Practical Feminists

"For those who may hesitate from calling themselves a feminist, I dare you to think about the ways in which you may already be living and breathing the values of feminism in your daily life." - Quote from a confessing feminist -

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." ~ Proverbs 14:1

What follows was written by a christian woman.

Pinning feminism down to a single definition is extremely difficult, if not impossible. There are almost as many definitions for feminism as there are feminists, since many of the men and women involved in feminist issues disagree philosophically, theologically and over the application of their beliefs.

Webster’s dictionary defines feminism thus:

fem·i·nism

Function: noun

Date: 1895

1. the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes

2. organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests

If truth is whatever you make it, then it is pointless to argue at all. Each individual can live in her own little cosmos of self-created logic and must therefore allow all other "truths" to co-exist peacefully. This is a logical and moral impossibility, of course.

There is no such thing as a universally "tolerant" individual or society. If we have to tolerate all forms of behavior, then we must welcome the lawbreaker and treat him with the same respect and courtesy we do the law-keeper.
After all, law cannot be absolute if we all get to define truth for ourselves.

Germaine Greer writes that the "women’s libbers" of the 1970s "sought the world over for clues to what women’s lives could be like if they were free to define their own values, order their own priorities and decide their own fate."

The simple answer is that women’s lives (and men’s!) would be chaotic if each individual were "free" to define her own values. An individual can no more peacefully exist in a self-created law-order than a society can adequately restrain crime when all laws and values are up to individual choice and interpretation.

But if there is one unchanging Standard for Truth, Logic and Reason, we have a moral obligation to study that Standard and conform ourselves to it. Instead of defining ourselves, we can confidently allow the Standard to define us.

We oppose that feminism which cries out against a perceived "oppressive patriarchy" and insists men and women are the same in all areas of life.

We also oppose any other forms of feminism that seek to redefine womanhood apart from the Word of God. Believing in the coherence, infallibility, inspiration and applicability of the Scriptures does not make us women who are "victims of the patriarchy" and who turn off their brains or blindly follow religious dogmas. Rather, we believe that, without an unchanging Standard of Truth, there can be no consistent logic, coherent thought or reasoned debate in the first place.

Feminism - any philosophy, teaching or practice that seeks to conform womanhood to its own (human and therefore fallible) standard.

There is one Definer of maleness and femaleness and His definition (as Creator of the human race) is perfect.

Feminism began in the Garden of Eden--not in 18th-century France or 19th-century New England.

The serpent invited our first mother to question God’s ability to define her--"Hath God said…?" (Genesis 3:1).

This is the heart of feminism today.

When we point out the fallacies and foibles of feminism, we do so first by looking in the mirror. There is feminism, staring back at us.

Feminism is nothing less than rebellion against God’s created order, and all of us are guilty of that rebellion in some degree.

Paul tells us that we are to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5). In every single area of life, we are to strive to capture all thoughts and bring them under the subjection of Christ’s law-word. We must seek to root out the remnants of the sin nature which is "crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20) and "die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31) to our own selfish desires. As we strive in our own lives (through the help of the Holy Spirit--never in our own strength) to conquer sin and obey God’s Word, we are also to admonish others to do the same.

God calls older women to "teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:4-5).

And He calls all of us as Christians to "cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (II Cor. 10:5).

Patriarchy does not deny the personhood of women. Adhering to a Biblical vision of womanhood does not make a woman a non-person. Rather, a full-orbed understanding of womanhood as God defines it affirms the uniqueness of the woman and her place as co-regent of the human race.

Feminists (in the broadest sense) have claimed for years that they are the sole champions of women’s rights, health, safety and mental well being.

This is simply not true. Look into any area of life, and you will find that God’s Law was already there and already extending protection to women--married, single, widowed, destitute.

Property rights? Numbers 27:7 & 8 has that covered, along with Proverbs 31:14 & 16 and Deuteronomy 21:15-17.

