Have you ever wondered if as Christians, we've been called by God to be feminists? In a world that constantly rejects God's wills and ways, it's easy to define ourselves through labels that look good, but God hasn't called us to.

As a growing believer, it took my soul years to resolve this conflict within and understand God's plan and purpose in regards to equality between men and women.

To understand feminism, we must unravel and confront it with the word of God. We must understand where the world stands and where God stands on this topic.

For Jesus is the answer to all our problems.

No one else.

For they are NOT of the world, just as I AM NOT of the world. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

John 17:14-15

We need to ask ourselves, 'Is Feminism the good way or the godly way?'

If it is not the godly way in God’s eyes, it still misses the mark He desires for humanity.

Christ.

If the thoughts producing it don't originate from Christ, then we must discard every other thought and exalt that of Christ above all.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY WAYS higher than YOUR WAYS and my THOUGHTS than your THOUGHTS.

Isaiah 55:9

Gender inequality was/is a result of the Fall of Man

Ever since the fall, man took on himself a nature that contradicts God’s loving nature, and so to solve this problem, it takes divine intervention. Activism/feminism doesn’t cure man’s fallen nature that desires to oppress others. If anything, it makes it worse.

If as Christians, we don’t believe that moral standards are the cure to sin and its symptoms, then why do we believe anything man-made will cure a symptom of sin such as Gender inequality? It’s like trying to tell an adulterer or a sinner to mend his ways by living morally and doing good works without getting born again or without accepting Jesus. It’s like trying to tell a believer that God who created the universe is not enough to solve our problems. So we must seek other means.

Gender inequality isn’t something that can be cured on the surface or by rebelling against authority. It’s a problem deeply rooted in sin which can only be cured by Jesus. Anything rooted in flesh doesn’t always go well. God’s way is the best way. And we can only overcome this by following his leading above our wills.

Did you see how Jesus lived? He hardly fought for his rights. He lived by the Spirit, even when it didn’t make sense to those living around him. Even when he could have held on to his rights because he had enough, but Jesus knew doing that would result in failure and loss in the long run.

I know this may sound like a trigger for some people. Years ago, it felt like that for me. I’d get upset when someone tried to make feminism look ungodly. But it is. Drawing close to God, I’m learning his ways will keep looking foolish to me if I don’t grow spiritually.

Christ and Feminism: Mutually Exclusive Roles

Scriptures make it clear that God's will surpasses all and we cannot bend God to fit the world.

Why?

Because one originates from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, while the other is rooted in the tree of life.

We see this illustration in the life of Jesus. The world may define Him differently, but He's the Only Way, Truth and Life.

So when Jesus was judging matters, he wasn't judging from an earthly wisdom. He was fetching from God's wisdom.

Let's look at the following example:

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 

But Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

luke 12:13-15

A natural/earthly man would have judged this matter according to earthly wisdom and divide the inheritance.

But a spiritual man mustn't judge this way.

Jesus was spiritual. He saw beneath the request. He saw deeper into Man's soul.

Covetousness.

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall NOT judge after the SIGHT of his EYES, neither reprove after the HEARING of his EARS

isaiah 11:3

Jesus was able to judge wisely because He wasn't choosing right or wrong like we often do, or from earthly wisdom but from the Tree of Life.

If you do recall, the tree of Good and Evil Adam and Eve ate in disobedience still had some deceptive 'goodness' in it- Genesis 2:17

But the root is still flawed. The root is NOT founded in Life. This also applies to Feminism.

It misses the standard of Christ, and is disqualified in God’s design for mankind.

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Matthew 12:33

So if the root is bad, no matter how good the fruits look, it cannot be better than the source.

Jesus never produced any bad fruit. This means His root was pure and good.

As humans growing in grace, we still produce a medley of good and bad fruits because we still have our hearts rooted in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And God desires to uproot everything as we keep yielding to His Holy-Spirit.

Jesus said,

‘Why do you call me good? There is ONLY One that is good. God.’

luke 18:19

This verse implies it is only what God stamps as good that is qualified to be good.

Why? Because he doesn’t judge by sight but by the motive and source behind it. Don’t forget all hearts are bare before Him, and He judges from the end to the beginning.

To God, whom ALONE is WISE.

jude 1:25

This means only God is wise. Any other wisdom that isn’t produced from the Tree of Life isn’t wisdom.

It might look like it, but it’s not close. And if we don't grow to discern God from the world, we will mix the world with scriptures.

So while many have risen up to defend feminism, the true colour is beginning to raise its ugly head, because it was never from God.

Now you may wonder,

• But feminism gave women a voice when they had none.

• It gave girls a chance to go to school.

• Feminism fought for my rights as a woman or I’d be paid lesser than my male colleague.

• Feminism is just the understanding that men and women are equal and they shouldn't be treated less.

Trust me, I have had this conversation in my heart and head many times. I’m sure God knows how much I kept fighting against total surrender to His will and His ways.

The Root of Feminism: Christ or the World?

Now let’s go back to the root of Feminism because God deals with roots over actions.

• The root of Feminism doesn’t have an eternal purpose and the goal was never godly in the first place.

• The source is flawed (from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) like I mentioned earlier.

• The world doesn’t want Christ because they love their darkness and so they’d rather produce a counterfeit than settle for something demanding like Jesus.

Why? Because God’s will is that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth.

As Christians, we've been called to be more than feminists. We've been called to do better.

As a believer, where do you stand?

Christ covers all our needs as men and women, NOT feminism.

I don’t need feminism to tell me to treat everyone equal or love everyone regardless of their belief or lifestyle.

Being a follower of Jesus means I go by His standards alone, nothing added.

Christ teaches men and women to put others first because, in Him, there is neither male nor female. All will be judged regardless of their gender.

If I had Christ formed in me, I would prefer others above myself. I would be kind and treat everyone equal without preferential treatment.

I would do to others as God would have me do, not as my biased mindset would permit.

What about gender roles at home?

While being born again serves as a foundation for everyone who desires a godly and beautiful life, gender roles at home isn’t one-size-fits-all.

But a woman should submit to her husband AND a husband must love his wife the way Christ loves the church.

God assigned one leader and a priest to the home. The husband being the head of the home has a spiritual reference/importance.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, AS UNTO THE LORD. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Ephesians 5:22-23

Contrary to the world's teaching, submission isn't a sign of weakness. Submission doesn't mean you're foolish.

Submission is a strength.

Why?

It takes strength to submit your will and rights to another. Just like Jesus submitted His will to the Father.

Anyone can have an opinion. We all have rights as humans, but God honours those that are meek enough to submit their will and follow His design for marriage.

This is why it is very vital for us women to marry God's will so we don't suffer/submit in vain.

We must allow God’s light to spill into the home, rather than bicker over unnecessary things.

When it comes to things pertaining to finances, cooking, splitting house chores and caring for the home in marriage, we must ensure it is Spirit-regulated so legalism doesn't deter us from God's purpose for marriage.

We were given the Holy Spirit for this purpose: To guide us and help us to submit and lead where necessary.

We must not allow culture/society or the bias we grew up with overrule God's wisdom in our homes.

I believe when we understand our strengths and weakness as men and women, with the Lord guiding us, we would know how to complement each other, instead of trying to think less of the other gender.

Diversity is beautiful. So let’s embrace our differences in Christ, and not allow the world’s system dictate to us.

Bloom with Love. Xx!