Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
In Which I'm A Jesus Feminist {Book Review}
Hi! I'm Vanessa! I'm wife to Chris, mama to three girls, a piano teacher, a worship leader, a birth photographer, a lover of books, and...I'm a Jesus Feminist.
But don't let that scare you off! At least not until you've read Jesus Feminist for yourselves and understand exactly what it is!
But first perhaps you have to understand who Sarah Bessey is. I've been a long time follower of Sarah's blog and I quickly realized I felt like she was writing the words that I had inside me, but just wasn't sure how to say them (or even too afraid to voice them). She is a mum (that's just for you my Canadian friend), a wife, a writer, and a Jesus feminist.
I know that word scares you. It makes you think of a rebel; a "worldly-girl" who refuses to submit. At one point it scared me because I was taught it was wrong to be a feminist. It was wrong to have my own beliefs once married. It was wrong to voice my thoughts (even though they were a part of who God made me). It was wrong to fight for justice.
But really, Sarah puts it best when she says, "At the core, feminism simply consists of the radical notion that women are people, too. Feminism only means we champion the dignity, rights, responsibilities, and glories of women as equal in importance-not greater than, but certainly not less than-to those of men, and we refuse discrimination against women." I breathed a loud "Amen" upon reading that! As a woman and mama to three girls, I so long for this for myself & for my daughters!
But the book is not just about the Western world of women having a voice. No instead it is about fighting for the social injustices of a world that for many is unseen: human trafficking, domestic abuse, poverty, war, sexual abuse, unequal access to education, and so much more.
It's crazy, but this book washed over me a sense of healing. While I read it, I literally felt God heal wounds on my heart, deep down in my soul over the injustices I have experienced as a woman. Even the injustices I have seen during my time spent in Brazil and Venezuela. The injustices I witnessed in D.C., in a small southern Georgia town, the pain I've seen on a dozen women's faces in the Midwest. It's as if God whispered over my soul that He cares. He cares for me. He cares for them. That He sees and that He is using me to fight for them. That there will be a time of redemption for all.
That brings peace. Sweet peace! Peace that I can firmly and confidently rest in. Knowing that He will show me in His time.
So my friends, if you haven't already, go out and buy Jesus Feminist! You will not regret it! Once you do, come back and share with me your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!
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Somehow, through it all, Jesus made a feminist out of me!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of Jesus Feminist thanks to NetGalley! To find out more about NetGalley go here.
But don't let that scare you off! At least not until you've read Jesus Feminist for yourselves and understand exactly what it is!
But first perhaps you have to understand who Sarah Bessey is. I've been a long time follower of Sarah's blog and I quickly realized I felt like she was writing the words that I had inside me, but just wasn't sure how to say them (or even too afraid to voice them). She is a mum (that's just for you my Canadian friend), a wife, a writer, and a Jesus feminist.
I know that word scares you. It makes you think of a rebel; a "worldly-girl" who refuses to submit. At one point it scared me because I was taught it was wrong to be a feminist. It was wrong to have my own beliefs once married. It was wrong to voice my thoughts (even though they were a part of who God made me). It was wrong to fight for justice.
But really, Sarah puts it best when she says, "At the core, feminism simply consists of the radical notion that women are people, too. Feminism only means we champion the dignity, rights, responsibilities, and glories of women as equal in importance-not greater than, but certainly not less than-to those of men, and we refuse discrimination against women." I breathed a loud "Amen" upon reading that! As a woman and mama to three girls, I so long for this for myself & for my daughters!
But the book is not just about the Western world of women having a voice. No instead it is about fighting for the social injustices of a world that for many is unseen: human trafficking, domestic abuse, poverty, war, sexual abuse, unequal access to education, and so much more.
It's crazy, but this book washed over me a sense of healing. While I read it, I literally felt God heal wounds on my heart, deep down in my soul over the injustices I have experienced as a woman. Even the injustices I have seen during my time spent in Brazil and Venezuela. The injustices I witnessed in D.C., in a small southern Georgia town, the pain I've seen on a dozen women's faces in the Midwest. It's as if God whispered over my soul that He cares. He cares for me. He cares for them. That He sees and that He is using me to fight for them. That there will be a time of redemption for all.
That brings peace. Sweet peace! Peace that I can firmly and confidently rest in. Knowing that He will show me in His time.
So my friends, if you haven't already, go out and buy Jesus Feminist! You will not regret it! Once you do, come back and share with me your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!
.JPG)
Somehow, through it all, Jesus made a feminist out of me!
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of Jesus Feminist thanks to NetGalley! To find out more about NetGalley go here.
