Proverbs 31 WomEn

This is part 2 of a blog series on Biblical Gender. Part 1 of the series, a review of Rachel Held Evans’ A Year of Biblical Womanhood, can be found here: http://olgaproverbs31.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/a-year-of-biblical-womanhood-by-rachel-held-evans-review/

 

This blog is a response to my friend, Christina Gibson’s recent blog, The Lie of the Model Woman: http://christinagibson.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/the-lie-of-the-model-woman/

 

There is no shame in being a “P31 chick” because Proverbs 31 is not praise of an individual woman, but of Women collectively. Being a “P31 chick” means joining Women across time, space, & culture, contributing to the well-being of society, home, & self. Christina picks up on the impossibility of 1 woman fulfilling all of the praises on Proverbs 31. I choose to give the benefit of the doubt that the interpretation of Proverbs 31 as an outline for “Biblical Womanhood” for each individual woman comes from well-meaning people trying to encourage women. However, a Google image search for Proverbs 31 will bring up enough poorly appropriated interpretations, flowers, & happy care-free looking women to make nearly anyone puke & indicates concerning re-appropriation of ancient Hebrew poetry.

 

Proverbs 31 womEn become utilitarian & comparable to “the best dishwasher, microwave, vacuum and washing machine you’d ever find in a store” when the passage is read prescriptively, as a command. However, nowhere in the chapter is a command. The perceived commands come from women comparing themselves to one another, competition among women, [hello, Pinterest] and pressure from men to be what they consider to be a perfect wife, mother, & woman. Many interpretations of Proverbs 31 are concerning because it puts women on a pedestal. This pedestal leads to unhelpful expectations & poor interpretations of the actual text.

 

One note- statistically, women as a collective group are not happier [report a high life satisfaction] working in the home & they are not happier working outside the home. Women are happiest when they are doing what they want/choose to do. Conservative agendas tend to push women toward the home, sometimes in response to progressive agendas pushing women toward working outside the home. A truly Christian Feminist position empowers & encourages women [and men!] to do what they sense a calling toward- in the home, out of the home, part-time employment, stay at home fathers, etc.

 

Every “small moment” [as Christina calls the chapter of Proverbs 31] in Scripture is worthy of close reading & attention, & hermeneutically/theologically responsible Bible studies. How many times as seminarians & ministers have we sat in class or done research/reading to find that something we always considered insignificant was actually monumental or deeply meaningful? Don’t underestimate ‘just’ one chapter or verse or person in the Bible. They are there for a reason, perhaps for such a time as this when we read them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit & the Church community. Even though “small moments” & isolated passages can be meaningful, they must not be used isolated from the canon to make definitions or prescriptions such as the appropriate role of women, sexuality ethics, Second Coming, etc. This prescriptive approach is particularly tempting with hot topics. Avoid!

 

The identity of [the Proverbs 31] woman is NOT strictly based on what she produces. Though the chapter centers mainly on what she produces, there are verses & phrases in the chapter praising her for her attitude. See verses 11, 17, 25-26:

 

Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

 

I am concerned about Christina’s overgeneralization of “esteemed” women in the Bible. There are plenty of women in the Bible who are esteemed & are not prostitutes or former ones, as Christina argues. Many women in the Bible who are not esteemed, but should be are as a result of generations of patriarchal & misogynistic interpretations. For example, Michal. [see 1 & 2 Samuel, especially 2 Samuel 6] Rather than viewing Michal as an unsupportive wife, Michal could also be a holy woman condemned for confronting David’s [her husband] shameful nakedness, & donning priestly attire & impersonating a priest though he was not a priest. Michal is 1 of many women in the Bible who are condemned, but should be esteemed.