Inheritance rights for daughters? See Numbers 27:7 & 8 and 36:8, along with Genesis 48:5 & 6.

Education for women? The foolish (unwise) woman in Scripture is roundly condemned from cover to cover. The ideal woman is wise (Prov. 31:26), clever (Esther 4:16 & 17), prudent (Prov. 19:14), diplomatic (I Samuel 25), able to make serious decisions capably (Prov. 31:16), able to manage all that is entrusted to her (Prov. 31:15, 27) and able to teach others (Titus 2:4,5).

You just don’t find brainless women upheld as models in the Bible. What about protection from bodily harm? Just read all of the legal punishments in Exodus 21 for the abuse of a subordinate, then turn over to Ephesians 5:28 & 29, where husbands are commanded to love their wives exactly as Christ loved the Church. There is no room for abuse (mental or physical) in that picture, and the Church is to serve as a refuge for those fleeing evil.

We want to strip away the mask from that ancient "father of lies," who seeks to convince us that we must make ourselves in our own image and disbelieve what the Creator has called "good."

Instead of the insidious "Hath God said?" of the serpent, we invite you to consider the "And God said!" of the Biblical worldview. True freedom and true contentment abide in the unchanging Definer of humanity. Created in His image, our hearts find rest when they rest in Him.

Mrs. Chaney

Adam the Feminist -- Hahahahaha

GENESIS 3:11-12: And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

Seriously...
I hope the men that are reading this don't actually say things like this in real lfe.

We (men) cannot blame women for all the world's ills even though Adam gave us a great example of how to do it.

The dirty little secret that no one ever wants to talk about is how men use their "spiritual authority" to abuse their families and hide their own sin.

Here is one such testimony.

A bit before my husband's sin was revealed, he began making statements in front of the children and myself about women not being as important/valuable as men. He even tried to use something out of the OT about men being paid more for a day's work than women or children as "proof" that men were more important.

He began saying things like, "Women are here just to serve men," right in front of my boys (8 and 11 at the time) and my oldest daughter (14 at the time). He began to start bizarre arguments over things like whether furniture should be a few inches away from a wall or pushed up right against
it, with the intent to try to force his way. Once, when we were trying to finish various leftovers for dinner, he was ready to mix some plains peas in with the mixed vegetables and I asked him not to so I could eat the peas as they are my favorite vegetable. He spent an hour going at me with statements like, "Women are to submit to their husbands," and "You need to obey me," etc.

The children and I finally got up and left the table. (I'm sure some of you are making judgments right now without having been there, thinking something like, "She must have been rebellious or he wouldn't have done that, " or
something along those lines. WRONG!)

Men who think and act like this are sinful and dysfunctional. They are not treating their wives as "heirs together in the grace of life." We are not talking about a woman trying to run the family (the "two-headed freak" that
was alluded to). We are talking about a Christlike relationship with each member submitting to the other in true love.

Men who desire to use women as objects must think they are inferior in order to try to justify what they do. In other words, if a man has a proper and Godly view of women, he will not be using pornography, will not attempt to satisfy only his needs, will not abuse the children, etc. Men who think this way think only of themselves in direct opposition to Scripture that tells us to esteem others better than ourselves, to treat others as we would like to be treated, etc. They are sociopaths.

Pilgrim the Insignificant

Pilgrim, what happened to this lady? Did the husband ever repent and be reconciled with his family?

I agree, there are dysfunctional husbands as well as wives - neither has a monopoly on rebellion, pride or ego. To blame another for their sin is refusing to turn to the LORD for enabling power to overcome. When one plays the blaming game he/she is doomed to live a life of defeat.

A story:

A man I know quite well, was very controlling, allowing anger to control his reactions to life. He was estranged from his children although they did try to work with him because he was their dad but the relationship was fraught with distrust and grief.

The fellow fell last winter requiring hospitalization. But his health did not permit surgery - he was 89 YO, too old to fix what needed fixing. He was in dire pain...

