Thread by @bethallisonbarr

Y’all this week has been fun. I missed all the convos. I suspect I’ll be going in and out for a while, though, so I just want to be clear on a few things before I go quiet again…. 🧵

1. I wrote #makingbiblicalwomanhood because I believe complementarianism is wrong. I agree with egalitarians/mutualists (I think I like term mutualist best) that God calls women and men equally to serve in church and home.

2. I think the claim that patriarchy is God-ordained is wrong. I think patriarchy is a product of human sin.

3. I think history clearly shows the reality of women preaching teaching and leading throughout church history. I think history helps us understand the Bible significantly better. I think history shows us how modern complementarianism has been constructed by people.

4. I understand that fighting patriarchy is a hard battle. So many have been doing it for so long…..

I also understand that a lot of people disagree with me (both those who don’t think I’ve gone far enough and those who think I have gone too far).

I’m ok with that.

5. My goal is to move the conversation about women forward. To help people see it from a different angle (the long view of history). To help more people grapple with it and not just accept what they have been taught. To help evangelical Christians see a broader view of history.

6. My goal is to help people think hard about why they believe patriarchy is Gospel truth. I want people to consider that they might be wrong. I want people to have hard conversations and think deeply about their beliefs.

7. Some will be set free by #makingbiblicalwomanhood, just as I have been.

Some will welcome it as they already agree.

Some will be challenged but uncertain.

Some will think about it, but not change their mind.

Some will be threatened.

This is all ok.

Finally: so talk about it. Talk a lot about it. Say what you need to say.

But please know that I’ve already said what I think. I may jump in and engage with you. But I also may stay out of the conversation.

I did my part. Now it is your turn.
I pray you will think hard.