-OBJECTION: I’ll never subscribe to Christianity because it’s oppressive to women and women’s rights.
-RESPONSE: That’s a common misconception. First, the Bible ascribes great worth to women. Women, like men, are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27), a concept that endures the Fall (Gen. 9:6) and continues to this day. Second, Jesus placed value on women, electing to teach them, disciple them (Lk. 8:1-3), and reveal Himself so they could first bear news of His resurrection (Mt. 28:8-10). Third, Paul taught that women were equal within the church (Gal. 3:28) and regularly worked with women in ministry, praising their work (Rom. 16). The bottom line is that women are esteemed in Scripture contrary to the standards of the time in which it was written. Christian behavior not rooted in such an interpretation of Scripture is a reflection of sinful men, not the Bible’s teaching.
As to why you believe Christianity is oppressive is likely associated with the understanding of wifely marital submission (complementarianism). Many find the concept of wifely submission to the husband as oppressive, but when lived out correctly, biblically, it is anything but oppressive. Yes, God has assigned different roles to men and women, husbands and wives, because of His divine prerogative and male-female uniqueness (Col. 3:18-19). Yet, these roles are never described as demeaning or lesser roles. It is our current, cultural sin which does that. The role distinctions are for the benefit of husbands and wives and for God’s glory. Finally, wifely submission is not a decrease in male-female equality either. After all, a parallel relationship is present with Jesus, Second Person in the Trinity, and God the Father, Who is His head (1 Cor. 11:3), and Scripture teaches that Jesus is equal to the Father (John 20:28)
Additionally, society’s discussion on abortion probably adds to your assessment that Christianity is oppressive to women. After all, society presents abortion as a woman’s right. However, that’s a current, faulty understanding regarding childbirth. Somewhere in recent culture we started ignoring the fact that procreation requires a male and a female. Abortion is often depicted as the only option for a victimized and impregnated woman, which ignores the common reality consensual sex outside of marriage (obviously excluding instances of rape, which is extremely rare1). have elected to engage in sexual relations and an issue that actually involves two parties. Many fathers have indirectly advanced this woman-only-issue trend by initiating/pressuring premarital sex and then failing to marry, esteem, and properly support the mother of their child (SIDE NOTE: the unborn child also represents an innocent party and fellow image bearer of God).
The point is that if abortion didn’t involve other entities and wasn’t prohibited by God, there would not be reasonable objections. No reasonable person in today’s society objects to an adult woman having the right to do things to her body that impacts her alone such as having a breast reduction or getting a body piercing (a la ear). The Christian and the Scriptures support human life for all parties; there’s no attempt to refuse or diminish anyone’s rights, especially women.
In the end, I understand where you’re coming from, however, more than your position itself, it saddens me that you could miss out on the greatest news on earth (forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ) because of misconceptions. I pray you would reconsider the sacred Scriptures that you might find eternal life before your time on earth expires. Need some help? Check out: NeedGod.com
#MMApologist #SoliDeoGloria #Salute
1. Dauphinee, Finer, Frohwirth, Moore, and Singh. Reason U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2005, Vol. 37. Guttmacher Institute, NY. p.113 https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/pubs/psrh/full/3711005.pdf (accessed March 29, 2020).