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The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God's Good Design
Many Christian women wouldn't identify themselves as "feminists." However, according to Courtney Reissig, we've all been influenced by the feminist movement in profound ways, unconsciously reflecting our culture's notions about what it means to be a woman. Helping readers navigate a wise path in the midst of a confused world, this book chronicles the journey of a wife, mom, and successful writer as she recounts her journey from "accidental feminism" to a biblical view of womanhood. Filled with wise insights related to relationships, body image, and women's roles in the home and the church, this thought-provoking book will help Christian women carefully consider these important issues.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
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797 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Reissig
15 books35 followersCourtney Reissig is a wife, mother, and writer. She has written for numerous Christian publications including the Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and the Her.meneutics blog. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, Daniel, and their three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 15, 2016
Let's be honest, the term "feminism" has a lot of baggage. That is why it is important to go back to the original source for the term to understand its initial aim. This book is very anti feminist. Reissig equates feminism with rebellion against men and, ultimately, against God. This is not true. I will say that not all of the beliefs that fall under the banner of feminism are good things to emulate, but we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Because without feminism women could not vote, own property, go to college, or expect a decent wage. And truthfully, Reissig could not have written this book without feminism (cf. George Eliot).
Her argument is a basic post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this). She purports the idea that feminism is the cause of problems in the church, home, family, and society on the whole. But you cannot say that feminism directly caused these issues. A plethora of other cultural events (WWII, Vietnam, the rise of the middle class, the American industrial revolution, etc.) that could just have easily caused these problems. You cannot place the sole responsibility of cultural shifts on women.
The Christian's view of gender equality is not a one way street, as Reissig seemingly purports. Yes, women should not talk bad about men, but men should not talk bad about women. "Boy bashing" is not a result of feminism. It is a result of our sin nature, which is not equal to and pre-dates feminism. Plenty of men (yes, Christian men too) say horrible things about women every day and get away with it. You also cannot say that because an unbliever wants her boyfriend to make decisions for her that it reflects God's design (an example she uses). It is more likely that her unbelieving friend has absorbed the wide-spread cultural belief that men control women. Or maybe this friend is just indecisive, which is a very plausible explanation.
In one example Reissig points out that men become less manly when women are more independent (ergo women should be dependent on men). But it should be noted that maybe if men didn't find their security in their "manliness" (domination of women) then they would not be so intimidated by strong women. Her argument ignores that America was a patriarchal culture for so long. No wonder women are confused about their roles. Culture prizes men. I understand that her book focuses on women, but how come men are never included in this discussion?
As for marriage, she essentially says that marriage solves women's problems. She argues that because of feminism, fewer women are getting married and that is why there is so much immorality in the world. What? Just because more women were married does not mean that they were in healthy relationships where they were loved and valued. It also does not mean that the world was less immoral. I think Mad Men is a clear example of this (an era which she, oddly, seems to praise).
She argues that feminism only views the world from the eyes of one gender, but I argue that true feminism takes both into consideration (cf. We Should All Be Feminists). Feminism acknowledges the wrongs of the past and proposes a better way to the future.
Some of her points are valid. She does recognize that a woman should ultimately find fulfillment in God, but by dismissing years of women's rights, she fails to fully acknowledge the great liberties we enjoy. Feminism is important because there are still places in the world where baby girls are murdered, where young girls are married to pagan deities and where girls are not allowed to attend school. By equating feminism with rebellion and man hating ("luxuries" only American women have), you hurt thousands of women and girls around the world.
I do not hate men. I do not hate children. And I do not hate housework. I just want to be viewed as God made me: an image bearer.
Her argument is a basic post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this). She purports the idea that feminism is the cause of problems in the church, home, family, and society on the whole. But you cannot say that feminism directly caused these issues. A plethora of other cultural events (WWII, Vietnam, the rise of the middle class, the American industrial revolution, etc.) that could just have easily caused these problems. You cannot place the sole responsibility of cultural shifts on women.
The Christian's view of gender equality is not a one way street, as Reissig seemingly purports. Yes, women should not talk bad about men, but men should not talk bad about women. "Boy bashing" is not a result of feminism. It is a result of our sin nature, which is not equal to and pre-dates feminism. Plenty of men (yes, Christian men too) say horrible things about women every day and get away with it. You also cannot say that because an unbliever wants her boyfriend to make decisions for her that it reflects God's design (an example she uses). It is more likely that her unbelieving friend has absorbed the wide-spread cultural belief that men control women. Or maybe this friend is just indecisive, which is a very plausible explanation.
In one example Reissig points out that men become less manly when women are more independent (ergo women should be dependent on men). But it should be noted that maybe if men didn't find their security in their "manliness" (domination of women) then they would not be so intimidated by strong women. Her argument ignores that America was a patriarchal culture for so long. No wonder women are confused about their roles. Culture prizes men. I understand that her book focuses on women, but how come men are never included in this discussion?
As for marriage, she essentially says that marriage solves women's problems. She argues that because of feminism, fewer women are getting married and that is why there is so much immorality in the world. What? Just because more women were married does not mean that they were in healthy relationships where they were loved and valued. It also does not mean that the world was less immoral. I think Mad Men is a clear example of this (an era which she, oddly, seems to praise).
She argues that feminism only views the world from the eyes of one gender, but I argue that true feminism takes both into consideration (cf. We Should All Be Feminists). Feminism acknowledges the wrongs of the past and proposes a better way to the future.
Some of her points are valid. She does recognize that a woman should ultimately find fulfillment in God, but by dismissing years of women's rights, she fails to fully acknowledge the great liberties we enjoy. Feminism is important because there are still places in the world where baby girls are murdered, where young girls are married to pagan deities and where girls are not allowed to attend school. By equating feminism with rebellion and man hating ("luxuries" only American women have), you hurt thousands of women and girls around the world.
I do not hate men. I do not hate children. And I do not hate housework. I just want to be viewed as God made me: an image bearer.
July 28, 2015
I thought this book would be right up my alley, but I couldn't finish it. I quickly realized that the author and I are on different pages, as she is a self-described complementarian and I'm much more of an egalitarian. Here are descriptions of those two in her words:
Complementarians: "...believing that God created men and woman equal, yet different. And our differences complement one another." p.29
Egalitarians: "...our differences do not impact our function in marriage and in the body of Christ. Giftedness is the deciding factor, not gender." p.29
I continued reading, but I just can't read anymore after reading this: "As women, we have an innate desire to be led and provided for." p. 46
This isn't a bad book, but it is not the book for me. (3/5/15)
I received and ARC from NetGalley! (2/11/15)
Complementarians: "...believing that God created men and woman equal, yet different. And our differences complement one another." p.29
Egalitarians: "...our differences do not impact our function in marriage and in the body of Christ. Giftedness is the deciding factor, not gender." p.29
I continued reading, but I just can't read anymore after reading this: "As women, we have an innate desire to be led and provided for." p. 46
This isn't a bad book, but it is not the book for me. (3/5/15)
I received and ARC from NetGalley! (2/11/15)
August 2, 2018
Whenever I see a book about feminism and Christianity that seems solid, I just have to pick it up. I loved Reissig's book "The Glory In The Ordinary", and found out she also wrote a book about feminism.