 

Another example is Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene was most likely NOT A PROSTITUE, as Christina [and many other Christians] erroneously identify her. The teaching of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute comes from Pope Gregory I’s sermon series in the 6^th century and possibly Ephraim the Syrian in the 4^th century. There are disagreements about Mary Magdalene & Mary of Bethany being the same woman or different women. It makes most sense that these are 2 different women. The “sinful woman” in Luke 7 who anoints Jesus’ feet is not named & there is not enough substantial evidence or reasoning to identify her as Mary Magdalene. Centuries of art depict Mary Magdalene as a prostitute. The current position of the Catholic Church on Mary Magdalene is that she was not a prostitute. Pope Paul VI in 1969 [this is still hot off the press!] rejected Mary Magdalene’s identity as a prostitute & separates Mary Magdalene & Mary of Bethany as 2 different women. One reason [though there are probably many] that Mary Magdalene has been identified as a prostitute may come from fear of identifying her as a disciple. If Mary Magdalene was a close disciple of Jesus, then her example may give authority to women called to Christian leadership- a role for women originally accepted, then eventually rejected by the Church, but then later revived among Protestants. Bible interpretation must be based on more than art, overzealous attempts to put together a biography, or personal agendas.

 

Mary Magdalene is sometimes held up as an example of holiness based on a false understanding of her story & testimony as a converted prostitute. Yes, Mary Magdalene was healed, but from 7 demons. [see Luke 8:1-3] Mary Magdalene is an example of holiness because she was a close disciple & was a part of the group of women who were the first apostles to the apostles, as Augustine called the women. [see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, & John 20] Mary Magdalene is mentioned specifically by name in the Gospels more than most of the 12 Disciples.

 

Christina’s devaluement of the Proverbs 31 woman [who is intended to be women in the plural] partly comes from an argument of silence. “The Proverbs 31 lady” is not included in Jesus’ ancestry because she is not a literal woman & does not contribute to the Davidic line. In Jewish tradition, the Matriarchs are highly esteemed- Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, & Leah. None of which are perfect, but none of which are prostitutes, & none of which make it in to Matthew or Luke’s genealogies. [See Matthew 1 & Luke 3] In fact, there is only 1 reference to 1 of the Matriarchs in the Gospels- Rachel weeping in Matthew 2. The Matriarchs are still highly esteemed & very important.

 

Rather than asking what does it mean to be a godly woman, a better question to ask is what does it mean to be a godly person? Scriptures on holiness are rarely gendered. This is holiness:

 

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” [Deuteronomy 6:4-7]

 

“Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” [Psalm 97:10]

 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” [Micah 6:8; see also Deuteronomy 10:12-13]

 

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” [Matthew 25:40]

 

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” [2 John 1:6]

 

 

Rather than feeling a burden from Proverbs 31, recognize the chapter as a praise for the amazing work Women do- near & far, now & past, private & public. How do you as a man or woman contribute to the work of the world, the work of the home, & the work of yourself?

 

“Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.” [Judy Garland]

People-Centered Vs. God-Centered Rest: Sabbath

How many times do you hear people say, “I’m tired”? How many times do you yourself say, “I’m tired”? As a society we are perpetually tired perhaps by over-committing ourselves, unrealistic expectations whether externally imposed or self-imposed, challenges providing for self & family during economic struggles, poor time management, and countless of other reasons and factors. When was the last time you felt truly refreshed? Renewed? Even if you make a commitment to rest, you may not feel rested.

 

Rest is like exercise- it takes time to build fitness and stamina to do it well. If the modus operandi is multi-tasking, caffeinated consciousnesses as Shane Claiborne calls it, and keeping a calendar with lots of mental notes, then trying to stop and rest is like trying to stop a train. It takes a freight train about 1 mile to come to a complete stop. Many times when starting out with rest, there may be a heightened sense of anxiety- I’m forgetting something or someone, I should be doing something else, etc. Make a list of these things as they come to mind & return to rest. Rest is more of an attitude than anything, but rest also requires saying no to other things for a certain period of time so you can say yes to wellness and rest.

 

Not everything that is enjoyable is restful. For example, certain movies increase heart rate & make us involved in fictional characters’ problems. This is hardly restful as many of us deal with other people’s problems for a living. If you feel that getting wrapped up in someone else’s problems, fictional or otherwise, distracts you from your own, this is not true rest but avoidance.