One day as his daughter was wheeling him away from physical therapy he launched into this spiel of how he wishes the LORD would take him home, oh! how he wants to die. Then his daughter in a stern voice said, "Dad, if you do not repent of your sin, you will never get to see Jesus!"

A day or so later, he started to make apologies to his son, to his daughter...and they forgave him.

The daughter said, "Sandra, I have never seen such affection pass between R**** and dad like I did then. It is wonderful. I now feel at peace with his passing - I know he is with the LORD Jesus."

He had his SIL preach an evangelistic sermon at his funeral and two cousins made known that they are reconsidering their non-relationship with the LORD.

I am seeing evidences of the Holy Spirit bringing about reconciliation between old people and their children. Wonderful! As long as there is life there is hope. PTL

ginnyrose

I am curious what happened to the lady that pilgrim mentioned also?

Ginnyrose that was a very encouraging story thank you for sharing it.

God Bless
mj

Hey I got something better than worrying about feminists!

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

I believe if men would obey this scripture then the feminists would become extinct.

Amen, I am all for strong leadership in the home, but there is no stronger leadership than when two become one and the husband is LOVING the wife and the wife RESPECTING her husband. That will keep the hedge up against the enemy.

Pilgrim

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her own hands.

Christian women cannot effectively begin to build and strengthen their families if they do not discern some of the key lies that are cleverly interwoven into our culture today. Sadly, these lies have pervaded our churches and homes as well and many biblical lines have been blurred. Feminism has distinctly played a key role is disguising these falsehoods as truth and deceiving too many unsuspecting families.

When Christian women and men believe and embrace these obvious perversions to the scripture we end up with a problem...

We now have given birth to what is known as 'Christian feminism' in the church.

This is dangerous because it teaches Christian women the opposite of scripture. It does not seek to build their homes but instead tears it down. The world uses every medium of communication to dispose their misleading forgeries upon unsuspecting families, but we must be wise to discern our lifestyles and philosophies today- especially among the body of Christ.

Pastor William Einwechter shares his thoughts on six areas where we have strayed from biblical norms in his article The Feminization of the Family:

"The feminization of the family is seen in at least six areas:

First, marriage has been destabilized, and divorce is rampant. Feminism’s “diabolization of marriage” has made divorce “socially and psychologically more acceptable by the idea that it is a reasonable response to a defective and dying institution.” The biblical teaching that marriage is a divine and covenantal institution that binds a man and woman together for life by a sacred vow (Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 19:3-9) has been repudiated by modern society. The biblical concept has been replaced with the notion that marriage is a mere human institution, an imperfect one at that, and that divorce is a reasonable way to deal with any misery associated with it.

Second, male headship in the family has been replaced by an “egalitarian” arrangement where the husband and wife “share” in the leadership responsibilities of the family. The scriptural idea that the man is head of the family (1 Cor. 11:3-12; Eph. 5:22-23) and lord of his household (1 Pet. 3:5-6) is considered by feminists to be both tyrannical and barbaric, a vestige of primitive man and his ability to physically dominate his spouse. In our day, the overwhelming majority of both men and women scoff at the notion that the wife should submit to her husband’s authority.

Third, the man as provider has been rejected for a new model of joint economic responsibility. The view of our time is that the man is no more responsible than the woman to provide for the financial needs of the family. Feminists believe that the scriptural teaching the man is the family provider (1 Tim. 5:9) is part of a male conspiracy to hold women down by making them economically dependent on men.

Fourth, the women as a full-time homemaker is scorned, and the working woman who seeks fulfillment and independence in employment outside of her home is now a cultural norm. The biblical mandate that a woman be a “keeper at home” (Titus 2:4-5) is either unknown or unheeded. Feminist-minded folks consider it to be a demeaning thing for a woman to stay at home and confine her work to the sphere of her house and her family. A career is considered more suitable and meaningful for today’s wife and mother.

