Customer Reviews

Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality

5 star:		(5)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I hate not to give it a five; but the last chapter brought up a second heavily controversial topic, and traditionalists would use that to discredit the book and the author even though the rest of the book is doctrinally solid. More about that shortly.

The rest of the book gave a lot of solid defense of core Christian doctrines as it defended women. Groothuis pays a lot of attention to historical and cultural details that we 21st century readers wouldn't have known. She got deep into topics without being too difficult to read. In some cases, she presents multiple theories about difficult Bible passages and lets the readers draw their own conclusions. I loved reading the book; and if I hadn't had to do things like work or sleep, I would have been finished with it much sooner because I didn't want to put it down. Oh yeah, her demolition of hierarchist logic by using the core doctrines of Scripture wasn't bad, either.

The big weakness: I loved seeing how Groothuis was able to defend equality in the Creation account and link the beginning of gender hierarchy to the Fall. Unfortunately, in the last chapter she gave props to progressive creationism. Many traditionalists, especially the ones I deal with, are also six-day creationists who see progressive creationism as just another way to undermine the authority of Scripture. All of her arguments up to that last chapter were perfect to use with six-day creationists because they fit exactly with a literal creation framework and did not diminish it in any way. The section mentioning progressive creation could have been left out without interrupting the flow of the book, and would have made the book useful for a much wider audience. The rest of the book is great, but that one section undermines its effectiveness for many of the people who need it most.

This book presents the most logical and exegetical discussion of the role of women in the kingdom of God. Chapter 2, which defines functional equality, is a must read for anyone who wants to take part in the discussion on the street or in the church. Rebecca Merrill Groothuis is a very thorough Christian, thinker, and writer. Do not dismiss this book as the influence of society, rather give it a thorough reading before coming to a conclusion. Sulia

This well-written and fully-documented book patiently addresses and analyzes all the pertinent biblical arguments regarding the role of women in the church and the home. It is marked by careful attention to and deep respect for Scripture as God's holy and fully authoritative word (another reviewer on Amazon to the contrary).

It is unique in its exploration of the philosophical consequences and assumptions of Traditionalism (sometimes euphemistically called Complementarianism). This view claims that God has forever ordained men to rule in the church and the home; women are subordinate by nature and design. Rebecca Merrill Groothuis bends over backwards to understand the arguments of Traditionalists and to respond to them fairly, biblically, and logically. Her arguments against traditionalism given in chapter two have never been refuted, let alone fairly addressed in any of literature I have seen. She convincingly argues that women are not to be subjugated to male rule by divine decree.

The crux is this: Jesus Christ calls women and men to follow him as equals. He does not place men over women or women over men. Rather, both are equally sinful, equally redeemable through the work of the Divine Mediator, and equally equipped for ministry in the church and responsibility in the home as they submit to the light of the Holy Scriptures and to the life of the Holy Spirit.

This a charter for freedom, authority, and effectiveness in the Christian life.

Rebecca Merrill Groothuis has also authored Women Caught in the Conflict: The Culture War Between Traditionalism and Feminism (Wipf and Stock, 1997). She has published articles in Christianity Today, Christian Scholars Review, Priscilla Papers, Eternity, The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, and other periodicals.

For this PCA Presbyterian woman, happily married in an egalitarian marriage for 18 years, blessed with four children, this book was indeed good news. Not only is the scholarship excellent, but it has helped give me the tools to intelligently discuss this issue with my children, in helping them to understand who they are in God's image. Furthermore, in my region of the US, Groothius's work is pivotal in equipping godly PCA women who desire God's best for the denomination - full inclusion of women in leadership. This text, filled with outstanding biblical scholarship, has helped to open up discussion of full inclusion of women's ordination at high levels within the PCA church.

I devoured this book. It did so much to strengthen my faith and convictions and answer hard questions to which the traditionalist reply fell flat. The information she shared so eloquently and with such clarity set me on the road to freedom from bondage to sexist legalism. Her arguments were logical and convincing. Her treatment of traditionalist arguements were devastating without dishonoring her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who stand on the other side of the theological divide. She presented a picture of gender equality in marriage that was sublimely beautiful and God-glorifying. Her love for Christ and desire to see others experience all that He has for them echoed through every word.