This book is a look at feminism from a Christian perspective, and how feminism has affected even Christian women' attitudes about their roles in the church, home, relationships, etc. I thought Reissig had some really good insights here, and approached all these topics from a gentle, balanced perspective while still speaking biblical truth. This book was doctrinally sound, and based in the perspective that the Gospel should affect every area of our lives. She didn't say anything I hadn't heard before (because I have read pretty extensively on this subject), but the WAY she said it is what made this book stand out to me. Her speech in this book is seasoned with grace. I loved it! Highly recommend!
This book is a look at feminism from a Christian perspective, and how feminism has affected even Christian women' attitudes about their roles in the church, home, relationships, etc. I thought Reissig had some really good insights here, and approached all these topics from a gentle, balanced perspective while still speaking biblical truth. This book was doctrinally sound, and based in the perspective that the Gospel should affect every area of our lives. She didn't say anything I hadn't heard before (because I have read pretty extensively on this subject), but the WAY she said it is what made this book stand out to me. Her speech in this book is seasoned with grace. I loved it! Highly recommend!
March 5, 2016
I rarely post reviews, but I felt it was necessary to give a counterargument to this book. I bought this book at a Christian conference, thinking it was about how feminism and Christianity can intersect, how the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. But Reissig takes on the latter view. What I thought was a book about being bold in one's feminism while staying true to Christian womanhood was an outright attack on feminism. It seems Reissig can blame all of the world's problems on feminism rather than their true root, sin. It was never in God's plan to restrict women from voting, or owning property, or getting an education, yet these were all rights women gained through feminism. Reissig, in her very narrow view of what being a Christian woman, does serious damage to the Christian world, a worldview already despised because of the extremism of the likes of Westboro Baptist Church and Kim Davis.
The author's definition of feminism is the rebellion against authority, ultimately God's authority. In reality, feminism is social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. When I say I'm a feminist, I am saying that I want equal pay with my male coworkers when I join the workforce if we hold the same position and have the same qualifications. It means that when women are raped (as one in five college aged women are), no one will ask what she was wearing or what she drank, but that the rapist is the only one to blame. It means that I want the same chances as men because we were all created in God's image. These views in no way contradict my life in Christ. I understand that not all points of feminist ideology are what I should follow as a Christian, and I stay rooted in Christ. But this does not mean I renounce feminism as a whole.
I think what is most frustrating with this book is the narrow definition of womanhood in Christ. Ms. Reissig, when you compare women who wear "revealing" clothing to the prostitute in Proverbs, do you stop to think maybe you do not know the whole story, and that your condemnation is not Christ-like? Take for example my regular uniform of leggings and a sweater. To you, wearing leggings makes me immoral and I'm "tempting men." Would you ever take the time to talk to me to find out that I had a knee injury that ceased all of my exercise, leading to a weight gain that makes it so my jeans no longer fit me? No, because you have already made your judgement of me. Or when you blame feminism for society's beauty standards of women (which feminism fights hard against) and you use the example of a girl who makes herself puke. "Hugging a cold toilet after forcing oneself to throw up is fundamentally saying, 'God does not meet my needs, and he is not sovereign over my weight" (106). You clearly have no idea what having an eating disorder is like; it is not based on vapidly wanting to be skinny, it is a serious mental illness that has the highest fatality rate of all mental disorders. Over and over again, you shame women for having battles that you don't understand. Instead of condemning other women for being at different points of their walk than you, couldn't you instead extend the grace that God has extended to you? The book was meant to lead women toward living a Christ-centered life, but it instead reads as a constant criticism of women who do not fit the perfect Christian mold. I am an imperfect, struggling Christian woman. I work hard to live in Christ. But this book did very little to help me with that, and if I were not as strong in my faith as I am, it could have made me turn my back on the Christian faith. Ms. Reissig, I encourage you to have more compassion and grace towards your Christian sisters. We are all struggling in a fallen world, and we don't need to add to each other's pain.
The author's definition of feminism is the rebellion against authority, ultimately God's authority. In reality, feminism is social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. When I say I'm a feminist, I am saying that I want equal pay with my male coworkers when I join the workforce if we hold the same position and have the same qualifications. It means that when women are raped (as one in five college aged women are), no one will ask what she was wearing or what she drank, but that the rapist is the only one to blame. It means that I want the same chances as men because we were all created in God's image. These views in no way contradict my life in Christ. I understand that not all points of feminist ideology are what I should follow as a Christian, and I stay rooted in Christ. But this does not mean I renounce feminism as a whole.
I think what is most frustrating with this book is the narrow definition of womanhood in Christ. Ms. Reissig, when you compare women who wear "revealing" clothing to the prostitute in Proverbs, do you stop to think maybe you do not know the whole story, and that your condemnation is not Christ-like? Take for example my regular uniform of leggings and a sweater. To you, wearing leggings makes me immoral and I'm "tempting men." Would you ever take the time to talk to me to find out that I had a knee injury that ceased all of my exercise, leading to a weight gain that makes it so my jeans no longer fit me? No, because you have already made your judgement of me. Or when you blame feminism for society's beauty standards of women (which feminism fights hard against) and you use the example of a girl who makes herself puke. "Hugging a cold toilet after forcing oneself to throw up is fundamentally saying, 'God does not meet my needs, and he is not sovereign over my weight" (106). You clearly have no idea what having an eating disorder is like; it is not based on vapidly wanting to be skinny, it is a serious mental illness that has the highest fatality rate of all mental disorders. Over and over again, you shame women for having battles that you don't understand. Instead of condemning other women for being at different points of their walk than you, couldn't you instead extend the grace that God has extended to you? The book was meant to lead women toward living a Christ-centered life, but it instead reads as a constant criticism of women who do not fit the perfect Christian mold. I am an imperfect, struggling Christian woman. I work hard to live in Christ. But this book did very little to help me with that, and if I were not as strong in my faith as I am, it could have made me turn my back on the Christian faith. Ms. Reissig, I encourage you to have more compassion and grace towards your Christian sisters. We are all struggling in a fallen world, and we don't need to add to each other's pain.
January 9, 2020
This was a difficult read. While I found myself identifying with the premise of the author—considering that my feminist perspectives may be contradictory to the gospel—I really struggled with how she applied her conclusions.
Courtney Reissig explores the tension between feminism and the truth of the gospel, arguing against the “equality means sameness” view of traditional feminism. She covers the topics of marriage, submission, work, career, home and church leadership roles. She takes a very conservative view, all with a deep root in the truth of the Gospel.
