Reclaiming Identities, Humanizing People, and More Feminism (Part two)

-Jesus Feminist, Sarah Bessey

This is the second post in a series called 'Talks Around the Campfire'. You can read part one here.

I'm not Catholic, but Pope Francis is someone I admire dearly. In an interview back in September after being asked to describe himself the Pope merely said 'I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It's not a figure of speech, not a literary definition. I am a sinner'. In November he kissed and prayed over a disfigured man. Come December we find out that our sneaky old guy has been making his way outside in the dark of night in disguise to directly serve the poor and needy in his city. To top it all off the man made the cover of Rolling Stones, making him the coolest Pope in the history of, you know, ever. He's charted a new direction for the Church through his outlandish words and actions, words and actions that perhaps shouldn't be considered so outlandish at all.

Why are we so surprised when someone shows kindness, when someone chooses to radically love other people? I wish we could all be walking on the path that Francis seems to be traveling down, myself included. It's narrow indeed but it's the road of Jesus at it's finest.

Recently the Pope did another surprising act, perhaps my favorite one of all. Standing amidst an audience last Wednesday evening a man called out from the crowd, 'Francis, there's no one like you!'

This Pope is growing in popularity. His response through it all has been a humble one. In March Pope Francis responded to his growing celebrity status, saying, 'To depict the pope as a sort of superman, a sort of star, seems offensive to me. The pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps tranquilly and has friends like everyone else, a normal person'. I like those humble words.

Anyway, in response to the man in the crowd the Pope declared this: 'You, too! There's nobody like you, too! There are no two people like you!'

There are no two people like you.

I. love. this.

In one sentence the Pope spoke so much life into another person.

This is, I think, what it means to have a Christ-like mindset. With his words the Pope humanized another person in the best way possible in that moment. He looked at another person and declared them unique, declared them to have potential, declared them as beautiful and as having worth and as made in the image of God.

I want to dwell on that concept today: that we are all made in God's image.

If you know your Latin, the phrase for this is Imago Dei. It's the most incredible phrase in my opinion. It's powerful. It's life-giving. It's a phrase that'll change your life if you let it.

We are all made equally valued, equally loved, equally human.

There is room in the kingdom for us all: man, woman, and child.

Gay, lesbian, and transgendered. Single or taken. Wherever you find yourself. Today's post will not focus on sexuality necessarily, but those words are sure to come in the next few weeks. Today I want to pick up where we left off last time in our discussion with feminism. If I remember correctly, we were sitting 'round a campfire, roasting s'mores and singing freedom songs on that old guitar we brought out. Here, let's tune it quickly.

We've got a song to play right here, right now. Many words are waiting to be sung. The midst is waiting, arms open wide, for all of the earth's sons and daughters to fill the space with melodious praise.

So join me now if you will. Let's harmonize our hearts together. Let's lift our words heavenward.

Then maybe, in the midst of our campfire sing-along, the kingdom will be ushered down.

Love is here, after all, waiting for us to grasp and embrace and roll right around in it. There's a message here: Jesus is for women, too.

Women are people too.

This is the definition of feminism at it's core, and in a Christian context it is also the definition of Jesus feminism. Women are invited to the table of grace. Women are welcome into the arms of the Father. Women are called to the foot of the cross (we're all messy people, here). Women are called to play a part in the kingdom of God.

You may be wondering why feminism is necessary at all. Why emphasize a philosophy with such a focus on women?

While it's true that all of us have identities to live out, identities to claim and perhaps even restore, feminism matters because women have been marginalized all throughout history. I'm personally passionate about feminism because I've seen women marginalized. I've experienced it, even.

Marginalization of women is a centuries-old problem, but it's an issue that hasn't remained in the past. Problems of gender discrimination still exist today. Women are still abused, exploited, and judged today. In the world and in the Church, women are still hurt. Women are still downplayed. Women are still too often seen as inferior in various contexts.

And this is a problem, because Jesus teaches otherwise. Feminism is biblical. I believe whole-heartedly that there is textual evidence that God celebrates women.

