Scott Kamps
I’ve sought to shed light on feminist ideology’s ugly roots and the oppression feminism naturally leads to.
In doing so, I’ve attempted to follow in the footsteps of Frederick Douglass, who would “agitate the public mind” about the oppression of his day through his writing.
Would I desire to have family norms go back to the 1950s? Maybe turn back the clock to the Victorian age? I aim for neither; the only era tempting to return to for society’s sake would be the Garden of Eden – before sin corrupted this world.
While Genesis 1-2 teach us about the intended design/pattern of marriage as God established the institution, the fall of man in Genesis 3 changed everything. It introduced tyranny and oppression into family/society.
We can’t go back to the garden, but God has provided redemption for mankind and revealed what redeemed marriage in this fallen world looks like.
Succinctly stated, the best and least oppressive blueprint for societal life is monogamy, defined by “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” (Ephesians 5:22-33).
God’s design for marriage recognizes men and women are equal in value (created in God’s image), but different in function (men can’t have babies). A society where economic needs of mothers are met primarily by husbands with a vested interest in providing for the growth/well-being of family and helping shoulder familial responsibilities is not inherently oppressive.
To quote someone with no Y chromosomes: Rosaria Butterfield –former lesbian feminist – recently wrote, “God created men and women in marriage to do different and complementary things: husbands lead, protect, and provide and wives submit, nurture, and keep house.”
Men and women are interdependent and complementary; contrary to the feminist idea that men and women are interchangeable, and in a zero-sum game where women only win when men lose.
Women need men. Men need women. Children need their mom and dad. Instead of holding women back, children are the greatest treasure of marriage!
Another former feminist, Peachy Keenan, similarly wrote, “Becoming a stay-at-home mother should be every woman’s ultimate career.”
To the secularly-minded (who’ve bought into feminist ideology in thinking/practice), I ask you to at least consider that Christianity – practiced biblically – is not inherently oppressive. Women don’t usually find it oppressive to submit to husbands who love sacrificially as Christ loved the church. Oppression of women in marriage occurs when a husband abuses his authority, instead of using it for good.
But, biblical Christianity is the best framework for protecting and providing for women/children.
To the biblically-minded, don’t be ashamed of God’s good design –flourishing happens when we live according to it! It’s hard to live on one income and takes sacrifice; but the goodness of such a life outweighs the difficulties of it. Young women ought not be shamed for wanting to be a worker at home.
Let the creation order – not culture – set the pattern for the good life that’s worth pursuing.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.