Fifth, the biblical norm of a woman as a nurturer of children has been replaced by the feminist ideal of a working mother who places her children in “daycare” so that she can pursue other important matters. The responsibility of motherhood is seen in far different terms than it was in the past. The biblical call to the mother to be with her children, to love, train, teach, and protect them (1 Tim. 2:15; 5:14) is rejected for the feminist vision of the woman who is freed from such constraints on her individuality and own fulfillment.

Sixth, the idea that a large family is a “blessing” is rejected for notion that a small family of one or two children (and for some, no children at all) is far better. The concept of “family planning” geared at reducing the number of children in the home is advocated by nearly all. The biblical teaching that a large family is due to God’s blessing and sovereignty (Ps. 127; 128) is despised by modern families, even those claiming to be Christian. The feminist’s view that we determine the number of children we will have, that we are sovereign over such matters is now accepted with hardly a question. Of course, this supposed sovereignty over life and birth leads to a justification of abortion, the ultimate birth control."

We need to take a closer look at what is accepted as normative society today and see how it parallels with Scripture.

And in the spirit of Proverbs 31 and Titus 2,

we must be able to defend scripture and the biblical family
even if it means taking a stand against this world and it's misleading fallacies and understand that our silence is
surrender. by Mrs. Fuente

----------------------

Oh, Mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your life is sweet and clean.--JR Miller

Feminism is a problem in our society, Agreed

savannah, I ask how do you feel Christians should properly handle the problem??

"savannah, I ask how do you feel Christians should properly handle the problem??"

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in every thing. For the man was not created for the womans sake: but the woman for the mans sake. If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. Preach the Word, be urgent in season, out of season, convict, warn, encourage with all long-suffering and teaching. For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, they will heap up to themselves teachers tickling the ear; and they will turn away the ear from the truth and will be turned aside to myths. Upholding the faithful word according to the teaching, that he may be able to entreat with sound teaching as well as to expose those who contradict.
1 Tim. 5:14;Titus 2:3-5;Matt.28:20;Eph.5:22-24;1 Cor.11:9;1 Cor.14:37;2 Tim.4:2-4;Titus 1:9

savannah, I ask how do you feel Christian men properly should handle the problem.

Shoving ones personel interpataion of scripture down peoples throats and threating warning of possable curses for those who do not interpet the scripture the same, sure seems to be of none effect.

This whole subject is a bit amusing to me and yet sad. For feminism is really a jail break from the oppressiveness of what society has done to keep women out of the workplace as well as putting ties on women, more than men, within the church. Feminists that I hear talk usually talk about how fundamentalism seeks to keep a woman in a box because they are somehow responsible for causing men to sin.

There is a blogger who talks about this and she posted a picture of 2 guys on a small motorcycle in the middle east. Both of them were passing a woman in a burka and turned their heads towards her. One was looking up at her as in her facial area while the other was looking downward. I believe the blogger was emphasizing that it doesn't matter what a woman wears because guys are going to look anyway and blame women on their problems. The rational is just amusing.

And proudpapa and DEADn,

What savannah is getting at is Christian women *SHOULD NOT* work outside the home or engage in "worldly" education beyond high school (i.e. college). In some "patriarchal" circles, 8th grade is enough! This could imply that too much "education" makes them rebellious.

Pilgrim

by pilgrim777 on 2012/7/16 9:15:26

And proudpapa and DEADn,

What savannah is getting at is Christian women *SHOULD NOT* work outside the home or engage in "worldly" education beyond high school (i.e. college). In some "patriarchal" circles, 8th grade is enough! This could imply that too much "education" makes them rebellious.

Pilgrim

How fundamental shall we get with the bible on these issues and then who holds men accountable for violating their own biblical roles?

Could imply that too much education makes them rebellious? Amusing, does that imply that men don't get rebellious with education? Another point to ponder, when does a man then become rebellious?

