“The world that human beings create is indeed “man-made.” The system that human beings construct to order their lives in the world sets men and the concerns of men at the center. It develops hierarchies of power in which some human beings rule over other human beings. The patriarchal system that configures the human world, in short, is a social manifestation of human brokenness that results from defiant humanity’s insistence on making the world on its own terms. In this… Read more
I have been arguing that in the New Creation male and female are equal in authority among the people of God (within the church). Many will respond to this by noting that the NT has statements that express male headship (most notably 1 Cor 11:2-16). Before we can delve into the “problem” passages, it is critical to recognize the prominence of women in the NT. It is against the backdrop of women as equals to men that some of the… Read more
Genesis 3 in the New Creation I argued in the last post on women and injustice that contrary to popular opinion Genesis 3:16 does not establish male headship over women. Genesis 3 simply details the effects of the curse on male and female relations: namely, though women will desire to rule over their husbands, their husbands will instead rule over them in a domineering way (Gen 3:16). A biblical theology of gender For those who advocate male headship (i.e., that… Read more
Well, the bombing has ended and the media has turned its focus away from the conflict in Gaza and Israel. It looks like the world has stopped listening again. What else should we expect? War sells. And winners of the most recent conflagration in Israel and Gaza are: (drumroll ensues: may I have the envelope please?), “From Gaza, the militant group: ‘Hamas.’” (Hamas is a clear winner in the recent conflict. They are going to come out of this… Read more
Our hearts break today because peace remains absent in the Middle East. While the powers that be exert their force, the people who suffer the most are those with the least. This is the way wars operate. In the ancient world one army would send out their Goliath while the other would send out their David. The winner takes all. The loser becomes the conquered—at least theoretically. Even then, we might ask, why does David or Goliath have to die?… Read more
There is little question that in the account of the creation of humanity in Gen 1:26-27 all persons—even specifying “male and female”—are made in the image of God and are created to “rule” and “subdue” (Gen 1:26, 28). Male and female are equally fashioned to serve as kings/queens and priests within God’s creation. Yet, it is not uncommon for complementarians to argue that the account of the formation of Eve (Gen 2:18-25) indicates male superiority. Eve the “helper” of Adam: Does Gen 2:18… Read more
In the last several posts I have argued that discrimination towards women may well constitute the greatest issue of injustice in the world today. Tragically, I suspect that most evangelical men are not grieved over this suggestion for two reasons. I suspect that most evangelical men in the west are simply unaware of the gravity of the situation. Unfortunately, many are too dismissive of the facts when they are presented. Many evangelicals hold to a conviction that the Bible affirms… Read more
I am relieved and I am grieved. I am relieved that a semblance of justice has taken place. I am grieved because this is only one instance of thousands and tens of thousands in which justice has not been rendered. (There would be no need for the Equal Justice Initiative if there was already equal justice). I am grieved because justice on a daily basis is still not equitable. I am grieved for the thousands of people of color that… Read more
I am relieved and I am grieved. I am relieved that a semblance of justice has taken place. I am grieved because this is only one instance of thousands and tens of thousands in which justice has not been rendered. (There would be no need for the Equal Justice Initiative if there was already equal justice). I am grieved because justice on a daily basis is still not equitable. I am grieved for the thousands of people of color that… Read more
In my first two posts on women and injustice (“women, injustice, and the Bible #1” and “women, injustice, and the Bible #2”) I noted some of the injustices women face in the US. In all reality, what I set forth was fairly mild. The global oppression of women is tragically far more grievous. In many places, young girls, often teenagers, are forced into marrying men typically much older men. In fact, one-third of the world’s girls are married before they… Read more