 

As Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time for this and that; a season for this and that. There is a time for other people centered rest such as spending quality time with family or friends away from work and to-do list tasks. Jewish Shabbat includes some interpersonal connecting with people elements & this is good, but some people only practice people-centered rest. There is also a time for God-centered rest which is the most challenging and most neglected type of rest. Even God took time to stop and admire Creation, to rest. [Genesis 1:1-2:4]

 

What is God-centered rest & how is it practically possible? Set a specific, reasonable, and practical time. Thursday evenings from 5-8pm. Sunday afternoons from 1-6pm. Monday mornings from 9:30-11:30am. Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset. More important than length of time is consistency. Turn off music, television, silence your phone, step into a quiet and private space whether inside or outside. Exterior silence facilitates interior silence.

 

The probability of having an emergency only you can respond to via phone or email during a few hours or perhaps a full day is statistically slim. God-centered rest is a reminder that we are not the only ones who are able to respond to needs. If you are a minister, trust your staff to handle situations or wait to consult with you until you return from rest. If you are a student, trust that the last minute email from your professor or study group will be there after regular rest. Rest requires trust in other people and in God, which is counter-cultural from the [though helpful in moderation] independent do-it-yourself attitude of today. Trusting others and God means acknowledging that you yourself do not keep the world spinning. Life happened before you and will continue after you. Rest is a temporary timeout.

 

Don’t worry about making the most of this set aside time. Allow yourself to rest without a to-do list. You are on God’s time and schedule. Sit in silence & accept that falling asleep is possible & maybe probable! Slowly read a spiritual book only for the purpose of rest and reflection. This time is not about getting as far through the book as possible. In Sabbath rest, lack of ‘productivity’ is desired. Prayer journal. Admire the Creator by sitting outside or on a stroll- slow is key. Our bodies are made to rest about 1/3 of life. [8 hours sleeping per 24-hour period] Our spirits are made for rest, too.

 

Deep down, sometimes we avoid stillness, silence, rest. As I have heard from many nuns- it is a mistake to go to the convent to avoid the world or running from yourself because it is in the silence and prayer of the convent that they say they most struggle as they see themselves more clearly than before. As distractions are removed and we experience God through silence, rest, and contemplation, we recognize how weak we truly our and how powerful God really is. Rest puts us in our place with one another as we work together to gives others time and space to rest, and with God as we recognize Him as Creator who in wisdom created us for rest.

 

As Lauren Winner writes in Mudhouse Sabbath, Sabbath or God-centered rest, “Sabbath, shapes all the rhythms of calendar and time; the entire week points toward Shabbat” (p.8). What if time was marked and ordered by spiritual connection with God- rest, prayer, church?

 

Refresh must be more than a button on the internet browser. We need refreshment. I am reminded of Psalm 42:1- “As the deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you.” How is panting improved to regular breathing? Stopping to focus on consistent breathing. Exhaustion is improved by stopping to focus on spiritual breathing- resting in God’s company.

 

I write this as a tired person looking for rest. Looking for community. Looking for God. Looking for refreshment. Join me.

 

 

To Welcome the Sabbath

[from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals]

 

Lord of Creation,

Create in us a new rhythm of life

Composed of hours that sustain rather than stress,

Of days that deliver rather than destroy,

Of time that tickles rather than tackles.

 

Lord of Liberation,

By the rhythm of Your truth, set us free

From the bondage and baggage that break us,

From the Pharaohs and fellows who fail us,

From the plans and pursuits that prey upon us.

 

Lord of Resurrection,

May we be raised into the rhythm of Your new life,

Dead to deceitful calendars,

Dead to fleeting friend requests,

Dead to the empty peace of our accomplishments.

 

To our packed-full planners, we bid, “Peace!”

To our over-caffeinated consciences, we say, “Cease!”

To our suffocating selves, Lord, grant release.

 

Drowning in a seas of deadlines and death chimes,

We rest in You, our lifeline.

 

By Your ever-restful grace,

Allow us to enter Sabbath rest

As Your Sabbath rest enters into us.

 

In the name of our Creator,

Our Liberator,

Our Resurrection and Life,

We pray.