While I completely agree with her assessment of Christ’s work on the cross and the authority of the Bible, I take issue with some of her stances about how that applies to women’s place in the world, especially relating to careers, marriage and having children. It seemed like a big leap from Christ’s authority and that men and women are created with different roles in the world (which I agree with) to saying that women should essentially strive to fulfill the calling of wife and mother (while still addressing and lauding women who are not in this stage of life… seemed contradictory and saying many things at once). She even went to far as to urge women to not fear marrying young and moving ahead with children, bucking today’s culture that says it’s ok to wait while you establish a career, etc. It was more of an opinion than anything rooted in scripture. She took little account for different circumstances and desires. (In my own experience, I was all the better for taking my 20s to have a number of life and career experiences before my husband and I were ready to think about kids. And then, when I hit 30 it took some time for a baby to come along. These are circumstances that I mostly would not change as I look back.)
It also just felt that this slim book took on too many issues, even contradicting some points. There’s just too much grey area to take such a strong stance. If anything, Reissig is making me think and really evaluate my opinions on this important issue.
Courtney Reissig explores the tension between feminism and the truth of the gospel, arguing against the “equality means sameness” view of traditional feminism. She covers the topics of marriage, submission, work, career, home and church leadership roles. She takes a very conservative view, all with a deep root in the truth of the Gospel.
While I completely agree with her assessment of Christ’s work on the cross and the authority of the Bible, I take issue with some of her stances about how that applies to women’s place in the world, especially relating to careers, marriage and having children. It seemed like a big leap from Christ’s authority and that men and women are created with different roles in the world (which I agree with) to saying that women should essentially strive to fulfill the calling of wife and mother (while still addressing and lauding women who are not in this stage of life… seemed contradictory and saying many things at once). She even went to far as to urge women to not fear marrying young and moving ahead with children, bucking today’s culture that says it’s ok to wait while you establish a career, etc. It was more of an opinion than anything rooted in scripture. She took little account for different circumstances and desires. (In my own experience, I was all the better for taking my 20s to have a number of life and career experiences before my husband and I were ready to think about kids. And then, when I hit 30 it took some time for a baby to come along. These are circumstances that I mostly would not change as I look back.)
It also just felt that this slim book took on too many issues, even contradicting some points. There’s just too much grey area to take such a strong stance. If anything, Reissig is making me think and really evaluate my opinions on this important issue.
September 23, 2015
Biblical womanhood is a hotly contested topic lately. Back and forth we go between the extremes of "women should have equal roles in church and marriage" and "a woman's only place is in the home baking casseroles for potluck suppers." I find it frustrating to rarely find a middle ground and to instead feel stuck in the legalistic and rule-oriented patterns. This book was different. Reissig's premise is that all of us have absorbed feminist ideology, although we may not realize it. Basically, if you believe in personal autonomy and reject anyone's authority over your life or actions, you've accepted the core values of feminism. Reissig acknowledges that feminism did some good things for women and righted some wrongs (equal pay, domestic violence laws, opportunities for education, etc) but believes that the overarching values have caused a lot of damage. Although she is clearly a complementarian, believing both in male headship and male leadership in the church, nowhere in this book will you find her saying that women shouldn't use their gifts or shouldn't work outside the home or focus solely on being a Christian Martha Stewart. It was really refreshing to have an author consistently point back to God's ultimate purpose for all people and remind us that we are all image-bearers who have been saved by faith for the purpose of glorifying God. I also really appreciated how she made a very conscious effort to apply her writing to both married and single women, mothers and women who do not have children, women who have careers and who work at home as homemakers. In addition, it was helpful to have so many examples of how biblical womanhood plays out practically.
This isn't a theologically heavy book and that might be a bit of a detriment since she doesn't unpack the complementarian theology in great detail or discuss why she believes egalitarian theology is incorrect. I would have liked to see the actual theology addressed, especially since she pits herself (mildly) against both Rachel Held Evans and Sarah Bessey, both of whom recently published books from the egalitarian standpoint and did spend some time unpacking their theology. If she was going to take a stance as a modern and thoughtful complementarian, I think it would carry more weight if she had done the same.
This isn't a theologically heavy book and that might be a bit of a detriment since she doesn't unpack the complementarian theology in great detail or discuss why she believes egalitarian theology is incorrect. I would have liked to see the actual theology addressed, especially since she pits herself (mildly) against both Rachel Held Evans and Sarah Bessey, both of whom recently published books from the egalitarian standpoint and did spend some time unpacking their theology. If she was going to take a stance as a modern and thoughtful complementarian, I think it would carry more weight if she had done the same.
October 30, 2015
So, you're looking at this title wondering, "Did she accidentally fall into being a feminist?" "Did she wake up and discover she is a feminist and needs out?" The title is ambiguous, so allow me; Courtney Reissig is a "complimentarian," as opposed to "egalitarian." So that's the premise for the book.
Before I get all sorts of ugly comments and shoved in the "man-hater" box let me state that I am a stay-at-home mother of seven who managed to homeshcool them all to amazing success in the arts and sciences. I married at 19 and 35 years later am still smitten with that guy.
Reissig has nothing new to say. These complementarian/egalitarian camps have had their tents pitched for a very long time and Reissig brings the same interpretation and nuances to the same verses that every other complementarian has brought. But she is sweet about it.
Nothing new here right down to the single curse for Adam- haard work, and the double (?) curse for women- childbearing and wresting the pants from the man (which by the way, wouldn't that be actually a curse for the man- always trying to keep his pants?)
Reissig also spends quite a bit of time trying to convince women that "helper" isn't that bad, that really it's a wonderful stint. And honestly, it is but I find it odd that books and books have been written about how gosh dang wonderful it is to be the "helper" the "submitter" like they're trying to convince themselves of it too. And that always rings hollow to me; that something seemingly so wonderful and beautiful would have to be sort of forced and cajoled on the reader.
I did appreciate this, "In my life, my problem was that I was trying to master a stereotype rather than trying to love my husband. I was trying to fit into a box of my own making, not seeking to serve the husband God had given me. Helping my husband looks different from how my friend might help her husband."
That is ultimately why it is so impossible to split the Christian world into two camps- complementarian/egalitarian- It does not/ should not look the same in every marriage.
Reissig does not plow any new ground and in fact simply trundles forward the same divide that has been debated for ever and ever. She just does it nicely. And maybe scuffles the line a little bit.
Before I get all sorts of ugly comments and shoved in the "man-hater" box let me state that I am a stay-at-home mother of seven who managed to homeshcool them all to amazing success in the arts and sciences. I married at 19 and 35 years later am still smitten with that guy.
Reissig has nothing new to say. These complementarian/egalitarian camps have had their tents pitched for a very long time and Reissig brings the same interpretation and nuances to the same verses that every other complementarian has brought. But she is sweet about it.
Nothing new here right down to the single curse for Adam- haard work, and the double (?) curse for women- childbearing and wresting the pants from the man (which by the way, wouldn't that be actually a curse for the man- always trying to keep his pants?)
