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Jesus
Feminist
Book Review by Cadet
Nicola Poore
Jesus Feminist was written
by
Sarah Bessey
(Book
review
previously published in the AUE
Women's magazine in March 2014)
Jesus Feminist.
Yes, you read it correctly. No, it is not a contradiction in
terms. ‘Feminist’ is certainly a word that triggers extreme
reactions. Indeed, ‘feminism’ seems to be particularly
distasteful to the Christian palate, as though it was the
antithesis of the Proverbs 31 ideal of biblical womanhood.
Having named the elephant in the room, (male or female
elephant, you decide) let us set aside stereotypes as I
describe to you a different kind of feminism;
Jesus Feminism.
Sarah Bessey, award-winning blogger and author of
Jesus Feminist,
illustrates a brand of feminism that is radically
counter-cultural because it is rooted in Jesus Christ.
As Bessey skilfully articulates,
“My first allegiance is
not to feminism. My first allegiance is to Jesus and His
Kingdom…Jesus made a feminist out of me.” Jesus’ Kingdom
was never about grasping for power, but about the giving up of
power. Jesus Feminism, as described in this text, does not set
out to dismantle patriarchal power structures in favour of a
matriarchal paradigm. Rather for Bessey,
“Feminism only means we
champion the dignity, rights, responsibilities, and glories of
women as equal in importance – not greater than, but certainly
no less than – to those of men.”
The focal point of this work is Jesus Christ and his mission
to redeem, reform and restore the world. The scale of this
redemption is limitless. Not only does Bessey outline Christ’s
redemptive purposes for equitable human relationships, but she
explores the all-encompassing redemption of the created order.
The reader is given a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.
The tapestry of Jesus
Feminist is beautifully constructed with threads of
personal testimony and academic literature in a poetic style
that is consistently interwoven with the Word of God.
Subverting the typically argumentative style of gender
debates, Bessey champions grace, justice, mutual submission
and respect in her treatment of such themes as spiritual
headship, identity, motherhood, and ministry.
Echoing the voices of Catherine and William Booth,
Jesus Feminist is a
captivating read for men and women alike. Allow this book to
capture your imagination of how things could be, and provoke
you to wait, with building and unbearable anticipation, for
Christ’s glorious return and the consummation of his Kingdom.
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