Amen.

 

Palm Sunday Reflections: A Different Kind of Ass

Why did Jesus choose to ride on a donkey into Jerusalem? Was He too good to simply walk into town? Was Jesus trying to make a statement? Perhaps Jesus desired to shake up the global order.

 

Typically kings rode in to town on majestic steeds, demanding respect and glory. One of Jesus’ titles is King of Kings. Jesus, Divine Authority, highest King, rides in on a donkey. Riding a donkey is embarrassingly humble. Other kings wouldn’t be caught dead on a lowly donkey. Where is the power? Where is the glory? Jesus’ power & glory, authority, is so secure that it does not need to be externally validated. Jesus does not need to demand respect and worship because there comes a point when the truth of His Divinely Royal identity is evident without authoritarian force. I wonder if Jesus, a knowledgeable Jew, & others around Him had Zechariah 9:9 in mind- “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.”

 

The Gospel accounts specifically says that Jesus came from the Mount of Olives, from the East side of Jerusalem. One interpretation of this detail is more than a visual cue so the listener/reader can picture the scene. Rather, who was cast out toward the East? Adam & Eve after The Fall. [Genesis 3:24] Jesus comes from the East perhaps as a symbol of restoration. The Fall is being restored. Adam & Eve, representing sinful humanity, are now invited back through the gate into the Garden, God’s paradise & relationship with God.

 

The palm branches & Hallelujahs are more fitting for the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles [Sukkot- from Leviticus 23 & Deuteronomy 16] in the fall, harvest time. Instead, a similar scene to the Sukkot liturgy happens here in spring, Passover, the planting season. This flip flop could further indicate a reversal of the world order. As Jesus planted & grew on Earth with other smaller harvests [think miracles, teachings, etc. in the Gospels], Jesus is moving toward a larger scale harvest as he sends Himself to seed so that He may blossom, resurrect, further confirm His Divine Identity, & reap a harvest of followers.

 

As Mary rode a donkey toward birthing physical life in Bethlehem, Jesus rides a donkey in Jerusalem as He is about to give the paradoxical spiritual life through death.

 

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.” [Psalm 118:26]

 

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans Review

A Year of Biblical Womanhood has been misunderstood perhaps as much as women’s roles in Christianity. Rachel Held Evans sets out to understand the Bible’s relationship to contemporary women by literally living out instructions from both the Old and New Testaments.

 

Honestly, I was hesitant to read this book because typically discussions around literal interpretations of the Bible, especially beyond common sense, by moderate or progressive believers devolve into disrespectfulness and mocking. I began to read Evans’ blog after she visited Baylor last year before the book was published. I have been pleasantly surprised to read a voice in the Christian world that has a brilliant combination of humor, faith, social commentary, egalitarian convictions, and occasional sarcasm. After reading some of her blogs over time, I ordered this book and read it relatively quickly compared to my typical pace.

 

I found myself laughing out loud because of Evans’ wit and comedy of errors. This was, of course, knowing laughter! What woman can’t relate to a burst of homemaker energy only to find herself tangled in fabric reciting the old saying- measure once, cut twice and begging for reinforcements to finish the project, or baking a large volume of something and following the instructions carefully, only to find herself with mass volumes of dough everywhere and still hungry?

 

Evans offers educated comments about various women in the Bible after each chapter or themed month. While there are some finer points of some of these sections that I have a different opinion about, Evans is on track displaying the variety of women in the Bible who lived at many different times with many different circumstances, and a variety of responses balancing their religious establishment and God’s work in their lives.

 

Her sincerity shines even brighter than her humor. Evans honestly desires to increase her understanding of Jewish customs and Torah, and New Testament instructions [especially by way of Paul]. She certainly has a point to make that cannot be missed- the Bible should be respected higher than an adjective- this or that is “Biblical”. Just because something is “Biblical” does not make it a good idea. [such as polygamy or capital punishment]

 

As many women in my life struggle with what it means to be holy, to be Christian, to be woman, to be feminine, I will point them to A Year of Biblical Womanhood in hopes that they will be reminded as I was that God loves women and men equally, calls men and women equally, and God desires a living sacrifice.