Reissig also spends quite a bit of time trying to convince women that "helper" isn't that bad, that really it's a wonderful stint. And honestly, it is but I find it odd that books and books have been written about how gosh dang wonderful it is to be the "helper" the "submitter" like they're trying to convince themselves of it too. And that always rings hollow to me; that something seemingly so wonderful and beautiful would have to be sort of forced and cajoled on the reader.
I did appreciate this, "In my life, my problem was that I was trying to master a stereotype rather than trying to love my husband. I was trying to fit into a box of my own making, not seeking to serve the husband God had given me. Helping my husband looks different from how my friend might help her husband."
That is ultimately why it is so impossible to split the Christian world into two camps- complementarian/egalitarian- It does not/ should not look the same in every marriage.
Reissig does not plow any new ground and in fact simply trundles forward the same divide that has been debated for ever and ever. She just does it nicely. And maybe scuffles the line a little bit.
December 22, 2020
I'm not going to write all of my thoughts down here because I have no doubt Courtney Reissig and I are going to spend eternity together and I don't want to make it awkward. There are many criticisms already on this review page that I agree with so there's no reason to spell them all out again.
This book seemed to take a rom-com caricature of a self-centered feminist who loved to indulge in 'boy-bashing' and revolved its critical premise around this. Even when she hit upon an argument that I agreed with, they were poorly sourced and pieced together. There was little exploration of the history of gender issues and its theories, or of the current prevalence of serious issues facing women today (specifically in a context outside of the US). There were a couple of factual inaccuracies that I picked up (like the quote that said first-wave feminists interpreted the Bible through a feminist lens- feminist literary criticism only took root in the 1960's). All of the definitions- from what she defines as 'feminism' to 'theology' to 'the world'- were all fluid and cloudy. I was also expecting a brief systematic theology on gender and an intelligent response to Christians whose hermeneutic brings them to an egalitarian conclusion (such as Oxford professor of theology NT Wright) and found it simplistic instead. And, to be fair, I don't see much of this as a Courtney Reissig problem (in fact, I've heard great things about her other Glory in the Ordinary and look forward to reading it!) but rather as a Christian publishing problem. We have to seriously study the face of any theory or idea frankly, acknowledging all of its tentacles and complexities and cultures before responding, otherwise we end up fighting ghosts of our own making.
I'd recommend Carolyn McCulley's books on gender identity and theology instead.
This book seemed to take a rom-com caricature of a self-centered feminist who loved to indulge in 'boy-bashing' and revolved its critical premise around this. Even when she hit upon an argument that I agreed with, they were poorly sourced and pieced together. There was little exploration of the history of gender issues and its theories, or of the current prevalence of serious issues facing women today (specifically in a context outside of the US). There were a couple of factual inaccuracies that I picked up (like the quote that said first-wave feminists interpreted the Bible through a feminist lens- feminist literary criticism only took root in the 1960's). All of the definitions- from what she defines as 'feminism' to 'theology' to 'the world'- were all fluid and cloudy. I was also expecting a brief systematic theology on gender and an intelligent response to Christians whose hermeneutic brings them to an egalitarian conclusion (such as Oxford professor of theology NT Wright) and found it simplistic instead. And, to be fair, I don't see much of this as a Courtney Reissig problem (in fact, I've heard great things about her other Glory in the Ordinary and look forward to reading it!) but rather as a Christian publishing problem. We have to seriously study the face of any theory or idea frankly, acknowledging all of its tentacles and complexities and cultures before responding, otherwise we end up fighting ghosts of our own making.
I'd recommend Carolyn McCulley's books on gender identity and theology instead.
April 16, 2019
An important read for young Christian women of all walks of life. Includes questions for reflection, which are great for groups or individuals.
February 14, 2022
This book is a 3.5 to be specific. I would not recommend this book to someone who needs to be convinced against egalitarianism. Why? Because the author uses philosophy, logic, analogies, and examples to argue, and they are not the most convincing arguments. These people would need a book that discusses key texts in Scripture in a systematic way with the help of Greek translation.
This book is more so for someone who, though already convinced about complementarianism, resents the distinct roles that she believes God has given her as a woman.
This book is more so for someone who, though already convinced about complementarianism, resents the distinct roles that she believes God has given her as a woman.
July 11, 2022
3.5...disagreed with the essential paradigm of the book in some ways but thought it included lots of wisdom and addressed some important issues well. Instead of allowing the world to co-opt "feminism" in harmful ways, I think we as Christian women should take back feminism and define it for what it really is: promoting the good of women, which is inherently biblical. We don't need to reject feminism altogether just because it has been twisted — we should enthusiastically embrace it for what it truly is. I had a few other disagreements,
August 26, 2021
Loved it! The autor makes really on point and biblical considerations about so many aspects of the feminine world. I would happily recommend this book to every woman I know. I listened to the audiobook at The Pilgrim App and already want to buy the printed version.
April 8, 2015
“Our understanding of who God created us to be as women as everything to do with our display of him to a watching world.” In light of that, what is feminism?
Feminism is equality equals sameness. Do we define womanhood to the tasks we accomplish? Our desires are good but are they misplaced? Is true freedom found in our choices without consequences? Or is true freedom found in our creator?
First it is important to understand the beginnings of the feminist movement. What started it? You may be surprised that it was Christian women that were the driving force of the movement. The feminist movement was for the betterment of the family. With women living under oppression and their husbands’ spending money on alcohol, women were concerned for their families. Now Feminism is more of an individualistic ideal. Feminism is now about fighting authority. For the Christian woman the tension of balancing of what God calls us and what the world says.
We have made freedom an idol and have lost the true meaning of what true freedom is. True freedom does not shrug off responsibility.
Complementarians believe that God created men and women equal yet different. Our differences are designed to complement one another. Egalitarians believe that giftedness is the deciding factor, not gender.
Understanding the implications of being created in the image of God is crucial on how we view humanity. It determines our world view in many ways as well. If gender did not matter, we would all be one gender and so you have to believe that it does matter. To say that gender does not matter is in facts saying that you don’t matter whether you are female or male. God made women in the image of himself in two ways, to be a helper or partner and a life giver. Helper is not defined as a servant but in the same way that the Holy Spirit helps the Christian. How the Holy Spirit helps make the Father look good and helps and strengthens, we as wives have that same role as helper. The bible shows great examples of this in Ruth and Boaz however, the context of the time may reflect misunderstandings. We image God by being a helper to our husbands, our churches, our roommates, co-workers. Wherever God has placed us as women, we reflect his image, his glory by being a helper in biblical terms. By being a helper, our husbands are now complete. Without Eve, one crucial aspect of the triune God would be missing. This is a gospel issue. I love how the author expresses that in order for us to be a suitable helpmate, we must know our husband. How I help my husband begins with me knowing what his needs are along with his strengths and weaknesses. When women act like men, men wither away.
Sarah of the Old Testament was praised not because she submitted to her husband, but because her hope was in the promises of God. Written to give hope to all women, not because of marriage, or having children, but hope in in our creator in whom we are to reflect and glory. Every woman is a life giver whether she has children or not. We are created to nurture, encourage, and strengthen.