This type of thinking is mostly an issue of control proceeding from an attitude of fear. I have some friends who have 4 daughters and 1 boy. The boy was treated like a King in the house and many of the disciplines put on the daughters were not required of the boy. The girls were compliant outwardly and may have been compliant inwardly, too (God knows). They did not pursue more education outside of high school, primarily because the father would no longer provide a roof over their head if they did. He would even cut them off in other ways. They cooked, knitted, made baskets, wore long dresses, worked in their father's fields, etc. Meanwhile the boy was lazy, getting into pornography at the neighbors, drinking whiskey, and doing some other unmentionable things. I was called by his Dad to come over to their house and "minister" to the boy a few times (with the father present). I won't go into those details but it was clear to me that the boy did not care at all for his mother and father let alone God. The sessions we had were not successful because the young man was basically unrepentant and extremely hard-hearted (age 15) and just not at the place yet in his life where he needed to be in order to be helped by the Lord. He plainly did not care about anyone and was extremely selfish and self-centered.

He had every advantage a son would love to have. A father who was home all the time (had a very successful chicken and farming business) and wanted to be involved in his son's life.

Since that time about 2 years ago, 3 daughters have married which is a good thing because they would have stayed under their father's authority until they did get married or were willing to leave the house and support themselves (even if they were still in their 30's). Only problem is that they were never allowed to work outside the home or further their education, so they basically had no choice but to stay home. So, marriage had become their salvation and probably their idol.

The boy? Today he is in some sort of military type school in Florida. I had recently gone to a wedding of one of these daughters and found out from the father that he had to put the son "away", in this military school after getting about 5 speeding tickets and getting into other troubles as well.

This is the fruit of a "firm hand and authority" on the daughters but not on the boy. After all, he is the male, and was not subject to the same rules as the daughters were.

One of the daughters did want to go to college but was not permitted to. I have seen other families like this where the daughters are restrained with strange rules while the boys are unrestrained. This communicates the wrong thing to the boys, as well as the girls.

So, they use Scriptures to keep the women "down", but not the boys? My observation through the years is that using the Scriptures like this either produces religious people or a people that hate anything of God.

Pilgrim

Very good Pilgrim

The story you provide parallels strongly the stories I read of the quiverfull movement only that the boys are more involved in the 'manly' things. I haven't come across any stories by males from this kind of home but only from the women. I liken it to the slave days in which the slaves had no rights at all and their shelter was given them by their owner. In this case it is by the daughters dad and then handed off to the husband.

It causes me to think that in these families marriage is not an option it is a necessity so then what if a girl doesn't want to get married by does it in order to get away from the house? And then she marries someone who abides in the same protocol as she just grew up in.

I find more and more females becoming feminists as a result of these upbringings and actually becoming atheists as a result. What is more frightening is that there seems to be a portion of these families in which sexual molestation is going on.

So why is it that daughters are seemingly shackled so much in these situations and the boys are seemingly left on their own? It makes no sense and really mirrors the middle east. After all, if a man rapes a woman the man must marry the woman and the woman is put to shame. In some fundamental circles it almost becomes a mirror image and there are some feminists who are fighting this kind of tyranny.

These stories are fascinating reads and sad because it shows what a religious system of belief can do to a family when it is used as a control stick to abuse in the name of God. It becomes a reason why many woman become feminist and become agnostic and atheist as a result. Many times it causes me to wonder about the reality of God and how these situations are used to cause a person to not believe in God because the realities become so harsh to the person.

Hi DEADn,

If you have not bought this book or read about it somewhere you really should add it to your library. I perceive you are keen on spiritual abuse and have read about it.

http://www.recoveringgrace.org/2012/03/a-matter-of-basic-principles-a-review/

Blessings,
Pilgrim

Pilgrim

Yes, I am keen on spiritual abuse and when I hear stories of those who have been abused it makes me very angry at how religious system work to abuse people in the name of God. Many of those who come out of these system turn to atheism as a result.

Ironic that the book is about Bill Gothard because his name is brought up so many times in some of the arenas of which I read and communicate with others.