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God's Design for Women in an Age of Gender Confusion
IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT BEING A WOMAN? GOD'S WORD SAYS YES! Men and women are absolutely equal in dignity. They are also significantly different. Women are only honoured (and fulfilled) when both truths are celebrated. Read this revised edition of Sharon James' God's Design for Women if you want to find out about: - The positive impact Christianity has had on women throughout history - The various waves of feminism right up to the #MeToo movement - The Bible's teaching about equality and complementarity - A survey of views on women's ministry - An overview of biblical ministries of women - A biblical perspective on work, singleness, marriage and motherhood
324 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
24 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Sharon James
9 books26 followersSharon James studied history at Cambridge University, theology at Toronto Baptist Seminary, and has a doctorate from the University of Wales. She is married to Bill, who is Principal of London Seminary. They have two grown up children and six grandchildren. Sharon works as Social Policy Analyst for The Christian Institute, UK, and has travelled to many countries as a Conference speaker.
Her webpage includes articles, interviews and talks and information about her latest books.
https://www.sharonjames.org/
Her webpage includes articles, interviews and talks and information about her latest books.
https://www.sharonjames.org/
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 28, 2017
Amazing book. Absolutely biblical, meaty, solid, covers all the spheres of a woman living in the world, very helpful and wise.
I totally recommend it to everybody.
I totally recommend it to everybody.
February 6, 2021
Well written and researched, this book is a helpful read for Christian women trying to make sense of where we are today and on to what God is calling us to set our sights. The initial section on feminism and its waves (and their effects) was illuminating and especially valuable, as was the brief exposition of the way Christianity has improved the cultures where it was present. The data on early Rome gave me some necessary perspective and hope in light of our current culture - it was oddly reassuring to be reminded that the world has been to these dark places before, yet the light of Christ has and does and will continue to shine.
The instruction on God’s design for women was faithful to scripture for women in any season of life, and I appreciated the specificity with which the author extrapolated this - singleness, marriage, life in the church, views on male leadership, and more.
This is an important read for women today, both old and young alike. I would love to re-read this with a group of women and mull over together the timeless and beautiful calling of being a Godly woman in the 21 century.
The instruction on God’s design for women was faithful to scripture for women in any season of life, and I appreciated the specificity with which the author extrapolated this - singleness, marriage, life in the church, views on male leadership, and more.
This is an important read for women today, both old and young alike. I would love to re-read this with a group of women and mull over together the timeless and beautiful calling of being a Godly woman in the 21 century.
April 10, 2018
Very balanced look at womanhood, and practical without being prescriptive. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
November 17, 2020
One of the best books I have read in the subject.
It stars with a history of feminism (4 waves and their different claims about femininity, showing the improvements and lies that came with them) - this is the part that interested me the most as someone rather ignorant on this movement.
She also makes comments about biological and psychological differences and then explores the Bible view on femininity.
Only in Christ we can find our true identity in a way that won’t deceive nor pressure us ; this principle is applied in this book showing how as Christian we can navigate life and femininity with a different perspective.
I am more and more convinced that there is less difference between genders than we, the church can sometimes try to affirm (as a reaction to the culture) and sometimes felt like this book went a bit too far in creating more contrast than what the Bible actually does but it wasn’t too bad and not too focused on mariage and motherhood even if the subjects are quite present.
Overall I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more the identity that women have in Christ, the freedom that comes with it and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as a woman in today’s culture. It will also equip anyone who wants to take part in the debate around feminism with biblical arguments.
It stars with a history of feminism (4 waves and their different claims about femininity, showing the improvements and lies that came with them) - this is the part that interested me the most as someone rather ignorant on this movement.
She also makes comments about biological and psychological differences and then explores the Bible view on femininity.
Only in Christ we can find our true identity in a way that won’t deceive nor pressure us ; this principle is applied in this book showing how as Christian we can navigate life and femininity with a different perspective.
I am more and more convinced that there is less difference between genders than we, the church can sometimes try to affirm (as a reaction to the culture) and sometimes felt like this book went a bit too far in creating more contrast than what the Bible actually does but it wasn’t too bad and not too focused on mariage and motherhood even if the subjects are quite present.
Overall I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more the identity that women have in Christ, the freedom that comes with it and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as a woman in today’s culture. It will also equip anyone who wants to take part in the debate around feminism with biblical arguments.
March 13, 2024
Sharon James does an excellent job in covering all the issues with respect to women in the church and in society. However her concern is mostly with countering the arguments of feminists in their deconstruction of what it means to be a woman - most especially theologically within the church, and here she does an excellent job reviewing the arguments of feminists and/or egalitarians; along with the counter arguments. Needless to say she takes a firm biblical complementarian stand point even as far as reaffirming the biblical prohibition against women assuming certain leadership roles in the church. However while respecting this scriptural view she of course sees ample scope for women within a much broader range of church leadership roles.
I personally don't disagree with anything James says, yet I would soften her stance just a little. Most if not all of the New Testament guidance on women's place in the church is bracketed with statements such as 1 Timothy 2:12 "'I' do not permit..." rather than 'God' does not... Thus putting a firm contextual/societal circumstance around these instructions. Therefore the hermeneutical question remains as to how to still apply these scriptures rather than dismissing them? Clearly there are differences between male and female - although all humanity share both the 'bone of my bone' male characteristic and 'flesh of my flesh' characteristic - merely to a greater or lesser extent. Thus these scriptures should not be read as absolute prohibitions (as indeed many hints in the New Testament suggest exceptions to these rules!) but rather warning against letting femininity become dominant (as we see to our peril in many dying mainline denominations today).
