The sad thing is that this picture was found from jesus-is-lord.com

As I sat to write this, I realized that it’s not so easy to define a belief system in simple terms–and especially not feminism. The more I wrote, the more I realized it’s not that black & white (and subsequently began heavy-handedly editing.) So you must forgive me if this post is rather itinerant, for the subject of Christian feminism is riddled with winding rabbit trails of unnecessary clarifications and I find myself rather lost for words.

But this I do know:

WHAT FEMINISM IS NOT:

• Bra burning
• hating men
• the belief that women are the higher species
• militantly against marriage & relationships
• Anger
• The belief that you don’t need anyone
• Isolationism
• Lesbianism (unless you were one to begin with, feminism is not like that gay bomb from 30 Rock.)

I’m a pretty awful “token feminist friend.” I cannot contain my sarcasm when friends come to me to complain about how terrible men are or how they’re thinking about becoming a feminist because men are so weak (which is a forgivably naive understanding of feminism, but still.) Likewise, it sucks when people I love & respect make ignorant comments such as “If you’re a feminist, then you MUST be a man-hating, liberal, abortion-loving lesbian” or “Feminists cannot be Christians.”*

*Tiny side story: What are conditional fallacies and what does that have to do with anything? 

Commonly referred to as “if/then” statements, they’re really easy to uncover and alarmingly common.  Example: If you’re a feminist, then you MUST be a man-hating, liberal, abortion-loving lesbian. The pulchritude of logic is that it is a sneaky little undercurrent found every statement ever made (usually unbeknownst)–either something is logically sound or it isn’t. I’ve encountered a LOT of these fallacies during my conversations with friends who irrationally hate feminists. If I ruled the world, then everyone would be required to take a course in logic.

WHAT FEMINISM IS:

To me, feminism represents the idea that everyone–regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or belief system–should be treated equally & given the same rights. This is basically the cornerstone that transcends all other elements of feminism to me.

I’m saddened by the idea that Christians cannot be feminists, because on the contrary, we should be fighting for justice for all. What about Proverbs 28:5, ”Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.”? Or Isaiah 61:8? Or Isaiah 10:1-2? or Matthew 12:18 (aka what GOD says about JESUS–doesn’t get more clear than that)?  If you’re looking for a verse to worm out of the mandate for justice, you won’t find one.

While one might argue(/have), that men and women are created differently and have different capabilities/ emotional outlooks/etc & thus CANNOT be treated equally, I beg to differ.

1. Obviously men and women were made differently (if you’re not sure, Google has basically a million images to back me up), but that does not diminish value or purpose of either.
   1. A gender hierarchy once was a major element of the law (brought about by sin), but was abolished by Christ on the cross. Doesn’t Galatians 3:28 clearly state “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
   2. For further reading from writers far more eloquent than I, please check out this list of resources compiled by Rachel Held Evans.
   3. As for marriage, I don’t want a spiritual leader. Jesus is the spiritual Head of my life–I don’t understand how I want to be with a man who is my spiritual partner as we journey together in life side by side. Life’s a lot more like a slow dance than a tango.

There’s a lot that could be said or argued or illuminated, but I’m just too tired to write about it. I’m tired because it’s 2014–why is this conversation still going on? Why are women still being devalued and objectified? And why are we as Christians not at the forefront of the gender equality stage, representing our Great Advocate?

I’m a feminist because of Proverbs 31:8-9 : “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

It’s 2014 and I want justice.