My only complaints, and boy do I wish I didn't have to share these, were that she did not affirm the value of motherhood and homemaker enough and she made a brief comment about how she believes the theory of progressive creationism is more plausible than the new Earth creationism theory. Traditionalists already view her as a heretic and by inserting her thought on creation and by not firmly stating the value of motherhood and fulfillment many women find in that role she may well have confirmed that notion in their minds.

Read this book and allow any assumptions you may hold to be challenged.

It's always disconcerting when an author introduces a book with the assumption that unless one comes to the same view as the author, that person starts their examination of a topic prejudiced. We find this on page 12, in the third paragraph. To make that assumption of the reader is to commit the very error the author desires others to avoid. That's not a good starting point.

Rebecca Groothuis attempts, in 242 pages, to reason from Galatians 3:28, where the Apostle Paul asserts that all are one in Christ through faith, to a doctrine that allows in the formal roles of the church, equality between men and women. Much of her logic is solid (there is one rather large exception, see below), as far as it goes, but this works suffers from a common hermeneutical error: using implications from Scripture to interpret explicit didactic statements. This might also be excusable if Groothuis would confess a view of error in Scripture, but she does not (and to her credit). In fact, in numerous instances she appeals to the authority of Scripture. That being the case, one can only judge this work in that light.

Groothuis makes the inference that since men and women are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28), that they are equal in every role in the church and in the family. That implication might be fine, as far as it goes. But when Paul, using his Apostolic authority to speak for Christ, declares explicitly that women may not have authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:5-11) or explicitly states that women must submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22), then one has no right to "over-rule" those statements with a mere inference. Many people today will object of course, because to apply hermeneutics consistently to Scripture leads us to understand the text in a way that would compel us to change our own behaviors and desires. Heaven forbid!

By way of logical errors, I find a rather large one. Groothuis, in the later part of Chapter 1 (page 33) shows that the qualifications for the priesthood in the Old Covenant have been set aside in the New Covenant. However, in Chapter 8, (pp. 190 and following) Groothuis now proposes that the Old Testament example of Deborah provides justification for allowing women in formal ministry roles in contradiction to Paul. One could readily see how her own arguments from Chapter 1 can be turned against this argument.

There are many smaller examples of hermeneutical error, this review can not include them all. All in all, there is some material in the book that is quite useful, although it might be found in a work less presuppositionally biased, that uses better hermeneutical techniques and avoids such obviously flawed exegesis as Chapter 9. These good points include numerous examples from Scripture of women informally participating in teaching, evangelism and worship.

The binding of my copy from Baker is that horrid "linoleum" material. It seems to resist wear better than other materials, but easily takes on bends and crumples. The interior text is bright and easily readable, and the work has very thorough subject and Scripture indices.

Excellent book on a controversial topic among Christians. Regardless of how you feel about Christianity and gender roles it's a good book which explains what those controversial verses really mean.

The only complaint I have is that the writing is a bit complex at times. It takes the author a while to get to the point in some chapters but the examples are worth it. A must read for all Christians, especially pastors and the conservative segment of the church. Be prepared though, it will challenge your opinions.

There is the brief synopsis of this book in the other book "disovering Biblical Equality", but this was a fuller explanation of her thinking, which I really appreciated.

The more learning I do on this subject, the more convinced I am that patriarchy is evil and ungodly. I have a deep problem with those that teach that patriarchy is a "godly" model of relationships. God has not created women to be inferior or servants of men. Women were created for the pleasure of God and God alone first and foremost. Female essence is of no less significance to God because it is female, first and foremost it is our humanity that defines us that matters to God. God is not any more masculine than He is feminine, he is GOD and beyond all that we can comprehend with our finite minds.
Groothius argument has never been refuted by someone from the complementarian camp. Either women ARE inferior in being or they ARE NOT, its quite simple, and cannot be both ways. Since God is not the great Patriarch, I find it highly unlikely that it is the second. It breaks my heart to see these Christian women who are depressed because all of their lives that have been told because they do not have the right equipment, they are of less value to God as people.
And what are people doing messing with the Trinity? Until 1980, the Trinity was never questioned until it came time to subordinate women somehow. And this was one convincing way to do it. I guess breaking with almost 2000 years of tradition is okay, just in this case. How is there hierarchy in ONENESS, just like in marriage? If God himself is somehow hierarchial, what does that say about human relationships period? that someone always has to be on top and in charge? What a sad way to look at the world and a way to cause infighting for the "top" spot. Jesus never taught that. That worldview is sinful and not the way that I believe, or Groothius believes that God works.
I have no patience for those who believe in female subordination. Its sinful, disgusting and ungodly. Its legalistic, because there are so many things one has to sort through to make it be "okay" for a woman to do...all of that mental gymnastics must get tiring at times. Its much easier to believe that humanity is to be mutually submissive to one another when appropriate with Christ as our head.


ETA: As the above poster (uh ummm), as obviously you are the same person, was driving me a bit crazy in the presentation of the book I felt I had to comment.
First off, I am not sure where you get the idea that God is a MAN. ummm, as far as I know, God does not have genitalia. It is also stated quite clearly in Hosea that "I AM NOT A MAN" maybe she missed that one. it is a completely ubsurd argument to say that God is all masculine. I guess femininity was created in a vacuum eh? ridiculously stupid.
Secondly, Groothuis NEVER takes pot shots at SAHMS or women that have chosen to make their home their place of work. I have no idea where that woman is getting that idea from. I am a SAHM, I just happen to believe women are people. Thirdly, she doesn't reject submission, though I am not sure how many times we have to say this, we reject UNILATERAL FEMALE SUBMISSION. duh..how hard is that to grasp? we think women are responsible, capable human beings that don't need to be perpetual children with a constant male "authority" in their lives because they are women. is this a difficult concept as well? appparently?
I don't think she made womanhood look disgraceful, but I do think that she empowers women to do a lot more than warm a church pew, or take care of the kiddies because that is all she is allowed to do. giftedness, not gender, decides what role you play in church. again, this is not a difficult concept. which is why its pretty amusing to see this hierarchalists falling over themselves and arguing about what women are "allowed" to do. please. lets just put a nice tight lid on that God box of yours.
The last comment, which is the only comment that showed any signs of actually MAYBE interacting with the book, though not very likely, was SO FULL of holes it was ridiculous. which makes this think this was likely the same person who had much time on their hands. Just to address their fallacies because I can't let others think they are valid. I am not sure how she gets off saying that there was no pre fall hiearchy, that is a big admittance for a hierarchalists, but I digress, but her translation is REALLY lame. it doesn't say women will suffer pains in labour, it is the same word in Hebrew as it is for men, translated as "toil". so it would be something like "anxiety over childbearing and the years to follow" which I think we can all agree parenthood is not exactly a walk in the park. Secondly , the idea that "women want to rule over men" holds no water either. it merely says "her desire will be for her husband". the Hebrew again says "turning to", as in she will make him a little god, which I know sometimes females like to do.
but aside from that, I am a little bit confused as to why she would want to continue to live in perpetual patriarchy when Jesus died so we could be free from it. it always amazes me when Christians don't want to leave Egypt. *shrug*

how very arrogant of me (as I am being accused) to think that I am full human being. (finger wagging). I really should be happy in my perpetual child state. uh huh.

I have just finished part 1 and it is a very insightful and useful summary of the overall idea that the Bible and especially the new covenant teaches equality across the spectrum of races and ethnicity, wealth and poverty, and gender, with an emphasis on the latter, as most everyone accepts the former 2. It is very enjoyable to see the phrases of non-egalitarians shown to be self-contradictory but still in a respectful way; the author has a sharp wit to cut thru the fog and yet respect the other's viewpoint. I learned from her on that and also on the genderless property of God. I am looking forward to finishing this book.

I praise God for Rebecca and the research she has placed into the subject of gender equality. This book has been written not only with great revelation but also with love. She takes the time, not to attack traditionalists views, but to challenge the church on what it has believed about womens place in the Body of Christ. Jesus will not come back for his church until it is without spot or wrinkle. I pray that women and men will read this book, their eyes will be opened and women will be able to take their rightful place in the body of Christ answering God's call upon their lives, not cultures.