 

Evans concludes that she “was looking for permission- permission to lead, permission to speak, permission to find my identity in something other than my roles, permission to be myself, permission to be a woman. What a surprise to reach the end of the year with the quiet and liberating certainty that I never had to ask for it. It had already been given” (296). This is the purpose of the book- God gives people freedom to love and serve Him. God is more interested in our hearts than our following a checklist. There is no Greek, Gentile, slave, free, male, or female- only people loving God and loving each other.

 

Charity Means Love

I was at a convent with Catholic nuns the first time I heard the term charity used in a context outside of rich person giving money or clothes to poor person. The context of our discussion was Sisters discussing the difficulties of living together & how they manage many personalities, nationalities, cultures, preferences, and moods in one household. They said they must have charity for one another.

 

What is charity?

 

The Student Bible Dictionary defines charity as “God-inspired self-giving love for others. In the Bible, charity does not specifically refer to giving to the poor but to any expression of love.” In fact, sometimes the Greek word agape is translated as charity rather than love, especially in the King James translation.

 

Jesus warns in Matthew 6 against publicly announcing or making a scene when giving charity- “Take care! Don’t do good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to someone [words, physical touch, act of service, gift, quality time, etc.] in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do- blowing trumpets in the synagogues & streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get.” [v.1-2]

 

This is hard to understand as I go to a university where every building & bench has someone’s name on it who donated money & I often hear about celebrities’ visits to hospitals & acts of kindness. True charity is characterized by humility & does not call attention to itself. This does not mean sneaking around the house in the middle of the night to do the dishes so it is a secret, or always being anonymous with the ways we give money or love people in other ways. The charitable Christian’s motivation must be to love, to do the best & give the best possible, not to be seen or for immediate reward.

 

Christians are called to give whether or not we will be given to. 1 John 4:19 says we love because God first loved us. Christians are called to love whether or not the love is reciprocated. [love your enemies; Luke 6:35] Charity is an attitude of loving and giving to whoever is in our midst- friend, stranger, spouse, immigrant, citizen, etc. True charity upholds the dignity of all parties.

 

This necessarily leads to the questions- How to respond when givers of charity are in need of reciprocity such as in a close friendship or with a spouse & how to give in a balanced way?

 

The standard for what should be given is not necessarily dependent on the need. For example, I am not able to give enough to feed all of the hungry children in the world, though they all need food, but I can sponsor 1 child. What is given in charitable love is dependent on the people [what do they really need?] & what I can realistically give. This child really needs his basic needs met such as food & clothing, so that he can develop toward higher goals such education & spiritual formation. [think Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs] I can realistically give $X to a reputable organization to help. My partner really needs emotional support, so that she can emotionally & mentally process in a healthy way. I can realistically give undivided attention for 1 hour. If I try to give more than I am able to, financially, with time, etc., then my charity will not be sustainable & not long-term helpful. Part of the humility of charity is recognizing that I cannot fill every need.

 

There will be times when giving loving charity is taken for granted or even advantage of. That may be a time for gentle correction. [Ephesians 4:15] Emphasis on gentle, which means not passive aggressive or hostile aggression. If all parties truly believe that they are all on the same team & working for the same cause, [maintaining the home, building trust, working on a project] then there will be a higher sense of mutuality & partnership.

 

If the previously mentioned Sisters at the convent have learned anything about having a diverse group of women coming together to make one home, it is they are on the same team. They all desire to love each other & love God. They all desire to work efficiently & effectively raking the leaves, cooking meals, teaching each other in Bible study, etc. They are in life together & make the most of it. Let those of us that are in life together, anyone who is our ‘neighbor’ [Luke 10: 29-37], mutually give charitable love in order to make the most of our life together.

 

Receiving charity is an act of charity in that receiving is also an act of humility & should be full of love. Recognizing true charity for what it is- motivated by love, genuine & thoughtful love, then the charity will be received with love. This is a positive cycle. It is offensive to reject genuine charitable love because doing so is disregarding the giver. I wonder how God feels when people fail to recognize the billions of ways He is charitable to us. If giving to people is to be like giving to God [Matt 25:35-40], then perhaps receiving from people can be like receiving from God- thoughtfully, thankfully.

