I can’t like this, because it breaks my heart. I feel like we as a society are actually going backward from when I was young in the 70s and 80s. I have heard my twin daughters say things that are misogynistic unknowingly, having picked it up from school or someplace. The world may judge women, and embrace patriarchy, and all that, but why in God’s name does the church?
This parable describes life in a fallen world where male and female roles are broken. It is indeed heart breaking but not surprising. The surprising thing is that it is addressed to servants of the ruler. The men in the story, brothers, husbands should know better. They should do all they can to help and assist the women in their lives make their way in this fallen world, to be part of the solution, not the problem. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Self sacrificial love is the mandate, and not just to wives. Whoever would be great in the kingdom of heaven must be servant to all. Closing doors and erecting barriers is not the way of Christ.
Great post! Unfortunately, it’s too true! There continues to be a great disparity for how women’s salaries compare to men’s, which points toward the cloud overhead - how women are treated in every other aspect of life - besides pay. 35 years ago, when I worked at an automotive assembly plant, I witnessed a woman get put on a job that she would not be physically able to do. It was a tough job that involved climbing in and out of an auto body moving down the line. The supervisor wouldn’t put her on a different job. Several of us cheeped her survive/succeed until the supervisor “wised up” and made an adjustment. Having a strong union didn’t hurt at all. 35 years later, I just heard a story about a woman who is being led along the path of “as soon as there’s an opening, you’ll be called in.” Which can be translated to mean she’ll be strung along until she gives up. We still have a relevant “Gospel” to share while we live it, and fill God’s heart with more than God has given us.
Though this hit my inbox a couple of days ago, it was finally today that I had time to read it. I grieve at the place we find ourselves in. My heart is heavy for all the women both present and past who live/lived under veils of oppression, never being fully allowed to set their lamp on the lampstand.
I long for what Alice Mathews calls the "Blessed Alliance." I don't like to use the words complementarian or egalitarian, they've become weaponized, but I do love the Blessed Alliance term.
Our world needs it. Our churches need it. Come Lord Jesus.
Corporate America at least well paid me while they were still promoting and exalting underperforming men unlike the church who just ignored my talents and gifts.
I can’t like this, because it breaks my heart. I feel like we as a society are actually going backward from when I was young in the 70s and 80s. I have heard my twin daughters say things that are misogynistic unknowingly, having picked it up from school or someplace. The world may judge women, and embrace patriarchy, and all that, but why in God’s name does the church?
This parable describes life in a fallen world where male and female roles are broken. It is indeed heart breaking but not surprising. The surprising thing is that it is addressed to servants of the ruler. The men in the story, brothers, husbands should know better. They should do all they can to help and assist the women in their lives make their way in this fallen world, to be part of the solution, not the problem. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Self sacrificial love is the mandate, and not just to wives. Whoever would be great in the kingdom of heaven must be servant to all. Closing doors and erecting barriers is not the way of Christ.
I am so proud of you.
I have experienced this personally within the literary world and have tended to get published primarily by female editors.
Great post! Unfortunately, it’s too true! There continues to be a great disparity for how women’s salaries compare to men’s, which points toward the cloud overhead - how women are treated in every other aspect of life - besides pay. 35 years ago, when I worked at an automotive assembly plant, I witnessed a woman get put on a job that she would not be physically able to do. It was a tough job that involved climbing in and out of an auto body moving down the line. The supervisor wouldn’t put her on a different job. Several of us cheeped her survive/succeed until the supervisor “wised up” and made an adjustment. Having a strong union didn’t hurt at all. 35 years later, I just heard a story about a woman who is being led along the path of “as soon as there’s an opening, you’ll be called in.” Which can be translated to mean she’ll be strung along until she gives up. We still have a relevant “Gospel” to share while we live it, and fill God’s heart with more than God has given us.
Though this hit my inbox a couple of days ago, it was finally today that I had time to read it. I grieve at the place we find ourselves in. My heart is heavy for all the women both present and past who live/lived under veils of oppression, never being fully allowed to set their lamp on the lampstand.
I long for what Alice Mathews calls the "Blessed Alliance." I don't like to use the words complementarian or egalitarian, they've become weaponized, but I do love the Blessed Alliance term.
Our world needs it. Our churches need it. Come Lord Jesus.
This brought tears. Thanks.
Corporate America at least well paid me while they were still promoting and exalting underperforming men unlike the church who just ignored my talents and gifts.
Thank you for this, Beth. We, all of us, feel this, experience this, live this, all the way down.
This is haunting. Thank you for writing this. May we collectively support our sisters to use their talents so we can all flourish together.