This is where I actually hoped for more from this book. Women surely have as vital a role in the body of Christ as they do in the family. I hoped for more of an expansion of this positive role as to how the nurturing, relationship, openness and verbal abilities that are greater in women than men can be developed and used to advantage in the whole church - not only for women ministering to other women. There are quite a few hints for this further exploration. Women taking their proper place in the church can do things men as a rule cannot - in the end it is not about sensible restrictions, but about God's Design For ...not just Women rather, for wholeness of the body.
Nevertheless while there might be room for extrapolation and further thought, this really is an accessible yet comprehensive biblical view of of womanhood today.
I personally don't disagree with anything James says, yet I would soften her stance just a little. Most if not all of the New Testament guidance on women's place in the church is bracketed with statements such as 1 Timothy 2:12 "'I' do not permit..." rather than 'God' does not... Thus putting a firm contextual/societal circumstance around these instructions. Therefore the hermeneutical question remains as to how to still apply these scriptures rather than dismissing them? Clearly there are differences between male and female - although all humanity share both the 'bone of my bone' male characteristic and 'flesh of my flesh' characteristic - merely to a greater or lesser extent. Thus these scriptures should not be read as absolute prohibitions (as indeed many hints in the New Testament suggest exceptions to these rules!) but rather warning against letting femininity become dominant (as we see to our peril in many dying mainline denominations today).
This is where I actually hoped for more from this book. Women surely have as vital a role in the body of Christ as they do in the family. I hoped for more of an expansion of this positive role as to how the nurturing, relationship, openness and verbal abilities that are greater in women than men can be developed and used to advantage in the whole church - not only for women ministering to other women. There are quite a few hints for this further exploration. Women taking their proper place in the church can do things men as a rule cannot - in the end it is not about sensible restrictions, but about God's Design For ...not just Women rather, for wholeness of the body.
Nevertheless while there might be room for extrapolation and further thought, this really is an accessible yet comprehensive biblical view of of womanhood today.
July 21, 2021
What a great book. Sharon James writes with a terrific balance of grace and truth. Her documentation on the history of feminism and it's consequences is worth the price of the book. This book is packed with Scripture, sensitivity, exegesis, and practical application. She also documents all of her major claims and provides extensive research in the back of the book.
July 24, 2024
A comprehensive look at God's design for women set against the ways culture through the years has 'designed' women.
Informative and polemical (the tone became a little abrasive at times), the book's gems are really in the last 5 or 6 chapters, with practical applications of how to honour God as women.
Informative and polemical (the tone became a little abrasive at times), the book's gems are really in the last 5 or 6 chapters, with practical applications of how to honour God as women.
January 23, 2023
This book covers quite a bit of ground. Sharon James addresses a tough topic today with Grace and thoroughness. I really appreciated the many different angles she looked at related to this topic.
However, I think the book could have benefited from another round of editing.
However, I think the book could have benefited from another round of editing.
September 8, 2023
A great way to learn more about how God designed women to live for Him! I learned a lot about controversial topics that I didn’t know much about. Sharon James explains things really thoroughly and well and points everything back to God’s word. Every Christian woman should read this book!
November 25, 2024
This is an amazing book! I learned so much from it and it was biblical substantiated. I think a lot of (young christian) women can learn so much of this book!
March 21, 2008
Interesting book. First part discusses the feminist movement and the repercussions it had upon the female self-image and women in the workplace. Second part discusses God's biblical design for women, their strengths, their role in the church, their role in the workplace. Third part discusses the egalitarian views of these topics and contrasts them to views in part 2.... Good book for women interested in the history of feminism or what God says our roles should be! Bound to be controversial for nonconservative Christians...
September 13, 2012
A really thorough book, in the fact that she goes into the history of feminism, and also looks at the sociological aspect of childcare, and failings.
On the whole pretty balanced, although disappointed that she assumes that Christians will always fit into the 2 child model. There was no explanations of the immorality of certain contraceptives, ie the pill actually killing new life. I believe it is important, and women need to know that by limiting family size with some contraception, it is actually killing life.
On the whole pretty balanced, although disappointed that she assumes that Christians will always fit into the 2 child model. There was no explanations of the immorality of certain contraceptives, ie the pill actually killing new life. I believe it is important, and women need to know that by limiting family size with some contraception, it is actually killing life.
June 27, 2012
An excellent book. Every Christian Woman should read this. The author writes easily and it reads quickly, even though there is a wealth of information and knowledge included. If you are interested in God's high calling for women this is the book for you.
April 15, 2013
Covers many aspects of theology and practice when thinking about what the Bible says about women. James had read widely on all sides of the feminism debate and brings this helpfully into her discussions, but she also deals with many intensely practical questions.
April 6, 2025
Definitely the best book I have read so far on womanhood and the role of women in the church. Out of 4 books.
Biblically absolutely faithful, but still reflecting perfectly our age.
Extraordinarily valuable.
Biblically absolutely faithful, but still reflecting perfectly our age.
Extraordinarily valuable.
October 27, 2014
Very good book, clear, studied? Offers clear theological insights not only in role of women, but thir propensity ( character) to nurture...
November 19, 2018
Helpful and practical particularly in with regard to women in ministry.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews