, and you come home after a 12 hour shift on your feet all day, you're not going to feel like you should submit to your husband, regardless of what he did. You're your own woman, your own person, and you're entitled to kick up your feet if you want to.

Or, like me, you could wake up at 5:15, go to work until 5:15, visit a friend in the hospital, do a senior photo shoot, and come home to your husband who you haven't seen all day. And then rather than spend time with him, find yourself furiously pounding away at the keyboard because the cause is just that important to you.

I hope this blogpost finds its' way to the author of this article at Marcus. And I hope she takes this as a bit of advice from one woman to another, but most importantly, from one Christian to another, looking out for her best interests. Don't follow fear because you're afraid. Follow the Lord, and follow YOUR passions (not anybody else's, including a man's), because you only have this one life. And to waste it out of a misconceived notion of required submissiveness would be a crying shame.