International Women's Day

Today is International Woman’s Day. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need such a day as the rights of women would be a given. But we don’t live in that world, so this day is a great inspiration to women, and a helpful reminder to men of our male privilege granted by a patriarchal society.

Some people (justifiably) point at Christianity as a patriarchal religion. But is that consistent with the message of Jesus? It’s easy to overlook because Jesus’ culture was much different than ours, but in every encounter Jesus had with women he violated the customs of his society. Walter Wink explains this well in The Powers that Be. Jesus freely conversed with women (a no-no) and even touched them (another no-no for anyone but a spouse), ignoring the system that would declare him unclean if touched by a woman. Another great example is the story of Mary and Martha. I always thought this story was about taking time to be with Jesus, rather than always doing (a helpful message for this works-oriented disciple!). But Mary is said to be seated at Jesus feet – which was the privilege of a male disciple of a teacher. Lastly, we know that women were equal partners and participants in Jesus’ movement – as prophets, church leaders, evangelists, deacons, apostles, fundraisers and more.

Wink sums up the importance of women’s rights much better than I can: “it becomes clear that Jesus treated women as he did, not because he was ‘gallant’ or ‘nice,’ but because the restoration of women to their full humanity in partnership with men is integral to the coming of God’s domination-free order.”

Amen to that.