 

What Does It Mean To Be A Prophet?

What does it mean to be a prophet?

I used to assume that prophecy only told about future events. This is not necessarily the case. In an Old Testament context, being a prophet could mean being unpopular [cue Jonah & Nathan], or having a profound vision/experience from God [see Isaiah & Daniel]. Sometimes a prophet was a civic leader [such as Deborah & Micah]. Sometimes prophets led worship and praise of God [such as Miriam & Habakkuk]. Always, a prophet was a messenger of God- someone who received a word from God not only for their own benefit, but for other people’s benefit too.

One of my favorite verses comes from Joel 2. In context of the chapter, Joel is saying that as God restores and provides for His people, God will reveal Himself and work through anyone- male or female, slave or free, etc.

“Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced. Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” [v.27-29]

In the New Testament, prophets looked like Mary & Elizabeth [Luke 1] who spoke the truth of God’s miraculous work in their lives, Simeon & Anna [Luke 2] who recognized and verbally witnessed that the One in front of them was the Messiah, John as he wrote the mysteries of Revelation given to him in a vision, and so on. God has always used women and men to join His work on Earth, especially as prophets or messengers.

1 Corinthians says:

“So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, ‘God is truly here among you.’ Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.” [14:22-26]

This is a passage that deals a bit with speaking in tongues, but in a bigger pictures deals with worship. Prophecy should be included in worship [v.26], is for the benefit of believers [v. 22], and should strengthen everyone [v. 26]. Worship is of course ‘valid’ or ‘acceptable’ without one or more of these elements named in v. 26, but it is in most Christian traditions to include a sermon or homily during worship. Preaching is prophesy. Nowhere in this passage is prophesy or other acts of worship leadership gendered or reserved for one gender. However, this same chapter of 1 Corinthians [along with other New Testament verses and epistles] includes verses restricting women. There are a few ideas about these specific verses that seem to contradict a larger Biblical narrative of God using women to bring The Word. I will respond to these ‘problematic’ passages in the next blog.

As for me & my household we will serve the Lord, which means obedience, which for me means preaching. I have been hesitant to push forward with a pastoral vocation [in any ministry] because it is hard. The calling is an honor, but is also very demanding with high expectations. [see James 3:1-2] If you are interested in an easy life, do not answer The Call. These concerns and demands vary & differ between personalities and denominations, but women in pastoral leadership often have a particular challenge that their male counterparts do not- questioning by others and sometimes even themselves if what they are called to do is obedient to God.

What does God desire most from men and women who claim to have faith? While there are many interpretations of nearly every verse in the Bible, what is the best interpretation of select Pauline verses and passages on gender roles? This & more will be discussed in the next blog to follow.

A Response to Jones’ & Driscoll’s Twilight Comments

In response to: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2012/12/why-mark-driscoll-is-wrong-abo.html

 

Beth Felker Jones touches on some important points responding to the continuing Twilight fad in response to the latest film released nearly a month ago. She gives discussion to both Mark Driscoll’s response to Twilight and to Twilight itself, as well as women and girls who are fans. What about male fans? Perhaps Jones herself makes a common Feminist faux pas by speaking to the condition of females without enough consideration of males. I know of some male fans of the Twilight series. How does Twilight affect them? Does the affect for males differ from females? I don’t know the answers to these questions exactly, but they are important questions to ask so that Driscoll’s shaming tone toward teenage boys about porn, and teenage girls toward Twilight are equally addressed. Jones writes, “rather than encouraging our daughters to wait for their Edward, we should encourage them to find satisfaction in their Savior.” Also, rather than encouraging our sons to seek out Bella, we should encourage them to seek out God.

