Grid Blog for Int'l Women's Day: My Part

Today is International Women's Day, and I wanted to mark the occasion on this blog somehow.

Two things, very quickly:

1. I wish I could wax eloquently about the part I have to play in smashing patriarchy. About how being of the gender that gets the respect and authority handed to them at the door in this culture is difficult to shake, even if we say the right things. About how smashing patriarchy starts with the patriarchs. About how passively condoning a system which disallows women from equal roles in life, leadership and worship creates a false religion, one which denies, devalues and dismisses half of the characteristics of God. And about how, regardless of how "progressive" we think we are as men, we're probably still contributing to a system of patriarchy: As men, we should ask several women in our lives how we're doing on that front. I wish I could write eloquently about all that, but as is usual these days, no time. Instead, I commit myself to doing my part, and then some more. And, I commit myself to listening when others call me on my failings.

2. For those who use scripture to enforce this system, I commend to you an article by Gordon Fee that has had a significant impact on my thinking, and on our collective thinking at Linwood House Ministries. Please read The Cultural Context of Ephesians 5:18–6:9 (pdf file) as soon as you can.

If I had a hammer. Well, I have the hammer.

UPDATE: Rachelle is tracking participating bloggers here.

Comments

[Nuno Barreto]

Well said :)