In years gone by, no publisher would print a book written by a woman and so women writers had to use pseudonyms to get their work recognised. Even today, there is the persistent thought that women are mostly suitable for writing about things which pertain to the home and children.
One of the great things about participating in this blog is that we often don’t know if the writer is female or male so hopefully the person can get their point across without being judged or assumptions made.
Women writers have stories to tell – their own or others. Some speak from personal pain while some speak for those who have no voice. For the person who writes from their own experience it can be helpful for them to put it all on paper but perhaps even more so for the readers who will be able to identify with what the writer is relating.
Stories of oppression and abuse need to be told so that those who live in freedom and security can be aware of the plight of others and from a position of privilege reach out to help. The Bible is full of instructions for us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to deliver people from those who oppress and see justice carried out. Writing is such a powerful way to inform without the possible immediate distraction of the human person with weakness and imperfection.
Even though there are many women who write excellent books and papers on theological topics, it is the stories which take the attention of the average reader. Among the hundreds of books we have had on our shelves, it is always the stories of people’s lives which are most in demand and so many of them are accounts of remarkable women. Women have within their grasp the power of the printed page and even those who would not condone a woman preaching in a Sunday service quite happily learn from women writers who can teach through this medium. The stumbling block of authority is removed as a person gets involved in the story and hearts are changed as biblical principles are communicated through the accounts of lives very much like our own.
Women writers are very likely a huge untapped resource for the Christian church which needs to be researched and most of all financed to minister truth and grace to hungry hearts.