The sad thing is our understanding of marriage is reflecting on the books we read and the movies we watch. Along with our understanding of gender roles.
Submission is the ugly word of our culture but it is the essence of living a Christian life. Submission is not based on our husband, employer, or leaders, but on God’s sovereignty in our lives. It is an act of faith. I thought the book discussed what submission is and what it is not very well. A gentle and quiet spirit is not in relation to personality but to our submission in God. Submission is not a marriage issue, but a gospel issue.
The 5 characteristics of the “forbidden woman” is relevant today as it was in Solomon’s time. The woman of wisdom is counter-culture to the “forbidden woman”.
Feminism is all about living out our purpose and even in Christian circles we can caught up in the purpose wheel. What happens with purpose that leaves us empty is that our purpose becomes our identity. It is only when we have our identity in Christ that we are satisfied and have stepped off the treadmill that keeps us spinning and going nowhere because our purpose has become about us.
I was encouraged by this study of being a woman. My purpose is not the purpose of myself but of showing the glory of God in how I love my family, my church, my community.
I highly recommend this book!
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest
Feminism is equality equals sameness. Do we define womanhood to the tasks we accomplish? Our desires are good but are they misplaced? Is true freedom found in our choices without consequences? Or is true freedom found in our creator?
First it is important to understand the beginnings of the feminist movement. What started it? You may be surprised that it was Christian women that were the driving force of the movement. The feminist movement was for the betterment of the family. With women living under oppression and their husbands’ spending money on alcohol, women were concerned for their families. Now Feminism is more of an individualistic ideal. Feminism is now about fighting authority. For the Christian woman the tension of balancing of what God calls us and what the world says.
We have made freedom an idol and have lost the true meaning of what true freedom is. True freedom does not shrug off responsibility.
Complementarians believe that God created men and women equal yet different. Our differences are designed to complement one another. Egalitarians believe that giftedness is the deciding factor, not gender.
Understanding the implications of being created in the image of God is crucial on how we view humanity. It determines our world view in many ways as well. If gender did not matter, we would all be one gender and so you have to believe that it does matter. To say that gender does not matter is in facts saying that you don’t matter whether you are female or male. God made women in the image of himself in two ways, to be a helper or partner and a life giver. Helper is not defined as a servant but in the same way that the Holy Spirit helps the Christian. How the Holy Spirit helps make the Father look good and helps and strengthens, we as wives have that same role as helper. The bible shows great examples of this in Ruth and Boaz however, the context of the time may reflect misunderstandings. We image God by being a helper to our husbands, our churches, our roommates, co-workers. Wherever God has placed us as women, we reflect his image, his glory by being a helper in biblical terms. By being a helper, our husbands are now complete. Without Eve, one crucial aspect of the triune God would be missing. This is a gospel issue. I love how the author expresses that in order for us to be a suitable helpmate, we must know our husband. How I help my husband begins with me knowing what his needs are along with his strengths and weaknesses. When women act like men, men wither away.
Sarah of the Old Testament was praised not because she submitted to her husband, but because her hope was in the promises of God. Written to give hope to all women, not because of marriage, or having children, but hope in in our creator in whom we are to reflect and glory. Every woman is a life giver whether she has children or not. We are created to nurture, encourage, and strengthen.
The sad thing is our understanding of marriage is reflecting on the books we read and the movies we watch. Along with our understanding of gender roles.
Submission is the ugly word of our culture but it is the essence of living a Christian life. Submission is not based on our husband, employer, or leaders, but on God’s sovereignty in our lives. It is an act of faith. I thought the book discussed what submission is and what it is not very well. A gentle and quiet spirit is not in relation to personality but to our submission in God. Submission is not a marriage issue, but a gospel issue.
The 5 characteristics of the “forbidden woman” is relevant today as it was in Solomon’s time. The woman of wisdom is counter-culture to the “forbidden woman”.
Feminism is all about living out our purpose and even in Christian circles we can caught up in the purpose wheel. What happens with purpose that leaves us empty is that our purpose becomes our identity. It is only when we have our identity in Christ that we are satisfied and have stepped off the treadmill that keeps us spinning and going nowhere because our purpose has become about us.
I was encouraged by this study of being a woman. My purpose is not the purpose of myself but of showing the glory of God in how I love my family, my church, my community.
I highly recommend this book!
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest
November 10, 2015
There are two things you should know about me. First, I am a Christian woman. Second, I am a proud and very deliberate feminist.
So how do I reconcile these two facts? It's difficult, that's for sure, but not impossible. I've come around to the complementarian school of thought (that men and women are different, but equal) rather than egalitarian (that men and women are the same in terms of strengths, abilities, etc.), which is basically what the Bible teaches us. I do believe that men and women are created differently, in ways that complement each other. Where I think some feminists and non-feminists alike have gone wrong is in thinking that a) we are locked into those roles with no flexibility for an individual's talents or preferences or b) that traditionally male roles are more valuable than traditionally female roles. I believe that running a home and raising children is every bit as important to society as investment banking (maybe more important, in that particular case) and no one who makes that choice should be made to feel ashamed of it. (More relevant to my current role as a mother of a young daughter, princesses are just as cool as dinosaurs and little girls should not be steered away from things they like just because they're "girly" any more than little boys should be steered away from those things.)
That being said, there are certainly passages in the Bible that are difficult for me to wrap my head around. Ephesians and 1 Timothy are the major ones, and I am definitely not the only woman who has trouble with those books. But in reality, these books are just as strict about men's roles as they are about women's - it's just that for big chunks of Christian history, women were held fast to those rules while men were pretty much free to ignore them, so that aspect doesn't get as much attention. And the bottom line is that it is not my prerogative to disregard portions of the Bible just because I don't like them.
So, the book? For me, it was about 1/3 preaching to the choir, 1/3 new ideas that I hadn't considered before, and 1/3 infuriating blanket statements about feminists. A lot of it was indeed very helpful for me in terms of figuring out what God wants to see from me as a woman. The author does a wonderful job of framing women's roles in the church and in the rest of the world in a very positive light. A lot of it was stuff I already knew, but she also made some great points that I hadn't thought of before.
She does make several huge errors about feminist theory, though. She doesn't seem to understand that feminism is a very broad philosophy and there is room for a lot of different interpretations of it. It seems like she thinks all modern feminists are anti-family and anti-religion, and that we're all basically man-haters. For example, her statement that sitting around with your girlfriends and bitching about your husbands or boyfriends is "the heart of feminism in action" was utterly ridiculous. That is women venting their frustrations, not a feminist statement. There were a lot of statements like that, which really ticked me off and lowered my opinion of the book.
On balance, though, I liked it and found it helpful in my own journey. Three stars it is.
