What Feminism is about for me (5) Christian Feminism

 

        Christian feminism looks at the equality of men and women from a Christian perspective and tries to advance equality morally, socially, spiritually, and in leadership within the Christian sphere. Christian feminists argue that contributions by women, and an acknowledgment of women's value, are necessary for a complete understanding of Christianity. They believe that God does not discriminate based on sex and race, but created all humans to exist in harmony and equality, regardless of race or gender. The issues include the ordination of women, biblical equality in marriage, recognition of equal spiritual and moral abilities. Those who do not want to be associated with the feminist movement use the term Christian egalitarianism.

        A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. That is why we should look at how Jesus treated women.

      Jesus, the Feminist

        In ancient Roman society, women were second-class citizens, with no voice and no real hope for a future. Their testimony did not count the same as a man’s in a court of law. They were just a man’s property. At the time of Jesus, women were seen as inferior and unintelligent, but also as the source of temptation, and therefore a man should avoid all contact with them. Equality among the sexes was a foreign concept. In fact, throughout history, women have been an oppressed and voiceless class.  But Jesus never looked down on women. In his parables, he often mentioned women and their domestic world. He referred to God’s ideal in creation when it came to marriage. He was compassionate, respectful, and affectionate towards women. He treated women as valuable human beings.

• As I understand him, Jesus Christ was also a feminist. I would like to demonstrate this by some of his encounters with women. By publicly including women in his ministry, Jesus showed that he was ready to make changes and overthrow customs that he didn’t consider valid.
• We see Jesus directly speaking with women on numerous occasions. The Mosaic law had not prohibited men from conversing with women, but rabbinic Judaism had added many rules, and so at the time of Jesus men did not talk to women.
• The gospel of Luke includes many stories of Jesus associating with women.
• Jesus talked with the woman at the well. According to the culture of that time, he would have had two reasons for not speaking to her: she was a woman and a despised Samaritan with whom a decent Rabbi did not speak. The disciples were astonished when they returned and saw that Jesus was talking with a woman.
• The theological discussion between Jesus and the woman showed that Jesus appreciated the intelligence of this woman (and women in general). The rabbis would only teach boys and men. the Talmud says, “It is foolishness to teach Torah to your daughter” (Sotah 20a). Jesus was willing to teach anyone who would listen—whether they were women or men! But here he was not only teaching but even taking her theological arguments seriously, thereby acknowledging her knowledge and intelligence. He even revealed himself as the Messiah to her.
• Jesus was not afraid to interpret traditions and laws in a new way. “You have heard that it was said to those of old…. But I say to you…” This certainly included the way he accepted women as equal human beings.
• The woman caught in adultery experienced Jesus as somebody who did not threaten but protected her. She should have been stoned to death but Jesus did not blame her. He recognized in her a victim of abuse and looked beyond that and saw the possibility of what she could be.
• He treated the hemorrhaging woman with respect, although according to the Jewish tradition she made him ceremonially unclean when she touched him. Those in our times who say a woman is unfit to be a pastor because of her menstrual cycle could learn from Jesus, who did not seem to mind.
• He called the deformed woman he healed in the synagogue on the Sabbath a daughter of Abraham. That was unheard of! The Jews were proud to call themselves sons of Abraham, and now Jesus called this woman a daughter of Abraham, giving her the same rank!
• Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus’ feet like any other disciple and listened to his teaching. The role of women was to serve the family, but when Martha pointed out to Jesus that Mary was not doing what a woman should do, Jesus defended Mary’s choice to sit and listen. In doing so, he affirmed women’s roles as disciples.
• Jesus spoke with a Canaanite woman who was asking for him to heal her daughter. He praised her faith and tenacity.
• Jesus was not too proud to accept the financial and practical help of the women of Galilee, who accompanied him from the beginning. At the time women were supposed to stay at home. “It is the way of a woman to stay at home and it is the way of a man to go out into the marketplace” (Bereshit Rabbah 18:1; cf. Taanit 23b). If a woman was ever in the streets, she was to keep to herself. Luke mentions several women as being with Jesus and the twelve disciples. “The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;  Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3.
• It was to Martha that Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25+26.
• Defending the woman who anointed His feet, Jesus said, “When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13). This anointing can also be interpreted as Jesus accepting a woman anointing him as the Messiah.
•  Even on his way to his execution, Jesus noticed the women who mourned and lamented him. “Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” Luke 23:28.
• And finally, Jesus commissioned Mary Magdalene with the assignment to report the resurrection. Women were not allowed to testify in court. But Jesus entrusted this message to a woman, ending the traditional inequality. The women stayed with him at the cross, witnessed the angels at the grave, and proclaimed his resurrection. They felt elevated and liberated by Jesus.
• Time after time in the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life, we see him offering his teachings, healing, and forgiveness to women as well as men. Often, it was the women who were the most appreciative of his work and teaching.
• Jesus was a revolutionary in his regard for women. He was not afraid to challenge the status quo and reexamine the traditional ways Scripture had been interpreted. 

       Jesus’ early followers continued to follow in his footsteps, including women in their gatherings and counting them as fellow workers in the cause of sharing his message. That will be the topic of my next blog.

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