Hello friends. I’m happy to share these excellent blog posts that celebrate biblical equality for men and women. You’ll see posts about empowering women, the biblical hero Esther, women in the early church, and the argument for women preachers. We’d love to hear what you’ve been reading this week too! Thanks for sharing your finds in the comments.
“lifting heads, straightening backs.” by Kathy Escobar
“At this point I honestly don’t think words mean anything anymore in the conversation on equality. Telling women or anyone on the margins that “they matter to God” won’t make a difference on its own. What seems to be making the biggest difference is actually seeing and experiencing something different.“
“A Woman in Authority, Who Refused to be Silent: In Celebration of Purim” by Bob Edwards
“This is the deliverance of Israel that is celebrated during the feast of Purim, underway across the world even now. And who instituted this celebration that is still observed? Once again, it was Queen Esther, exercising her ‘full authority’”
“More Than Footnotes Part 1: Women In Early Church History” by Michael Wiltshire (The Junia Project)
“Tossed into the gladiator arena, the women were gored and beheaded publicly. As a 22-year-old mother, Perpetua had the chance to deny her faith and return home with her father. Claiming her spiritual awakening, she and Felicitas chose otherwise (DBE. 24). The (possibly Montanist) record of Perpetua’s story reveals that she received prophetic dreams which helped her to emerge as the leader of the imprisoned community (some of which were male clergy) who were all executed by Rome (HS. 27).”
“Why Are There Women Preachers?” by Jan Jokinen Davis
“God has given you a voice – whether you are male or female your voice is a powerful and a precious gift. How will you use your voice? Will you use your voice to build up the church, to encourage others? Will you use your voice to give people a vision of hope? Will you use your voice to sow seeds of peace? Will you use your voice to tell the story of Jesus and share what God has done for you? Will you use your voice to speak out against oppression and injustice? Will you use your voice to change and transform the world?”
Recently on the CBE Scroll
“Oscars Recap: A Night of Speaking Out” by Paul Hjellming
“Until more women enter the Academy, and are supported as directors and writers, and are given the central roles in plots we won’t have true (even biblical) equal representation. But in the meantime, strong women being awarded for their deserving work and using the opportunity to highlight worthy causes is certainly something to be celebrated.”
“Where Selma and Egalitarianism Intersect” by tim+anne evans
“As followers of Christ who believe in the egalitarian principle of full functional equality for men and women, we watched Selma and noticed similarities between many churches view of functional equality for women, and the treatment of African Americans before they were considered equals.”
“Women in Commercials” by Emmaline Kempf
“In the media today there seems to be a discrepancy on how commercials portray women. We know that commercials are trying to get people to buy a certain product, but are commercials using women just to get people to buy a product by how they portray them, or are some companies trying to put out a more dignified portrayal of women?”
“Women’s History Month: The Early Church” by Lexi Friesen
“Nino was a great woman apostle in the fourth century, best known for her preaching and healing in the Iberian kingdom (present-day Georgia), although prior to that she helped her uncle spread the gospel around Rome. Nino healed Queen Nana of Iberia from a severe illness. This incident caused the queen to convert to Christianity and be baptized by Nino, despite the king’s intolerance for Christians.”
“Women’s History Month: Hannah More” by Lexi Friesen
“Wilberforce, who was known for his abolitionist views of slavery, used one of More’s poems, “Slavery,” in a debate against parliament. More continued to write and even published an anonymous piece called Thoughts on the Importance of Manners of the Great to General Society where she criticized the wealthy for their Sunday games and willingness to let drunkenness, crimes, and prostitution reign. The article caused an uproar because no one knew who wrote it.”
What articles about biblical gender equality encouraged you this week? Share them with us in the comments!
*Note: Linking to these posts is not a CBE endorsement of previous or future written work or statements made by the authors.