So how do I reconcile these two facts? It's difficult, that's for sure, but not impossible. I've come around to the complementarian school of thought (that men and women are different, but equal) rather than egalitarian (that men and women are the same in terms of strengths, abilities, etc.), which is basically what the Bible teaches us. I do believe that men and women are created differently, in ways that complement each other. Where I think some feminists and non-feminists alike have gone wrong is in thinking that a) we are locked into those roles with no flexibility for an individual's talents or preferences or b) that traditionally male roles are more valuable than traditionally female roles. I believe that running a home and raising children is every bit as important to society as investment banking (maybe more important, in that particular case) and no one who makes that choice should be made to feel ashamed of it. (More relevant to my current role as a mother of a young daughter, princesses are just as cool as dinosaurs and little girls should not be steered away from things they like just because they're "girly" any more than little boys should be steered away from those things.)
That being said, there are certainly passages in the Bible that are difficult for me to wrap my head around. Ephesians and 1 Timothy are the major ones, and I am definitely not the only woman who has trouble with those books. But in reality, these books are just as strict about men's roles as they are about women's - it's just that for big chunks of Christian history, women were held fast to those rules while men were pretty much free to ignore them, so that aspect doesn't get as much attention. And the bottom line is that it is not my prerogative to disregard portions of the Bible just because I don't like them.
So, the book? For me, it was about 1/3 preaching to the choir, 1/3 new ideas that I hadn't considered before, and 1/3 infuriating blanket statements about feminists. A lot of it was indeed very helpful for me in terms of figuring out what God wants to see from me as a woman. The author does a wonderful job of framing women's roles in the church and in the rest of the world in a very positive light. A lot of it was stuff I already knew, but she also made some great points that I hadn't thought of before.
She does make several huge errors about feminist theory, though. She doesn't seem to understand that feminism is a very broad philosophy and there is room for a lot of different interpretations of it. It seems like she thinks all modern feminists are anti-family and anti-religion, and that we're all basically man-haters. For example, her statement that sitting around with your girlfriends and bitching about your husbands or boyfriends is "the heart of feminism in action" was utterly ridiculous. That is women venting their frustrations, not a feminist statement. There were a lot of statements like that, which really ticked me off and lowered my opinion of the book.
On balance, though, I liked it and found it helpful in my own journey. Three stars it is.
April 29, 2015
In The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God's Good Design, Courtney Reissig takes an honest look of how our culture and mindset have been affected by feminism. She defines feminism as "equality equals sameness", meaning that at the core of feminism is the need to be treated the same as men (14). Over the years, feminist ideology has seeped into the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike, thus many Christian women find themselves as "accidental feminists". Many books on biblical womanhood focus on a woman's call of wife and mother, and that was my hesitation going into this book. Yet Reissig makes it very clear that the purpose is not to promote a 1950s caricature of womanhood. She states, "When we reduce womanhood to the tasks we accomplish, or cultural expectations, or talents and personality traits, we are doing a disservice to women everywhere" (16).
God's design for women is to reflect the image of God as helper and life giver, whereas feminism teaches that the roles of men and women are interchangeable. She fleshes out a complementarian view of gender roles, meaning that men and women are created equal in the image of God but with different roles. As helpers, women are created to encourage and support those in their lives, with the key example of a wife helping her husband. Women are also created to be life-givers, but not in a strictly biological sense. Reissig gives a tremendous amount of grace to those who are single or unable to have children by encouraging women that they are able to give life into others through service and acts of love. She provides examples of married and single women who were able to serve in their God-given capacities as helpers and life givers.
I would recommend this book for all women: single, married, mothers, empty nesters, widows, college students, and anyone else in between. Reissig includes reflection and study questions at the end of each chapter, as well as application for each life stage. As I was reading this book, I thought back to the various seasons that I've experienced in the last decade, particularly when I was a single twenty-something and now as a wife and mother in my early thirties. This would have been just as beneficial in my twenties then it does now. I appreciate how the author reaches out to a wide variety of women instead of limiting the work to one particular segment.
I would also recommend this work to those who may not see themselves as complimentarian, or who struggle with recognizing God's design for women. Reissig describes the tension between our own desires for freedom and independence, and what God desires for us which is ultimate freedom and independence from sin. I have experienced this tension in my own life as well. I recognized God's good design for marriage and children, yet at the same time I saw marriage and children as something that would eventually "keep me down". Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient.
Many thanks to Crossway for the ARC of the book.
God's design for women is to reflect the image of God as helper and life giver, whereas feminism teaches that the roles of men and women are interchangeable. She fleshes out a complementarian view of gender roles, meaning that men and women are created equal in the image of God but with different roles. As helpers, women are created to encourage and support those in their lives, with the key example of a wife helping her husband. Women are also created to be life-givers, but not in a strictly biological sense. Reissig gives a tremendous amount of grace to those who are single or unable to have children by encouraging women that they are able to give life into others through service and acts of love. She provides examples of married and single women who were able to serve in their God-given capacities as helpers and life givers.
I would recommend this book for all women: single, married, mothers, empty nesters, widows, college students, and anyone else in between. Reissig includes reflection and study questions at the end of each chapter, as well as application for each life stage. As I was reading this book, I thought back to the various seasons that I've experienced in the last decade, particularly when I was a single twenty-something and now as a wife and mother in my early thirties. This would have been just as beneficial in my twenties then it does now. I appreciate how the author reaches out to a wide variety of women instead of limiting the work to one particular segment.
I would also recommend this work to those who may not see themselves as complimentarian, or who struggle with recognizing God's design for women. Reissig describes the tension between our own desires for freedom and independence, and what God desires for us which is ultimate freedom and independence from sin. I have experienced this tension in my own life as well. I recognized God's good design for marriage and children, yet at the same time I saw marriage and children as something that would eventually "keep me down". Thankfully, God's grace is sufficient.
Many thanks to Crossway for the ARC of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2018
A very misleading title. The author is not accidentally a feminist, but instead use to be a feminist until her views changed. She now cherry picks the parts of feminism that benefit her and degrades the rest. She makes gross generalizations about feminism and insinuates the the downfall of our society's morality is due to feminism.
While there were a few glimmers of hope for this book and ideas that made me think (miscarriages are a part of the Fall,) I found myself disagreeing out loud to the audio book.
There is nothing inherently wrong with choosing to live in a complementarian marriage, but to argue that it is God's way alone seems a bit short sided.
I disliked her treating of single women like afterthoughts, or as though they can learn from her now so that once they complete themselves by getting married, they will be ready. Single women are valid just as they are. Period.
This book tried to cram too many opinions into one book and felt all over the place and defensive. I was not a fan, but forced myself to finish for an accurate picture of the whole piece.
While there were a few glimmers of hope for this book and ideas that made me think (miscarriages are a part of the Fall,) I found myself disagreeing out loud to the audio book.
There is nothing inherently wrong with choosing to live in a complementarian marriage, but to argue that it is God's way alone seems a bit short sided.
I disliked her treating of single women like afterthoughts, or as though they can learn from her now so that once they complete themselves by getting married, they will be ready. Single women are valid just as they are. Period.
