I doubt I am the target audience for this book (male, married, retired, currently attending an evangelical church). I couldn't put it down. It taught me a lot about the history of women in the evangelical branch of Christianity and the shocking lack of knowledge within evangelicalism about the history of Christianity.
I've never been comfortable or confident with the explanation of Complementarianism (the idea that men and women have unique roles) that my church defends with some interesting exceptions. The linkage to Patriarchy as explained by the author seems very clear. Her explanation of the historical (Greek/Roman culture) context within which St. Paul wrote about relationships within a household are very helpful and thought-provoking. As most people have discovered in the age of email and social media, the tone, sarcasm, humor and overall tone of written text is not easily expressed or discerned. And we have emojis and punctuation marks! St. Paul's actual intent and tone for those verses has long been debated and could easily be misconstrued.
The author relies heavily on her historical expertise in medieval history, illustrating her views with many solid historical facts about women in ministry. The current policy of complementarians on women preaching and teaching and in roles of power and influence is contradicted by so much church history. I've been aware of some of the women she discusses, while others were entirely new to me. I greatly appreciated her discussion of these bold, courageous, faithful women.
The real bombshells in the book are:
(1) the origins and intentions of the ESV translation of the Bible (now I have to find a more honest translation wherever nouns involving masculine or feminine pronouns) and,
(2) waiting for you near the end of the book, when she points out a clear alignment of Complementarianism with the Arian heresy. I am very reluctant to use the word heresy, but church doctrine regarding the Trinity has been pretty settled for over 1600 years.
One powerful question in the book for those who advocate Complementarianism requires a very thoughtful response that I've yet to see: What if you are wrong? We are all paying a very high price for this interpretation of Scripture.
I'm not a theologian or in any kind of paid position in a church. I'm sure there may be reasons why the egalitarian view (positioned by many as the opposing view) is inadequate in some way. I'll do more reading about this subject, but my lived experience and evidence in the Bible suggests that women have more to offer the church today than some in positions of power are willing to allow.
I wasn't looking for a book on this topic. I stumbled across the author on a podcast where she spoke, along with Scott McKnight with the show hosts. Deciding what to do with what I've learned from the author is going to require cunning and wisdom to keep my conscience clear as I seek to follow Jesus.
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Everyone Should Read This Book
“What if we realized that, even when male disciples pushed women away, Jesus always listened to women speak? Complementarianism is patriarchy, and patriarchy is about power. Neither have ever been about Jesus. […] Jesus set women free a long time ago. Isn’t it finally time for evangelical Christians to do the same?”This is a history book that blew my mind. The more I read of Barr and Du Mez, the more I see the river fashioned in the American church that many of of us swim in. As a new teenage and then young adult Christian, I was taking in these ideas in the books I was reading (fiction and non-fiction) and it actually created an idea that what I needed and wanted was a Complementarian marriage. It isn’t what I got and I’m so thankful. Within marriage, two people can come together and build it up with their strengths and help each other, without hierarchy. The same can be done everywhere else as well.We need to keep hearing the layers of stories, like the history of The Reformation. (And how it was only one of many, shown by John Dickson, author of my next history book: “Bullies & Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History.”There’s the popular phrase “check your privilege.” I’ve come to see how it helps me see where I am privileged. It also opens our eyes to river we swim in and how that influences how we see ourselves, the world, other people, and even God. The Creator gives us abilities to use in kingdom work, “let your kingdom come on earth…,” in a variety of ways and we’re all part of the Body of Christ when we believe and follow him. As a friend recently told me, “I might be a fingernail or a foot and she might be a vocal chord or a brain. I’m so thankful we are all vital to a healthy and functional Body and that God will give each of us all we need when we seek Him.” I might have a smaller skill than another man or woman, but being a woman doesn’t make me lesser than or subservient to men or less made in the image of God and brought into his family.Everyone should read this book.
Top reviews from other countries
Sonya Szabo
Makes a good case against biblical male headship
Reviewed in Canada on April 25, 2021
Canadian Scot
A powerful, game-changing read that opened my eyes to church history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2023