Scarlett O.:
Speaking as one of those evil feminists . .
My dear Scarlett,
Hopefully, you know I did not call you an evil feminist or even a feminist. With one exception, which had nothing to do with theology, I've never attacked anyone about anything and since you are one of my favorites and I so enjoy your posts ..
, I'll try to explain where I'm coming from.
As I see it feminism is a philosophy (woman --> does NOT = feminist) and has little or nothing to do with equal rights, justice, and
absolutely nothing to do with equal standing under God.
Please keep that in mind because it is absolutely integral to everything I am saying. A man is not superior to a woman, just equipped differently, which is what I had in mind when I said, "a mature, godly woman takes a back seat to NOBODY, regardless of what her role may be."
Scarlett O.:
If you want to blame women for the world going to hell in a handbasket, that's fine ... We do share in part of the blame ...
But you misunderstand, Scarlett darling (apologize, couldn't resist, Gone With The Wind is my favorite movie
). In fact I think the exact opposite, as I'll explain below. And I disagree about women having their fair share of the blame ... I think men are responsible for it all, and when the books are opened it will be men either 1) losing reward, if saved, or 2) receiving greater punishment, if unsaved. With the greater authority comes the greater responsibility.
Scarlett O.:
Women struggle with inner rebellion against men and sometimes act too bitter and angry with it ... But wouldn't you also say that men struggle with "entitlement" issues and sometimes act too condescending with it? ... Wouldn't you agree that the one struggle wickedly feeds the other one?
Yes, I would agree with those.
Scarlett O.:
Wouldn't you agree that if women stopped rebelling that men would stop acting as if they were somehow entitled to rule over women? And wouldn't you agree that if men acted more protectively and with more humility that women would behave more peaceably and more respectfully?
I think men should love their wives as Jesus Christ loves His church, as revealed in the Scriptures, and act accordingly. Otherwise, when exercising biblical authority outside of marriage it should be done in a godly way. Women, and men, should look to God, repent, ask His help in ejecting cultural, worldly influences that we have given permission to dominate us, and be constantly on guard for these influences that God has warned us to have nothing to do with - exactly as He has made clear from Genesis to Revelation. I believe that would do it.
Scarlett O.:
It's not the "evil" feminism that has warped our culture. Feminism, whether in its evil form or even its practical and wise form, rose as a response from something that existed before it that was not edifying to women.
I didn't imply that but I would technically agree, though there's much more to it. Feminism is but one of several hundred philosophies that make up our present culture, but it's predominant nature cannot be ignored in much of the Western world. I realize it is unpopular to use the term 'evil' these days but I am sold out to calling things what they are (given a great degree of certainty), especially evil, just as our Lord did. We can use 'ungodly', which is softer, or 'unbiblical' or 'wrong' which is softer still - but I don't see the point when talking to other Christians, since we're not trying to please the world.
I'm not sure what you mean by feminism's "wise form" but I suspect we are not far apart on that, mostly terminology. But though I'm open to the idea, I see nothing wise about feminism.
Feminism is either partly or largely responsible for the proliferation of such things as the destruction of the family, homosexuality, abortion - to name just a few of the
major ones. There are many minor products of it - for example, the 'nerdization' of at least two generations of men. In describing a key entity responsible for those things, far from being harsh, I think 'evil' is the appropriate word.
Feminism appeals directly to human pride, and both men and women are affected by it. For example, that's where the "entitlement and condescension" element comes from - pride - and as a man that's the battle I had and the temptation I constantly watch for. I didn't have it bad, but Satan is very fond of using it and it can come, and usually does, from nothing more than reading Genesis. It precedes feminism of course, by thousands of years, but feminization has exacerbated it greatly, making it much worse of a problem. Listening to you ladies, it must be much worse than I realize (I've avoided threads on this subject until this one).
Scarlett O.:
... But men have their fair share of the blame, too.
Much more than our fair share. The evangelical church is into full-blown apostasy and few in the church are even aware of it. The leaven from which this apostasy arose can be traced back some 200 years but was symptomatic in the early 20th century and has
exploded in growth the past 25 years. Sure, Satan has been and IS NOW working harder than ever to destroy the church, God is sovereign over all, and everything is right on schedule. But I can't think of a woman who bears any responsibility for it - Jesus gave the leadership of His church, and its inherent responsibility, to men.
So, the culprit of the friction you have been talking about in this thread is .. pride, both within and without feminism. Nothing is really new under the sun.
Deeper still, feminism has, at its core, a bold and direct defiance of Jesus Christ. It says, "
I dont care how you made me or what you intended or made me for
I will do and be what
I want to be and live the way
I want to live." That's why I doubt many regenerate women are actually 'real' feminists, though they think they are.
Though
the similarity ends there, this core-level defiance is virtually the same as the defiance of homosexuality, as homosexuality says, similarly, "
I dont care how you made me or what you intended ....". NOTE: I AM NOT SAYING the two are remotely the same, except to the extent they share that core characteristic.
Finally, like most evil influences, feminism comes well disguised, and that's why I previously said "Since there is no choice but to interact with feminized culture I greatly empathize with Christian women today." I would hope that for most people that is a chilling thought, and I pray for everyone to consider the danger and "take stock under God" as Oswald Chambers would say. Time is short.
[
Please excuse my straightforward 'tone of warning'. That is the work the Lord has called me to do, and I don't have the luxury of mincing words, as these are life and death matters.]
These are perilous times and the simple message, I believe, for all of us right now, myself first, is the same and will often apply across the board to other issues: Repent, look to God, confess, walk in the light, watch (for ungodly and unbiblical influences, deceptions of every kind, and for the Lord Himself) and pray, and watch and pray, and watch and pray ....
God Bless.
I've only read up to your post here, and had to say that!
