4 Things Feminists Overlook

I'm sad that governments have mistreated women many times throughout history, denying them respect, education, voting rights, property rights, etc. 

But I'm offended when progressive Christians and feminists blame these inequalities on biblical commands concerning male leadership.

1. Culture creates inequalities—not Scripture.(1)

Christians have sometimes agreed with ungodly cultural inequalities, but they didn't create them. 

Cultural feminism is a good example of this. It encourages a low view of women who work within the home. Christians might buy into that belief, but they don't get it from Scripture (Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:3-5).(2)

2. Scripture teaches equality.

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

3. Male leadership is not about superiority.

Scripture commands male leadership in certain situations. We may not fully understand God's design, but it's about responsibility, not value.

4. Bad examples don't disqualify God's design.

We haven't given up on parenting or marriage despite the bad examples. Neither should we give up on submission due to bad examples. Scripture clearly commands husbands to be reasonable, sacrificial, and loving (Ephesians 5:22-33). 

With these truths in mind, why do progressive Christians and modern feminists so often blame Christianity? 2 Corinthians 4:4 gives us the answer:

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 

Christians should be concerned when women are treated unjustly, and we should be concerned when people blame the Bible for these inequalities. 

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See also:

Biblical Submission - A Collection of Helpful Devotions

Muddled Views of God, Scripture, and Women

3 Bad Arguments for a Female God

A Serious Feminist Error

Let's Step Up to the Plate

Sexual Abuse in the Church 

Footnotes:

(1) Why were women not allowed to vote? It was a cultural belief that women weren't smart enough!! (source) But this ridiculous claim wasn't limited to a single country, culture, ethnicity, race, or religion. Nothing about this excuse is faith-based or biblical. 

(2) Satan's main enemy is Christianity. That's why outspoken Christians are heavily scrutinized and criticized but little is said about Muslims despite the fact that the Quran defines women as inferior. See Top ten rules in the Quran that oppress women. 

Bible Love Notes