Men, Women and Authority
Edited by Brian Edwards
Day One Publications. 259 pages. £7.99
ISBN 0 902548 71 9
It has often been said that in these days it is very difficult to be a truly biblical Christian woman. Now, however, it is increasingly asserted that it may be even harder to be a good Christian man. Many questions are asked: what are the respective roles of men and women in the church/family? What does submission really mean? Is there such a thing as evangelical feminism? . . . and so on.
With a desire to answer such questions and to deal with them in a way that is both Scriptural and practically relevant, Day One Publications have brought out Men, Women and Authority as one of their 'Facing the Issues' series. As they say in the general preface: 'This series is written with the general reader in mind, and the books do not assume a background training in theology', so this volume is readable and wide-ranging, with a broad knowledge of the contemporary literature on the subject and an excellent bibliography at the end of each chapter in order to stimulate further reading.
Essays
The book is arranged as a series of 12 essays by nine writers, with a helpful preface by Andrew Anderson, the series editor. It is perhaps a pity that only two of the writers are women (Mark Johnston spots this possible reaction), and I could have wished that the blurb on the back cover were not written in such pejorative terms. To say that the church has 'finally succumbed to the feministic rule . . .' is not the way to attract the people whom they are seeking to persuade. However, I did observe that Brian Edwards is referred to as the 'chair' of the FIEC committee which discusses these issues!
The essay structure of the book makes it particularly easy to read, and although the standpoint of all the writers is what would be described as evangelically conservative - a belief in the headship of the husband in the family and in the restoration of the roles of leading and teaching elders to men, yet there are differences of emphasis and opinions to be found. The different styles of writing, too, are an added interest, from the strongly-polemical approach of Brian Edwards: 'In my view, radical feminism is ridiculous, liberal feminism is dangerous and evangelical feminism is boring' (through, for example, the tight-knit chapter 'Women are different' by Sheila Stephens), to the reasonable and eirenic description of Christian family life (which includes the church) by John Benton.
All issues covered
Almost every subject which arises in this important issue is dealt with in the book. All the essays are introduced and set in context in the opening chapter by Mark Johnston, who gives an excellent critique of the present position and outlines how the book will deal with it.
Then, as well as the chapters already mentioned, we find 'Gender in the history of the church', Kenneth Brownall's fascinating and sensitive study; 'Should women preach?' by Edward Donnelly, a balanced and helpful chapter on the biblical passages which deal with this. 'You're a man, aren't you?' is an essay in which Jonathan Stephen points out that 'in our search for an essential masculinity (or femininity) we must be careful to distinguish between those (roles) determined by biblical principle and those based purely on cultural factors!' Interestingly, he and Edward Donnelly disagree on the question of whether 1 Timothy 2.14 refers to a vulnerability in Eve or not. John Benton and Edward Donnelly also write, respectively, on 'Presuppositions, freedom and self-worth' and on 'Headship'.
I did wish that more space had been given to the particular problems of the unmarried woman, and also to those of all women with regard to authority in secular life. But it is difficult to cover everything in depth.
Subordination
I have kept my comments on two chapters to the end. One is 'How feminism affects your theology' by Stephen Rees, who also has an interesting chapter on 'Gender and the Bible'. My problem with the former is that in it he argues very strongly for the doctrine if the eternal subordination of the Son in the Trinity. He does this in order to make sure that 'evangelical feminists have understood the danger to which their chosen path leads'. Ultimately, he says, it is 'the abandonment of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity'. But as evangelical theologians have long disagreed on this question of Christ's subordination (John Benton, for example, in chapter 8 sees it differently), so to make a major doctrinal emphasis on such a disputed exegetical point would seem to me to be a mistake.
My favourite chapter, however, is the last in the book 'Roles without regulation' by Sharon James. It is hard-hitting, theological/historical, warm, positive and practical. It understands and encourages women and calls for action by the church - a good chapter with which to finish.
You may not agree with all of this book, but it would make an excellent Christmas present for men and women alike.
Elizabeth Catherwood
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