When women resign from church
Women’s roles in the church – it’s a touchy topic.
Today’s excerpt is from The Resignation of Eve, a book that can be a tough read. It’s compiled from interviews with women in a variety of circumstances and with a variety of beliefs.
Regardless of your position on what women should or shouldn’t do in the church, conversations about this topic are important to talk about, to listen to, to read about, and to think through.
And to change your mind about as needed.
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Excerpt from The Resignation of Eve:
Let me ask my male readers this question: when was the last time the word allow was used to describe what you could do in church for no other reason than that you are a man?
. . . The worst thing is that millions of women have resigned.
Some women have resigned from Christianity, some have resigned from God, but many have simply developed a more insidious form of resignation, the invisible resignation that people develop when they’ve given up hope.
This kind of resignation leads a woman to appear to be present when she actually left the building years ago.
. . . One of the most alarming trends taking place in the church today is that long-term insiders like Laura and Tom are looking at options other than conventional church to satisfy their spiritual hunger.
By the time leaders like these two veteran missionaries begin asking why the church is so slow on the uptake regarding women, you can be sure that multiple thousands of the less committed have already left the building.
What’s interesting is that many of these church dropouts are not Kingdom dropouts.
Like Laura and Tom, these “revolutionaries,” as George Barna calls them, often invent new ways to express themselves spiritually, even self-funding their spiritual enterprises while keeping their day jobs.
When the church loses leaders like Laura, that’s what I call eating the principal.
– Jim Henderson
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My book review here of The Resignation of Eve
Wow, Lisa. This looks to be must-reading. I’m jotting the title down even as we speak. Thank you, my friend, for this fabulous selection of books you’re offering us this month. Love it!
And have a wonderful weekend, too! This 31 Days is a long haul, and I hope these few days are sprinkled with some fun adventures for you!
;-}
Thanks for your encouragement, Linda. Yes, 31 days can get quite long. ha. I’m enjoying it but it’s taking a bit more work than I’d anticipated. 😉 But I did sprinkle in quite a few adventures this past weekend! And looking forward to more this weekend so all is well. Hoping the same for you.
Dear Lisa
I am one of those women who left organized church to find Jesus. The abuse that I suffered at the hands of false teachers and leaders is not something I wish on anyone. But Our Pappa is so gracious and enabled me to forgive those who have hurt me and my family very much, because lokking back, I can see that they were totally ignorant of what they were doing.
Blessings XX
Mia
I appreciate you sharing this, Mia. I’m so thankful that you didn’t give up on finding Jesus–and that Jesus never gives up on finding us. What a blessing that you have been able to forgive those who hurt you. You’re a special inspiration!
I am always a little confused at why women think they are any less than a man because they do not hold the priest’s role. I do not feel confused about my role with the church i attend. A church which those on the outside will see as Patriarchal and in a way it is, but i do not feel any less of a person or any less valued because i do not hold The Priesthood of God. I do not need to stand a teach the words of Christ from his very book. I do not need when i teach a Sunday school class not of little children but of men and women some of who have far more experience in life, in God and in His word than i do. I do not feel belittled when i am asked to speak to the whole congregation. When i humble take the bread and water offered me each week. I do not feel any less valued when i help another, when i hold up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. I do not!
God made women different, but when it says come unto me, he isn’t just talking to the men he is talking to all that will come. Come follow me, come be as I AM! He does not say it just to men he says it to all. It is a world gone cold and sneaky serpent that tells women they are not valued that they need more! Know i do not need more, i have all i need.
Thank you for this post Lisa.
I can tell you have a spirit of humility about you, Beverley–that’s something we all need. And yet also a spirit of knowing your value to the Father. A beautiful combination. I appreciate you sharing this here. I love hearing viewpoints from others about how they deal with this issue.
Thanks for sharing the quote Lisa. In our experience in Ukraine it’s not that women drop out, many never started to begin with. I understand that the reasons for this our many and complicated. My wife has been discouraged on several occasions because she would like to find a woman or women who can take her place but it is just so difficult.
That’s interesting, Caleb. I didn’t know that about Ukraine. I pray that the Lord will raise up women during your family’s absence who are able to fulfill some of the roles that your wife did.
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