Sooner or later in this age, every girl and woman will have to come face to face with the issue of feminism.
But what is feminism? Well, Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines ‘Feminism” as,
“belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.”
-Merriam Webster online dictionary
Merriam Webster’s definition on feminism also includes the following quote from another source:
“… feminism began in the late 1840s with the campaign for women’s suffrage in America. The second wave came in the 1960s with the call for women’s “liberation” and equality under the law. A third wave in the 1990s was more rebellious than reformist, more anarchically individualistic than disciplined and legalistic. Some think we are in the midst of a fourth wave, sustained by the internet and social media …”
—The Economist (London)
The first few “waves” of feminism were largely characterized by advocating for women’s rights, especially in the sense of voting and racial equality. But after these two came the next few waves more focused on female “liberation” and the pursuit of freedom.
But behind this pursuit of this empty cultural freedom is really an issue of pride in the human heart and the breaking away of the Biblical structure of the family. Because when men and women step outside of their God given roles, the stabilizing foundation of society, the family, is fractured, therefore not only creating weaker communities and nations, but also to the degradation of the individual.
Behind the Feminist Movement…
“The goal of feminism was to individuate members of the family. The Lord Jesus Christ said that God established marriage that the two would be “one flesh”. He warned that what God put together, “let no man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). Contrariwise, feminism wanted to undermine the unity of marriage by eliminating role differences and encouraging “independence” for women. Feminism depreciated the importance of marriage and the family economy.”
– Vol. 2 – America in God’s Providence (page 21) [emphasis mine]
Though the first two waves of feminism were revolutionary in the sense of achieving women’s rights in the legal sense, it also had a massive effect on America’s families. And in addition to this, what many people do not know is that an overwhelming number of the advocates of feminism were deeply involved in sexual and perverse sins. One of these examples is a feminist from the 1700s named Mary Wollstonecraft:
“Wollstonecraft was the prototypical feminist, openly practicing sexual sin and bearing a child out of wedlock…After Wollstonecraft through at least three relationships involving sexual sin, she married the anarchist philosopher, William Godwin. She attempted suicide herself several times in 1795…
…Wollstonecraft gloried in her own sexual freedom and independence, while she criticized women who raised their children and kept the household accounts. She called it an “artless picture” to see a woman engaged in “household business,” and she argued against the man being the “sole master of his house.”…”
(page 22-23, Vol. 2, America In God’s Providence)
The Endless Cycle
Feminism has had an enormous effect on our culture over the past century, especially in breaking down familial roles. It contributes to the emasculating of men in our society, making them avoid taking responsibility for their families and their own lives. This in and of itself then contributes back to the feminist ideology, which resists the role of the helpmeet given to the wife as said in Genesis 2:18.
This cycle of weak men feeds into the feminist attitude of “independence” from men, and vice versa. The more the women push men down, the more that men are likely to give into this overwhelming culture that pressures the man to remain weak and useless. And the more men choose to be like this, the more the feminist mindset is fed and affirmed. Do you see the cycle?
The feminist culture says that it is shameful for a woman to be a homemaker and to be a helpmeet to her husband. Their ideal life for a woman was to be a career chaser and to seek sexual and emotional independence. She must, “be her own master,” and “not tied down to any one man or subjected to the servitude of household work.”
But in today’s day and age, Christian women are shamed for following the example of the Proverbs 31 woman. They are chastised for keeping their homes and for choosing to sacrifice their own lives (and sleep!) to raise their children and support their husbands. They are mocked for living in humility toward their husbands and for submitting the man’s leadership as the head and protector of the family.
But such women who choose to sacrifice for themselves for the good of their family, I believe, coupled with the strong and godly man, are the cornerstones of our societies, communities, and families. And that is exactly what the devil seeks to tear down.
We wonder why our culture today has been so poisoned with the addictive mindset called pride. We are shocked and fearful when we hear that the USA is far below the replacement-level fertility rate. We reel at the abortion rate and the evil and horrendous horrors a woman subjects her unborn baby to in the pursuit of “freedom” as they flee the responsibility of marriage and a family. Even so, many Christians today find it easier to ignore – or even accept to an extent – the feminist ideology.
Yet the very thing that we choose to accept or ignore is the very factor that is breaking down what is left of the Biblical family economy.
So, what must be done? What can Christians do in the defiance of the evils of feminism and in the breaking down of our families and churches?
We must choose to live counter-culturally.
Think about it. Culture calls the helpmeet shameful and the strong man toxic. It calls the family a hindrance and humble Christ-like servitude bondage.
Let them.
But do not listen to them.
Instead, live in a way that defies their lies.
Culture calls the biblical family chaos.
It calls Biblical masculinity and Biblical femininity weak.
It calls what we know to be true anarchy.
If we want to take back our children, our churches, and our country, we need strong men. We need men and boys who will stand up and live courageously despite the culture screaming at them to succumb to worthless pleasures and weak apathy. We need strong women too. We need them to be strong for their husbands in marriage and for their children and to stand against the culture’s enticements and have the Holy courage to say “No, I will not listen to your lies. I live for something greater.”
But most of all, we need these two to work together. It is not good that any one of them should be alone – God created the man and woman for each other to be joined together in unity. After all, who else has the power other than the married man and woman to change the culture of the next generation by raising up godly children – the writers of tomorrow’s story?
Feminism calls women to a freedom and independence they say married family life can never offer.
They are right.
For the freedom they offer is ultimately an empty one – their lives are purposeless as these women finally grow old and realize that the life they have lived was for no one but themselves.
But what does God say of the faithful woman who raised her family and served her household?
Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:28-30) [emphasis mine]
I’m not saying that some are not called to be single. Even the apostle Paul was single.
I’m saying it’s the heart that matters.
And as long as we as Christians are fully submitted to what God wants us to do, we will have purpose. We will have hope.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11
On FIRE for the Lord,
Victoria
Leave a Reply