Whew, the fire's starting to warm my feet. Those flames are passionately blazing, burning bright. Let's back up a bit, let the sparks settle down in contentment. There is room for tangible calmness of peaceful conversation.

No one need be burned here. This is a warm fire, a comfortable hug that we can nestle into the side of.

Let's look at the text. There's a lot of beauty to dwell on, many words to soak in. One of my favorite stories is found in Luke 13:10. Let's open these ancient pages. I love how this old book feels in my hands, don't you? Weighty and useful and divinely important.

In the story we have a crippled woman. The poor thing has been bent over for eighteen years. Jesus sees her, draws her near, and heals her on the spot. Which, you know, is amazing enough on it's own.

Keep reading, love, for that's not the part that will blow our minds.

Caught up in legalism and right living, the religious leaders of the day challenge the happening. 'There are six days for work', they sneer. 'Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath'.

Face. Palm.

They don't get it, do they? How relatable. I miss the mark on what Jesus is doing far too often in my own life.

Jesus' response is ground-breaking: 'You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what was bound her?'

Daughter of Abraham.

Forget the issue of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus just opened up an entirely different can of worms. He leveled the playing field. You see, love, this was the first time such a phrase had ever been spoken. Up until that earth-shaking moment all anyone had ever heard was the phrase 'son of Abraham'. In calling her a beloved daughter Jesus extended the kingdom of God past cultural boundaries. In that moment, the family of God became more inclusive to the people of that time than ever before.

And I think it always had been so open. God has always welcomed daughters into His kingdom. Our fleshy selves are just so hell-bent on thinking otherwise that we oftentimes forget. We often forget that the kingdom is not about me, myself, and I. We need reminders that the kingdom is for us all.

There are endless examples of women being celebrated throughout the Bible, both in the Old and the New testaments. Maybe we'll talk about those examples in the coming posts. For now let's simply think on the one we just read. I think we should let it resonate with us.

Daughter of Abraham.

Sitting here on this old log, sipping my black cup of coffee I want to meditate on that title. I want to let it wash over me. I want to claim that label.

And I want you to claim it too.

As women we need to reclaim this label, and as men we need you all to stand alongside us as we reclaim who Christ says we are.

Last weekend I had the privilege of speaking and teaching at a women's conference in Fort Worth, and as I looked into the eyes of girls and women of all ages all I saw was a yearning to be reminded of truth. I was teaching on the identity found within discipleship, and though there is much to say on such a topic my main message was this: you are loved. You are a daughter of Abraham.

Baby, here me out: this label marks you well. Where the world has labeled you broken, bruised, hurt, rejected, and denied you are now called cherished. The world calls women so many terrible names.

Too loud. Too quiet. Too skinny. Too fat. Too smart. Too stupid. She's a gossip. She's a slut. She's soiled. She's annoying. She's meant for *limited stereotype* and she could never reach that goal. Too much of a dreamer. Too hot, too plain. Why isn't she dating? Does she want children? She's too flirty. Too reserved. Too this, too that and I'm so tired of names such as these.

All that you are is too loved. You are meant for grand, lovely, kingdom of God things because you are made to love and be loved.

And guys, you are all sons.

Too bold. Too cowardly. Too attractive. Not attractive enough. Too masculine. Too feminine. Too chivalrous and not chivalrous enough. He's a womanizer. He's not good enough. He's a sex addict and wow has he even had sex yet? He's too flirty. Too shy. Too sensitive. Not sensitive enough.

Why do we define ourselves in these ways? Sexuality is important and a vital part of who we are as sexual beings, but it does not define us wholly. We are so much more than anatomical parts. People, human beings made of flesh and breath and cells, cannot be reduced down to simply sexual ethics. Our sexuality is a mere piece of who we are as a whole.

Our identities do not lie in worldly labels or cultural titles. The heart of our identities can be found in the spiritual realm, in the metaphysical world of the kingdom.

Our identities lie in Christ and Christ alone.

At the heart of God and all that He calls us to.

We need this reminder. Who we are is found in the eternal unseen, on things noble and lovely and virtuous and heavenly and above. With an eternal perspective we live out the kingdom here and now.

