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July 17, 2007
We Are Not Pregnant...
...and other reflections on gender from a fairly conservative source.
Several months ago after house church, several of us discussed the pros and cons of the phrase "We are pregnant." I am not a fan. Here is an article from the editior of Christianity Today reflecting on gender roles. I have read it and several other articles as I work at my new library job. And, I must confess, it felt a bit like coming home. I am not saying that I will agree with everything that will be articulated in Christianity Today, but I think what was refreshing to me today was once again reading theological thought, clearly expressed without the need for constant qualification and apology.
I think that is the direction in which I want to go, not back to simple closed-mindedness, insensitivity, judgemenatlism, and rigidity mind you, but to take along with me lessons I have learned, and to articulate my understanding of truth confidently. Why should that be such a radical thing to even articulate?
In many ways I think that this recalibration that has occurred in myself over the course of a number of years is merely a microcosm of changes that have been occurring in evangelical Christianity at large. For example, I believe the engagement with culture and current social and global concerns currently engaged in by a magazine such as Christianity Todaywould seldom have appeared on its pages in the 1980's. That is my sense of it at least.
Here is another article on the spreading canker of the prosperity gospel in the church in Africa, and it is a canker. Yet, the picture is never as simple as I would like to make it, as God is working even amidst the mess of such teaching, bringing people to himself, and yes even teaching some folk to better their lives and to share with others. Huh, how about that. And what is another of the draws of this movement for Africans? It scratches a distinctly African itch to be in touch with the supernatural. And, with care and discernment but without our overbearing desire to be in control, I bet we could learn a little something in that department.
Church Life and Theology | By jackdas | 7:41 PM
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Comments
prosperity gospel...it breaks my heart. Please Jesus help us!
Posted by: Heidi Vincent at July 18, 2007 10:02 AM
Good article, the first one anyway, haven't read the second one yet. I don't think Clay has ever said, "we are pregnant," but if he did I'm sure he regrets it.
I'm sure many would argue that the author is reading way too much into why people say, "we are pregnant," but I agree with the CT guy, and I think it is a part of the "feminization" of the church and our culture.
Let men be men and quit making them feel guilty about it!
Posted by: Renae at July 18, 2007 1:15 PM
Heidi V. the prosperity gospel is, indeed, very sad, particularly because very poor people are having their money taken away. I do have some appreciation for the notion that being Christians (perhaps over the course of several generations) will make a family/people more prosperous, and I am glad that this article acknowledged. I am not talking careening materialism here, mind you, but the ability to have the basics of life met, and, yes, the ability to help others.
Renae, I agree. Hear, hear. I am not too keen on the overly masculine reactions against the feminization of the church, but it clearly is a problem, and hence the reaction.
Posted by: Neil E. Das at July 18, 2007 3:29 PM
