Customer Reviews

Ten Lies the Church Tells Women: How the Bible Has Been Misused to Keep Women in Spiritual Bondage

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I had the privilege of hearing David Yonggi Cho speak at a conference last July, pastor of the largest church in the world, which hails, not 10,000 but 700,000 members. As Grady points out in this book, one of the secrets to the church's success is because women are actively involved in the spiritual leadership of its members. This is a fact with which many other denominations have grappled, as Yonggi Cho states as quoted in Grady's book, (properly footnoted, I might add).

Concerning accusations in earlier reviews that Grady twists the Scripture or uses faulty interpretations: unlike many others who make claims, not only does Grady first admit that his book isn't the Gospel itself and thus is open to debate, he aids his readers by properly citing all of his sources; if you have an issue with an interpretation, by all means, find the source that he, like a true scholar, provided and make up your own mind. You should be doing this even if you do believe what he says.

I'm also somewhat stunned by a previous reader's parallel of the Fall to a thief stealing bread. I'll address this since I'm sure others have the same mentality. Having read the review, I find myself wondering if this reader has a proper grasp of the Christian faith that I assume he follows. Yes, there are consequences as a result of a thief stealing bread. However, the incredibly wonderful aspect of Christianity is that the thief will not have to rot in jail, even after apologizing and returning the bread because someone else (namely Christ) has already served time in his place. I fail to see how Eve's curse of subordination should not be wiped clean by Christ's sacrifice just as ALL other sins were wiped away. By saying otherwise, one is either assuming that the first woman's sin was simply too great for even the Son of God, or that simply dismissing Paul's statement of "...For there is neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ" as only applying to the afterlife.

Grady, on the otherhand is a strong proponent of the fully redemptive qualities of Jesus Christ and thus attempts to unearth long held prejudices against woman by basing his arguments on this foundational premise. If one is willing to admit that Jesus loves woman too, one might see that Grady makes several good arguments. (On a side note, I would also like to add stealing bread when one is starving is no longer a crime. One no longer has to serve 10 years of hard labor as in the case of Jean Valjean in Les Miserable, which the previous writer appears to be referencing.)

I think one of Grady's greatest accomplishment in this book wasn't presenting and attempting to refute 10 Lies (I think he succeeded, by the way) but rather exposing the reader to the multitude of ways in which woman have contributed to the ministry both in the past and in the present. If anyone thinks that woman should be satisfied with baking cookies when she feels the call to ministry, I strongly urge them to take a look at this book and perhaps look at the Yoido Full Gospel Church, 700,000 members and still growing, because a pastor was willing to give women a chance at spiritual leadership.

So many times I have been disappointed and spiritually discouraged by authors attempting to tell women that our place is underneath men. While I have never agreed with this nor believed that God wished it, it worried me to know that so many have passed sexism off as God's truth and that so many women have believed this poison. How liberating it is to know that Grady is not one of those people! His book is a WONDERFUL demonstration of the real Biblical truth that men and women are God's equal children. Because of the many disappointments that I've had with Christian authors in the past, I already had my guard up when I first saw this book. Grady, however, addresses every single issue and misunderstanding the church has had with women in the past, from marriage to church positions, and never tries to condescend to women or preach to us about what our roles in life are. His book was so relieving to my soul that it was like a breath of fresh air. I'd advise the man who said that women should continue to pay for Eve's mistake to re-read the Bible a little bit. God never says that Eve became inferior to Adam because of her mistake and He certainly never said that women would be inferior from then on! Reconsider your words, buddy. As to another person's comment, I don't see anything wrong with women trying to get jobs and/or equal rights; this is NOT a way of "abdicating our roles", as each one of us has a different role in life that is not limited to raising children and being housewives. Being a mother and helpmate to our husband is wonderful, but it is certainly not all that God designed us to be; it would be just as incorrect to imply that men are only designed to be husbands and fathers. I highly recommend this book to women AND men, particularly to women who have been spiritually bruised in the past from being told that they are inferior and men who have been taught to view women in a sexist way. Read this book, sisters, and rejoice in your God-given freedom! Thank you Grady and God bless you

To be honest, I really was not particularly interested in this book when someone gave it to me to read. But, when I started to read it, I got hooked and breezed through it quickly. It is easy reading, but not short on substance or thought-provoking insight.

I considered myself to be fairly flexible on Women's issues, but I learned that I had accepted a number of distorted views of men and women which are predominant within Christianity. Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." I learned a lot of truth in this book, which has set me free. Some of the misunderstanding that Christians have of gender roles is very binding, not only of women, but also of men. After reading one chapter (I started with chapter 10 because I did not think I would be interested in reading the whole book), I realized the implications of some of what I had believed and saw that they were a root cause to some of the difficulties I had in my own marriage.

Because of its practical nature and the release it can bring to both men and women, I strongly recommend this book--especially for men!

In his book 10 LIES THE CHURCH TELLS WOMEN, J. Lee Grady makes a clear and timely call to the Church. He challenges the misguided limitations placed on women, both in the home and in ministry, that have been sanctioned by the Church for centuries-whether through unscriptural teaching or by simply being silent on the issue. While he is not the first to tackle this subject, his approach is refreshing. Tones of compassion and boldness are intertwined in such a way as to help heal hurts and build confidence in women whose valuable gifting and ministries have too often been suppressed. By including the background and cultural setting in which the New Testament was written, Grady provides a clearer view of the Scripture and context surrounding some of the most quoted passages used to limit women in ministry. Also, the inclusion of quotations from noted historical figures reveals how these "lies" have been transferred from one generation to another. J. Lee Grady's passion for women to be spiritually liberated is evident, and thanks to his new book many will finally learn the truth concerning God's view of "His daughters." Women are sure to be released from spiritual bondage and encouraged as they step out in assurance and boldness to fulfill their destiny in Christ. In addition to women, I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in ministry. It reminds us to be sensitive to the ministry of others and alerts us to what God's Spirit is saying to the Church.

I am so grateful for men of God like Lee Grady who are willing to stand up for God's women. Without an ounce of malice, Mr. Grady nevertheless "kept it real" in this wonderful book! Thanks so much and may God continue to bless you and your ministry!

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the subject of women in ministry. I grew up in a very strick, fundamentalist Baptist church in the South and it has taken me years of prayer and study to discard the lies I had been taught and to discover the truth of what God really says in His Word about women. I have always felt a call to ministry but for the first 30 years of my life was held in bondage to a man-made doctrine based on fear and a desire to "keep women in their place." I find it very interesting that those who give this book a low rating usually come from that same background. If you hear something often enough, even a lie can begin to sound like the truth. Thank God for J. Lee Grady!

This is an excellent discussion of the many ways the Church has allowed cultural bias to creep into the running of our churches to usurp biblical truth & has allowed ministry opportunities to be denied to qualified, called women. I was raised Roman Catholic (let's not even go there!), attended a conservative Charismatic church for 12 years (where the pastor taught that, if a man is not available for ministry, God will raise up a woman) & am now Episcopalian & aiming to be trained as a Bible teacher/Theologian. I'm impressed that a Charismatic man is willing to take on this subject & to cut men no slack. I agree with him that the truth presented in this book is not a license for women to become hateful & angry toward men & that the Holy Spirit should lead. It's such a relief that someone of our generation recognizes that the Lord has already presented a workable "biblical feminism" within the Bible. I just emerged from a 5-6 year hellish time in the Pagan/New Age movements & I can tell you that Wiccan/Pagan & New Age women, for whom Jesus died, will never take the Gospel message seriously until they see the Church give women true equality in ministry & see the game-playing, Scripture-twisting & spiritual abuse STOP. Until then, we're just playing church.

Finally, a trans-denominational approach to women in leadership from someone that has no denominational agenda or religious political career to foster, nurture or idolize. Lee Grady has articulated many perspectives the Church has/does continue to teach regarding women in a leadership role within the Church. His approach has the ability to be contextualized around the world for the release of women into leadership roles that are critical and essential for world evangelization. Biblical perpectives of anything seldom make headline news or reach consensus among the public. Grady has been able to provide more than a thesis for popular vote. He presents the Biblical teaching of women and men in ministry with clarity and sound exegesis. Grady has been able to extend beyond the written page. There is a call beyond cognitive reason that reaches into the very soul of the reader. For the sake of the Gospel, I repent of my thoughts and/or actions that have caused pain in my sister's lives--holding them back from seeing how God the Father created them uniquely and with purpose for accomplishing His will. Father forgive me.

I LOVE this book! It is so so good to have this tool written by a married man as reference. It is time for the oppression to end. It is time for us women to take up what God is calling us to. The Holy Spirit is moving and we, women, are as much a part of it as our fellow men. I highly recommend this book to anyone, both men and women, who has ever felt uncomfotable with the way the church deals with the different genders.

Lee Grady expertly demolishes a mindset that has hampered generations of women. Many will experience a release of a yoke as they read this very sensible exploration of scriptures, such as Paul's famous quotes concerning the role of women in the church. Refreshing revelation and theological "correctness" threads it's way through every aspect of each issue. Such a book brings unimaginable impact, affecting the world wide harvest of souls, as gender proclivity equalizes, and an army of women arise in the five fold offices of calling and ministry.