We are made for kingdom things. We are made to be brave. Made to be truth-seekers. Made to live confidently. Made to love radically.

Here's the thing: when it comes to practically living this out, we often ask the wrong question. The Church always asks what men should do or what roles women should fill.

These questions drive me nuts.

When has the question of how to live ever triumphed over the question of where our hearts are at in regards to kingdom work?

We always ask what we mere humans can do when really we need to be asking what God is already doing.

We need to remember that God working in our lives is never confined to anything but the work of the Spirit. Because of this truth I hold tightly to this thought: what we do should be based on spiritual giftings rather than gender.

Which I know is bold to declare. I know it's different than what so many of us want to declare, maybe even counter-cultural. It's biblical though, and I'll stand by that statement until the return of our King who established that concept in the first place.

God has never restricted His work to gender stereotypes. He has forever carried out His purposes through the lives of men and women alike. He has always moved among humanity through breaths of life, through words of redemption and actions of restoration. His purposes have always been bigger than any single person alone. His kingdom has always been about the the grand scheme of us all.

Which is truly captivating, that in the midst of a big God with big purposes not a single person is lost. Not a single person is left out. No one is forgotten or marginalized, downplayed or denied an invitation.

God has used women to preach truth. God has used women to teach His Word. God has used women to pastor and prophesy and lead and much else.

God has used men to do these glorious things, too.

God, for His purposes, moves within us all.

Sitting around this campfire, let's ask each other this: how is God moving?

I like these words: how is God working here?

Oh and this question too: how is the kingdom being played out in this moment?

And how can I be a part of it?

How can I be used?

(Oh, and would you pass me another marshmellow? The fire is brilliantly burning right now).

When we realize that God's work is about restoring and redeeming humanity, we realize that our cultural barriers and personal preferences don't have much say in the matter of how it's done.

If God wants to use a woman, then let it be. If God wants to work through a woman to teach and preach and prophesy to further His kingdom purposes, then who are we to thwart His work?

If God wants to level the playing field in labeling his children, all of us, as Sons and Daughters of Abraham then I think we should let Him.

Not that we could ever really stop Him. He'll carry out His kingdom purposes whether we want Him to or not. It's just that as He moves, He asks us to move with Him. As He works, He invites us to play a part in His movement.

A movement that declares Good News for humanity. A movement of restoration, redemption, and inclusivity. A movement that looks into the face of another person and says 'You too! There is nobody like you, too!'

A movement that looks into the face of a man and says 'You have potential'.

A movement that looks into the eyes of a woman and declares 'You are not forgotten'.

You see, Jesus wasn't about that hierarchal life. He didn't set up an elitist social ruling. Even when He was sitting on the throne He knelt down at the feet of the undeserving and took on the role of the servant.

He set up a table, much like our campfire here. Men, women, and children are welcome. The food is plenty. The grace is overwhelming, because none of us deserve to be here.

None of us deserve to be invited to this banquet feast.

But here we are.

Because of who He calls us: children.

This is God's plan for the world, that we may all be called children of God.

Breaking bread. Drinking wine. Living out the kingdom.

We need each other. We need people to relate to, shoulders to cry on. We need souls to affirm, humans to love and be loved by. We need to learn from each other, because we're magically diverse and creatively made. We're different from one another and all bring varying perspectives and personalities to the family of God.

We're diverse yet equally valued in God's eyes.

Flesh and blood, we're all on equal ground here. This space is sacred and sweet, rich with the sunshine of laughter on some days and filled with tears of authenticity on others. Every day is truth-filled.

Every day is one that reminds us that we are all one big family.

Life glorious life.

In the coming posts I want to talk more about gender roles, stereotypes, and other hard things. We will dive head-first into words on sexuality and purity culture, rape and patriarchy and matriarchy and masculinity and such, but for at least a few more posts I want to remain on the topic of feminism.

I want to keep on harmonizing together, want to keep on singing freedom songs to one another.

Dwelling in His love, which indeed is an all-consuming fire.