|
God's Design for WomenBiblical womanhood for todayCourageous and positiveGOD'S DESIGN FOR WOMEN: Is feminism all bad? Can women teach? Should mums go back to work? Controversial issues, to say the least...! Sharon James is both courageous, positive and biblical in the way she handles them. God's Design for Women opens with a brief but helpful critique of modern feminist thinking, focusing particularly on the way it has shaped assumptions in today's society. Plenty of thought-provoking material here... Why is it impossible to have sexual freedom and emotional fulfilment at the same time? Is attempting to juggle motherhood and career unachievable? Part II presents the biblical view, showing the beauty of God's original design and what the Bible teaches about being a woman. The main planks of this are the absolute equality of men and women and the differing, complementary roles that God has assigned to each. Part III applies this teaching and spells out the range of opportunities for women in Christian ministry (e.g. evangelism, prayer ministries, ministry of comfort to those who are hurting). Finally, the author concludes by looking at the beauty that lasts. This book will be much appreciated by any Christian who wants positive, biblical teaching on womanhood and women's ministry. It is easy to read and full of practical wisdom. I would want to emphasise its suitability for convinced Christians. It is preaching to the converted, so to speak. I would be careful about recommending it to someone with strongly-held feminist views because it is not aiming to be an exercise in apologetics. Similarly, anyone who has suffered from any of the painful experiences mentioned in Part III (e.g. miscarriage, death of a child, abortion, abuse, etc.), may find the author's treatment of these subjects rather brief. However, it does not set out to be a comprehensive treatment of the issues (p.12), and anyone wanting to think more deeply will want to follow up the suggestions for further reading and the questions for discussion following each chapter. Definitely worth having on your shelf (having read it first!). It is a very helpful introduction to what the Bible teaches on being a godly woman. Mary Davis, London© Evangelicals Now - August 2002 |