Friday, March 23, 2007

Where Have all the Theologians Gone?

Very rarely do I find myself in agreement with the contributors to the Christians for Biblical Equality and Today’s Christian Woman blog—but I must admit, when I ventured over there today, I was nodding my head in affirmation of what was being said (sort of).

The topic was women and theology, and the argument was made that so often women’s ministries simply settle for “fluff and feeling” leaving many women dissatisfied and alienated from women’s ministry—not to mention it leaves a tremendous void in the souls of the women. The post from the Today’s Christian Woman blog, dated February 27, talks about the absence women’s conferences, retreats, ministries, and bible studies that focus on the mind, in addition to the heart.

Rosalie De Rosset says,
“As an example, in the two or more decades I have been speaking at women’s conferences and retreats, I have often chosen to address the importance of good reading and solid Bible study in the Christian life. Often, the leadership has been hesitant when they hear my choice of subject, wondering if perhaps something more practical, more mainstream (dare I say predictable) would be a better subject—something like how to have devotions or how to discern the will of God or how to pray more successfully and consistently.”

Though a true statement, this saddens me. And even though I agree with the assessment that this woman has made, I don’t agree with this blog’s usual understanding of what womanhood is. I love theology, and I can hardly make it out of the church bookstore without purchasing another book that I don’t have time to read. I am frequently teased by my roommates for my Wish List selection on Amazon and my excitement over new books that I find. But I don’t love theology because I want to be a seminary professor or a pastor. First and foremost I love theology because I love God, and theology is knowing God. There is no excuse for a woman to say she does not care about theology—all of us should be vigorous students of the Word of God. Secondly, I love theology because I love seeing women embrace theology and understand it for the first time. I study so I may tell other women about Christ. If women do not have a clear understanding of biblical truth who will teach the next generation of women? Who will teach the children—the next generation of pastors?

And so, women should desire to know theology—but not because we want to be like men, but because we want to be like women. Theological insight is not relegated to men, it is for all people. All of us are commanded to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. My prayer for my generation is that we would see a rise of women who embrace their role as biblical women and stand in the face of culture and feminism—yet stand because they know and love their Savior, not their feelings.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Excellent comments and very true! In fact, I heard Alistair Begg preaching one day(I wish I could remember the passage)and the women are told(according to the Greek structure of the word used in this text I can't remember)to think like men when it comes to Bible doctrine. I appreciated it because I have felt for years that women are weak in these areas. I have been in churches where the Bible studies have nothing to do with the Bible, but instead are discussions about what we think or feel the text is saying or we spend very little time on Bible study and more time on "sharing". I also was in a church where the pastor taught a book of the Bible and the women would break up after into separate discussion groups that were facilitated by other women. It was a wonderful time of fellowship around the Word and the difference in maturity and growth was amazing! That was over 20 years ago!! We must get back to being women of the Book and not the latest best seller that Oprah is peddling! You're right, Courtney, the next generation of Christian men and women depend upon it!