Friday, 09 July 2010
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The Feminine Bride of Christ
By Sharon at SheWorshipsA couple months ago I wrote a blog entitled The Masculinization of the Church in which I wrestled with the language used by evangelicals who object to the “feminization” of the church and want to make it more masculine. Since that time, I read a blog by Wendy Alsup entitled Who First Feminized the Church? in which she furthered the discussion in an extremely helpful and Scriptural way. I want to begin by excerpting some of my favorite parts of her blog, and end with why her insights are so important for Christians:
“The very first person to speak of the church in feminine terms was God Himself through His inspired Word. Throughout the Old Testament, Scripture uses feminine imagery for God’s people (such as the entire book of Hosea). In the New Testament, it is starkly clear and unavoidable in Ephesians 5. Like it or not, you and I, male and female, are part of the corporate BRIDE of Christ. And there is a reason God speaks of it that way. God wants us to understand something of our relationship with Him through this terminology.”
She later adds,
“If conservative evangelicals want to refocus ministry efforts toward men who have often been overlooked, we need another rallying cry than one against the “feminization of the church.” Scripture feminizes the church! You can’t hold tightly to the Word of God in one hand and decry the way Scripture talks of the Body from the other. I’ve heard the idea that if you get the man into church, you get his wife and family as well. That is true. But if you get the man into church while downplaying and even mocking how Scripture speaks of his corporate identity in the Bride of Christ, what happens to his wife and family in the church as a result is not necessarily a good thing.”
The reason I so heartily affirm Wendy’s words here is that she brings the real issue to light. This is not about women whining at men for giving us a bad name. It’s about adhering to the very words of Scripture. It’s about being faithful to the character of the church as given to us by God, and reflecting it in our words and in our lives.
We must always remember the power of our words. God used words to create the world and change the course of history. Our words have a similar power, so we cannot afford to be sloppy or lazy in how we use them. We should speak of each divine image bearer, male and female, with the dignity that each deserves, not as an insult.
Evangelicals have fought tooth and nail to defend the masculine language Scripture uses about God, and I wonder what it would mean to hold as tightly to the language about the church. What does it mean that the church is the Bride of Christ? What does it mean for men to be the Bride of Christ. I am not suggesting that men must start acting like women, but the language of Scripture urges us to take this attribute seriously. It also challenges us to be more prudent in voicing our complaints about the church. Emotionalism and sweater vests do not a feminine church make. If we wrongly define the terms of the problem, we are sure to offer the wrong solution.
Let us therefore use our words as God does, carefully, wisely, and Scripturally. And let us remember the power that our words have to build up or tear down, because the ultimate victim of our misused words is Christ’s Bride.
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About the Author
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- From: sheworships
- Name: Sharon
- About Me: Sharon Hodde Miller is a North Carolina girl, born and raised! She is originally from Charlotte, NC, and she received her undergraduate degree and Masters of Divinity from Duke University. Sharon has worked for Proverbs 31 Ministries where she was a contributing writer to the ministry’s daily devotions and radio broadcasts. She has written for Relevant Magazine’s online articles, Lifeway’s Collegiate Magazine, Ungrind Webzine, and she continues to write and minister to women all over the world about being a Christian woman in an ever-changing culture. Sharon currently lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, who is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. If you would like to contact her regarding a speaking or writing opportunity, if you have any questions, or would like to submit a blog topic, please e-mail her at sharon(at)sheworships(dot)com.
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Comments (7)
Thumbs up. Just watch out for feminization versus being effeminate. It doesnt mean acting girly - know what I mean? :)
Simply put, Christ described the "wifely" role - "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands..." Us being betrothed to Jesus is descriptive of our position in God's grand scheme of things. Just think of our position in heaven, above the angels!
A side note, when God describes being betrothed in the OT, it's a prophetic picture of Christ and the church. The man and woman would become betrothed before being married. There would be a period of time where the man and woman would be spoken for, but they werent actually be married. The to-be husband would then go out and prepare a place, get his affairs in order, build a house, etc - and then come back to get the bride - and then they'd be married. All this points to Jesus coming BACK for his bride! Its wonderful!
" I go to prepare a place for you.b]'>[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
He's coming back folks!
wow. ive always wondered about this...especially as one with homosexual desires. does that mean my homosexual desires are okay? should i imagine myself in an intimate physical relationship with God? how far is too far? i mean girls can imagine God as a lover, but with homeosexuality being a sin, it kind of throws big doubts into my world. here's some of my conclusions on the matter:
God uses a human system that he established (marriage) to describe his relationship with the church, not necessarily the individual. remember that we are the body of Christ collectively with all our diverse talents and God given abilities. i could be a finger that God uses to call out sin in the church. i could be a foot that takes the church to the unreached places of the globe. i can be an ear that hears the desperate cries of the unsaved and hurting in the church and does something about it. i could be an eye that can see danger from far away and counsel and correct wrong thinking. as we all collectively do these things, we show the bride's love for her husband in return for how he has shown us love. i think thats a much better response.
if you are struggling with homosexual attraction, check out my blog: http://wakeupgen.xanga.com/ and get involved in the blog-ring i joined. there are some good guys that love the Lord and are banding together in this fight.
Great post.
I think the problem is that we lose the fact that for men, "bride of Christ" doesn't mean acting like a woman at all. It means that all members of the church submit to Christ as their source, originator (like Adam's rib was to Eve), and provider. The imagery can mean somewhat different things for men and women.
"Husband" and "wife" mean so much more than "dude" and "girl."
Great Post
"Take and eat, this is my Body...take and drink, this is my Blood..."
"...and the two shall become one flesh..."
When we "eat his flesh and drink his blood" we become one flesh with Christ as a Church, regardless of our own gender. The whole Body of His Bride, receiving His Eucharistic Flesh and Blood at the table of the Bridegroom, becomes one with Him. When men and women of the Church go to receive the Eucharist, to receive "communion," at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, truly we behold the Mystical Marriage of Christ and His Bride.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - Yes, yes, yes! This!
Great post!