 

Driscoll points to “Twilight-crazed teenagers participating in real-life vampirism,” as Jones describes one of Driscoll’s posts. Surely this extreme example is not normative. I am not convinced that Twilight has a direct correlation to trying vampirism. Curiosity and unmet spiritual hunger combined with a lack of community support such as an involved Church community [remember- young and old are fans] are more likely the underlying reasons for why teenagers and other fans move from ‘that was an interesting story’ to ‘I want to be that or do that in my real life’. Vampirism and other forms of the occult are inherently spiritual and are met with curiosity as it is demonstrated on the screen or in a book in mysterious and sexy ways, but there is a huge canyon between curiosity and literally attempting the modeled lifestyle in fantasy- in this case vampirism. When people are spiritual starving, they will go off the orthodox path in a variety of ways. IN this case, vampirism is portrayed as glamorous. Some people lose themselves in fantasy because their reality is not strongly grounded. In my context, the strongest grounding for reality is found in faith- the Bible, the Church, and genuine local church community.

 

Is Twilight deliberately “aimed at girls,” as Jones writes? The answer lies in the author, Stephenie Meyer’s intentions. Author intentions are often tricky to navigate. The choice of language- “aimed”- implies aggressive intention in the same what that a bow & arrow are aimed for hunting. Meyer identifies the inspiration for Twilight coming from a dream she had one night. I doubt she consciously had the intention to write a story to target girls so that she could further ingrain outdated and unhelpful gender roles, and female learned helplessness. This story itself is not a conspiracy theory. I imagine Meyer wrote the story as a creative outlet, and at least on some level, to make money.

 

It should be no surprise that Twilight is as popular as it is. There is the social level- friends are interested in this book/movie, so I will join. There is also a deeper core issue- Twilight offers a definition for what love is. Until Christians demonstrate the heart of 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages such as 1John 4 that discuss what truly genuine love and faithful community are, girls and boys, men and women, will continue to fill our hearts with junk in an attempt to satiate a God-given hunger for love. Twilight satisfies the craving for love about as well as a Twix bar satisfies someone who has anemia. There may be a temporary sense of lost hunger, but there is still vitamin deficiency. I echo Jones’ comments that “Twilight is more idolatry than pornography”. As John Calvin wrote, “the heart is a factory of idols”. Idol-making happens slowly over time and must be swiftly cut off.

 

Driscoll clearly communicates concern and outrage for American culture in general, and specifically around gender issues. Jones joins Driscoll and many prominent Christian leaders who oppose the communicated values of Twilight, though these voices have differing angles and opinions to support their opposition. If it is acceptable to be upset and even outraged against the latest violation of women’s [and men’s!] dignity and portrayal in the media, how about going a little bigger? Meyer’s story is not incredibly original. How many Disney movies can you name that follow the cookie cutter pattern of female in conflict, male helper/savior, they profess unmitigated love for each other, then they live happily ever after? [I’m thinking of Snow White, Beauty & the Beast…] More than “porn for girls,” as Driscoll so eloquently labels Twilight, Twilight is ‘Disney magic’ for big girls and big boys who recognize that their hearts desire deep and fully committed love. The storyline of Twilight and similar books & movies mimic true love. Jones describes Bella’s love for Edward as “all consuming”. The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire. Anything else that consumes us in such totality is an idol. This begs the question, what is true love. 1 Corinthians 13 says:

 

“If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

 

This passage is not simply Paul’s gooey worship of romance or romantic love, or an alternative to Meyers’ and Disney’s definitions of love, but a call to self-examination of how one gives and receives love. Much of 1 Corinthians is about motives. Do I love selfishly? Love is not jealous or boastful. Do I love so that I can get what I want? Love does not demand its own way. True love does not compete for affection, nor conquer the other, nor wait passively, as portrayed in Twilight. Perhaps Paul defines love partially in the negative [love is not ___] because love is mysterious and difficult to fully encompass and define with words. Even so, Jesus calls us to love.

 

I could fill volumes in response to Driscoll’s consistently crude, patriarchal, and damaging comments toward women, gender issues, sexuality, etc. Frankly, I don’t have the time nor the desire to go after him. Instead, I will write and talk about, and hopefully live what love is and who should be loved [hint- The Greatest Commandments].