This book tried to cram too many opinions into one book and felt all over the place and defensive. I was not a fan, but forced myself to finish for an accurate picture of the whole piece.
April 13, 2022
Skip it. I was thinking this book would be about how to balance feminism and be a Christian, but it’s more of why Christian women shouldn’t be feminists? Some parts were fine, others were not…I think it’s an overall an okay book on how to walk in faith as a Christian woman, but I wouldn’t agree with everything she says and I think the title is misleading. Anyone who is a strong egalitarian would probably dislike this one 😅
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September 12, 2015I tried but I really couldn't get into this. She spent so much talking like she was quoting a manual on the Proverbs 31 woman and didn't really argue unbiasedly. It seems to me that her version of feminism isn't the version that's evolving right now, and instead is the kind that has long been abandoned.
*thank you netgalley and Crossway for this eArc*
*thank you netgalley and Crossway for this eArc*
June 10, 2023
Thoughts on The Accidental Feminist: One highlight of this book was the author’s brief unpacking of “ezer”, the Hebrew word for “helper” in Genesis. The same word is also used throughout the Old Testament describing God’s intervention in helping and rescuing his people. This brings a lot of beauty and value to a woman’s role, and redeems the potentially negative connotation of the word “helper” in modern-day Christianity.
Reissig makes some interesting observations of how subtly the feminist movement has and is affecting our worldviews and attitudes.
On the topic of women leading in the church, she emphasized that the Church is created for the glory of God, not the advancing of our own careers and prestige.
Overall a decent book, but definitely not earth-shattering or life-changing for me personally.
Reissig makes some interesting observations of how subtly the feminist movement has and is affecting our worldviews and attitudes.
On the topic of women leading in the church, she emphasized that the Church is created for the glory of God, not the advancing of our own careers and prestige.
Overall a decent book, but definitely not earth-shattering or life-changing for me personally.
October 6, 2023
This book is from a unique perspective. She was raised with all the right ideals, however after becoming a wife she discovered she didn’t actually believe what the Bible said about her role. Her journey is worth sharing.
“We aren’t turning from feminism because we want to win a battle, or prove how right we are. We are turning from feminism, because we ultimately want to yield are spirits to the will of the God, who created us in His image, for His glory, and with a beautiful and distinct purpose, to display His glory as women.” - Courtney Reissig
“We aren’t turning from feminism because we want to win a battle, or prove how right we are. We are turning from feminism, because we ultimately want to yield are spirits to the will of the God, who created us in His image, for His glory, and with a beautiful and distinct purpose, to display His glory as women.” - Courtney Reissig
October 28, 2024
Not what I was expecting the book to be about but was overall a good message. Jumped around and didn’t always complete a cohesive thought before jumping to something else
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August 29, 2025Audio-d this one!
Great listen and looking forward to reading it properly and note taking it soon!
Great listen and looking forward to reading it properly and note taking it soon!
November 23, 2020
This book is a careful examination of the insidious ways that feminism has crept into modern day Christian women. Reissig talks in depth about the sneaky and subtle shifts in our thought patterns that stir up strife and cause discontentment in many Christian women.
I LOVE that even though Reissig is a wife and mom, she directly addresses the elephant in the sanctuary. What about women who are not wives or mothers? How do they fit in to the body of Christ? How do they honor God with their time? Reissig also makes some great points about how women that are wives and mothers can do more to foster relationships with the women that are not.
Reissig's chapter on submission is clear and well thought out. She tackles this delicate subject with poise and confidence that many teachers and authors fail to do nearly as well.
In short, Courtney Reissig's book The Accidental Feminist takes on major topics that are causing strife in the Christian church today in an honest, concise, and thought provoking way. I enjoyed this book so much that after listening to it on audiobook I went and bought a hard copy on amazon so I could re-read and annotate the book. This book is a solid 5 star, must read!
I LOVE that even though Reissig is a wife and mom, she directly addresses the elephant in the sanctuary. What about women who are not wives or mothers? How do they fit in to the body of Christ? How do they honor God with their time? Reissig also makes some great points about how women that are wives and mothers can do more to foster relationships with the women that are not.
Reissig's chapter on submission is clear and well thought out. She tackles this delicate subject with poise and confidence that many teachers and authors fail to do nearly as well.
In short, Courtney Reissig's book The Accidental Feminist takes on major topics that are causing strife in the Christian church today in an honest, concise, and thought provoking way. I enjoyed this book so much that after listening to it on audiobook I went and bought a hard copy on amazon so I could re-read and annotate the book. This book is a solid 5 star, must read!
April 26, 2016
Just a few pages into the introduction and I was hooked. Having gotten a degree in Arts, I am familiar with feminism being widely discussed, reflected, and more and more accepted (and expected) in media (films, writing, comics etc). Without being conscious of it, most of us, as the author Reissig states, are probably feminist in some way. She discusses how feminism has evolved over the past few decades and what significance it has in our current lives and the life God intended us to have as women.
A good read for those struggling with being a feminist (in whatever way) but at the same time still expect men to be the leader in the household and church (as according to the bible). She talks about how feminism has affected faith and discusses how we can fulfill our roles as women as intended by God.
I started reading the book feeling interested. Towards the last few chapters, I felt like certain sentences were being repeated over and over. Perhaps the intention was to give the same intro to the reader if the reader skipped the front and went to the sections they only wanted to read. Having read it from start to end, it felt like I was going round in circles. The part I felt myself struggling most with was towards the end as Reissig points out that women serving in the church had specific roles and they involved teaching (kids and other women), guiding, hosting, and administrative work, but not leading/preaching, which is only reserved for men (p.136-145). Hard to swallow because there are leaders and pastors who are women in my church. Perhaps a more in-depth study and more references to women from the bible would be helpful.
A good and thought-provoking read. Would recommend it to other women in my life.
A good read for those struggling with being a feminist (in whatever way) but at the same time still expect men to be the leader in the household and church (as according to the bible). She talks about how feminism has affected faith and discusses how we can fulfill our roles as women as intended by God.
I started reading the book feeling interested. Towards the last few chapters, I felt like certain sentences were being repeated over and over. Perhaps the intention was to give the same intro to the reader if the reader skipped the front and went to the sections they only wanted to read. Having read it from start to end, it felt like I was going round in circles. The part I felt myself struggling most with was towards the end as Reissig points out that women serving in the church had specific roles and they involved teaching (kids and other women), guiding, hosting, and administrative work, but not leading/preaching, which is only reserved for men (p.136-145). Hard to swallow because there are leaders and pastors who are women in my church. Perhaps a more in-depth study and more references to women from the bible would be helpful.
A good and thought-provoking read. Would recommend it to other women in my life.
May 11, 2017
I had a hard time with this book. As a Christian and a pastor's wife, I found a lot that was right in course. And some really good examples and tips for serving and being a Godly woman. I'm not sure exactly what I hoped for when I picked this book up. But I think I was hoping for some more middle ground. I feel like the author is off base in breaking down feminism to "equality equals sameness". I feel like there is so much more to feminism and the fight for women's rights than just wanting to be the same and just wanting to sit around and talk bad about men. I want my daughters to get the job they want and the promotion they worked for because of their skills and knowledge and not miss it because of their gender. I also felt like the author made a lot of logic leaps where there wasn't much explanation. I could get there or understood, but I wanted more evidence and more proof. Show me in the word, show me God. For some this book may be right on point, but for me we just weren't on the same page.
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July 31, 2015Cortney, I just listened to you on ERLC Explainer. It was a message I have always tried to explain to others when I was a mathematics supervisor in the 1980's (a position seen as for men only). The part that I heard filled my heart and gave me an added perspective. I am an associate minister at my church. I see your book as a very powerful Women Conference. I pray that I will continue to pray for you and your message.
I am also writing a book entitled "How to Bounce Back when Everything Falls Apart".
Your message is a God send to me as a female Christian who has gone those the ranger for standing up for what is right until I was beaten down by the powers to be.
May God bless you.
Rev. Dr. Alice Morgan-Brown
I am also writing a book entitled "How to Bounce Back when Everything Falls Apart".
Your message is a God send to me as a female Christian who has gone those the ranger for standing up for what is right until I was beaten down by the powers to be.
May God bless you.
Rev. Dr. Alice Morgan-Brown
November 29, 2017
The worst part was when the author said God doesn't have a gender and then continued to refer to Him as "He" in the next sentence. It makes no sense at all.
October 21, 2017
This has been the book I've been waiting for on this topic. I've read several things on both sides of the spectrum and each have made me mad in their own way. What I appreciated about this book was that the author was honest about her journey through this and was still unflinching when it comes to the truths on the Bible.
Though different in the details, I felt a lot of solidarity with the author's journey. Coming from a similar childhood, similar experiences and ambitions, and yet always hearing the constant call of the word to transform our hearts. She held a lot of the same arguments I've had, made the same protestations, a revealed a similar disposition toward God. Namely, the desire to be God myself and feeling resistance to the audacious truth of ever being under authority;
"I wanted to be the master of my own destiny...As human beings, we have been fighting authority since the first sin was committed in the garden. And this only makes it harder to submit to the One who has authority over everything--God." (20)
As a whole I thing Reissig did several things well. Firstly, she balances experience with academics. What I mean is that often people approach this with either a 'this has been my experience' or 'this is just the way it is' approach. To be able to see that there is a real experience and a real tension here as well as allowing it to meet a real God and a real truth is significant. Reissig also did an excellent job at pointing out the true root of the issue we experience here as well displaying what ought to live at the root; the glory of God's name (not our own).
I think this is a good work on it's own, but also well paired with deeper study. Because I came at it after reading several in-depth studies on the 'texts in contention' I did not need further explanation than she gave. Reissig gave a great overview of what was there, diving in deep enough to give a picture, but not fully going overboard into the academics of it all; all the while keeping the big picture in view.
I would highly recommend this read to any young woman in the church.
Though different in the details, I felt a lot of solidarity with the author's journey. Coming from a similar childhood, similar experiences and ambitions, and yet always hearing the constant call of the word to transform our hearts. She held a lot of the same arguments I've had, made the same protestations, a revealed a similar disposition toward God. Namely, the desire to be God myself and feeling resistance to the audacious truth of ever being under authority;
"I wanted to be the master of my own destiny...As human beings, we have been fighting authority since the first sin was committed in the garden. And this only makes it harder to submit to the One who has authority over everything--God." (20)
As a whole I thing Reissig did several things well. Firstly, she balances experience with academics. What I mean is that often people approach this with either a 'this has been my experience' or 'this is just the way it is' approach. To be able to see that there is a real experience and a real tension here as well as allowing it to meet a real God and a real truth is significant. Reissig also did an excellent job at pointing out the true root of the issue we experience here as well displaying what ought to live at the root; the glory of God's name (not our own).
I think this is a good work on it's own, but also well paired with deeper study. Because I came at it after reading several in-depth studies on the 'texts in contention' I did not need further explanation than she gave. Reissig gave a great overview of what was there, diving in deep enough to give a picture, but not fully going overboard into the academics of it all; all the while keeping the big picture in view.
I would highly recommend this read to any young woman in the church.
August 11, 2022
A fabulous book about an important topic! Though many Christian women would rightly push away feminism, Courtney Reissig believes that despite this, many women have embraced aspects of feminism unknowingly as we become influenced by culture. She tackles hard subjects like a woman's role in the home, submission, and church leadership with God's Word, grace, and insight. My favorite chapter was on the home, where Reissig states that it is less about where a woman is (home or in the work place) but all about where her identity is placed. Some of us tend to idolize the home and having children. Others tend to idolize our careers and put that above all else. Both situations are wrong, and our identity must be fixed in Christ.
I greatly appreciated how the author made space for women in all seasons and walks of life. She frequently mentioned singleness, working moms, stay at home moms, women struggling with infertility, and empty nesters and when applicable offered unique insight to the various groups.
I truly wish every Christian woman (and man actually) would read this book. I especially hope that mothers will read this book with their high school daughters. What better stage of life to begin having these conversations?
I greatly appreciated how the author made space for women in all seasons and walks of life. She frequently mentioned singleness, working moms, stay at home moms, women struggling with infertility, and empty nesters and when applicable offered unique insight to the various groups.
I truly wish every Christian woman (and man actually) would read this book. I especially hope that mothers will read this book with their high school daughters. What better stage of life to begin having these conversations?
September 16, 2020
While I don't agree with Courtney's big picture of feminism and gender roles, I was able to pick up a few very helpful reminders. It's hard in our culture to distinguish between following Jesus truly and wanting to fit in culturally. Courtney's view is complementarian (basically separate but equal for men and women), while I am "egalitarian" (her term). Based on reviews, I expected to hate this book but I'd already bought it and it's a short, easy read so I tried it out.
It could have been easy to toss it out based on disagreeing with many of her key points, but I appreciated the smaller reminders of following Jesus that I all too easily forget. One that I have picked up again from this book is the importance of encouraging my husband. I definitely don't do that anywhere near as often as I should. That very day, I had nearly ignored the news that he completed a huge work project to criticize him about something else. Because of this reminder in the book, I apologized to him and congratulated him on the project, which he really appreciated.
If you go into this book, I suggest being ready to pick up the smaller truths if you disagree with her overall concept.
It could have been easy to toss it out based on disagreeing with many of her key points, but I appreciated the smaller reminders of following Jesus that I all too easily forget. One that I have picked up again from this book is the importance of encouraging my husband. I definitely don't do that anywhere near as often as I should. That very day, I had nearly ignored the news that he completed a huge work project to criticize him about something else. Because of this reminder in the book, I apologized to him and congratulated him on the project, which he really appreciated.
If you go into this book, I suggest being ready to pick up the smaller truths if you disagree with her overall concept.
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