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Why I Think Women Need to Study Theology
by Lisa RobinsonNovember 15th, 2009
80 Comments
I have a confession to make. I am not fond of women’s ministry programs. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sisters in Christ and enjoy fellowshipping with them. But programs that involve some type of teaching, such as workshops or conferences, generally don’t appeal to me. Why? In my experience, gatherings to hear teaching have been little more than encouragement sessions to make us feel better about being “God’s women”. Unfortunately, I find the same thing on women’s blogs, even ones that have been advertised as a place for serious thinkers. There are a few exceptions, but generally, I find them lacking in rich theological substance.
Now I will be the first to admit, that women are more geared emotionally. Generally, and of course there are exceptions. We seem to need some type of emotional connection to things to extract value. Therefore, the tendency will be to look for some type of emotional appeasement when it comes to Christian education. That is not to say that there is not Biblically based teaching or even, expository or inductive teaching. But it has to feel good for us, if we’re honest.
This is precisely why I think women should study theology. Instruction in theology proper will force an objectivity that I think might be not otherwise be present, as Christian women strive to grow in their Christian walk. Theology will provoke us to evaluate how we think about God, His plan and our Christian faith. Charles Ryrie indicates that theology is how we think about God. In this way, everyone is a theologian. So studying theology should challenge us to examine how we are even approaching the Bible. What is our hermeneutic, historical-grammatical-canonical or reader response subjectivism? Are we studying the Bible to make ourselves feel better or studying to understand the revelation of God? A study in theology should pry us from the former, while clarifying the latter. Moreover, it will encourage us to examine the presuppositions that we bring into reading the Bible and reduce responses to seemingly affronts to womanhood or our sensibilities.
I desire for my fellow sisters in Christ to understand God’s plan and program. I desire for my sisters to study the Bible with as much objectivity as possible, to learn what He has communicated to us. I personally fear that too much of the highly marketed teaching out there, is not properly equipping women to grow in grace and the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, as Peter puts in 2 Peter 3:18. It makes us feel good about being women. But is it enough?
I am especially concerned because I think that women are more likely to be susceptible to distorted doctrine and unscrupulous teachers. Paul says this to Timothy,
“In the last days, difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
I think we do see some of this. All you have to do is turn on the TV, and see this in action under the guise of blessing and favor from God – glorified greed and self-focused teaching. That’s just the popular version that most likely is a small representative of un-televised, like minded ministries. Let’s not be fooled, such type of people can even exist in Biblically solid, doctrinally sound churches. Church discipline has been replaced with “programs”, making it easier for preying men with unholy motives and deceptive leanings to move amongst the congregations undetected.
Because Paul goes on to say that “from among them are those who will enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7). This describes the type of woman who does not have a good grip on her theology and understanding why she believes what she believes. This describes a woman who is interested in subjective, emotionally charged teaching rather than systematic teaching rooted in Biblical truth derived from sound hermeneutics centered in God’s revelation. This describes the type of woman who goes to “conferences” but does not really understand the basis of her faith, lacks discernment and therefore is easily scoped up in disorienting schemes by teachers who proclaim “Biblical” truth. This is the type of woman that wants to feel good about her theology but can open herself up to false teaching and unscrupulous men, primarily because there is a void that the “true knowledge of Jesus Christ” is meant to fill and challenge her sinful pulls.
I am not saying that all women’s minstries lack substance or that there are not serious women leaders out there, instructing women in God’s truths. But I am saying that the very nature of women, in general, lends itself to want “feel good” theology and therefore must be countered with more objective learning. I think our commitment to Christ is worthy of learning as best we can, the great salvation that has been handed to us and God’s communication to us through His written word. God forbid, we be the woman that Paul describes that become subject to distorted teaching, unprincipled men and unholy motives leading us dark and troubled path, always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I don’t expect for most women to share in my unusual interest in theology and exegesis (or so I’ve been told). But I would hope to garner some interest in studying theology, to encourage greater thinking about what God has so graciously condescended to reveal to us and to hopefully avoid the pitfalls of needing emotionally charged learning that may never lead us to where we need to go.
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80 Comments
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I couldn’t agree more, Michael. I’m a woman, and I detest most “women’s ministry” because it’s so silly and shallow. There is a certain type of Christian woman who seem to believe that Bible Study and deep thinking are just for the boys. I don’t need one more recipe to keep my man happy, I need to drink deeply from the Word and learn to teach it to others. Thanks for having the guts to print this. I know you’re going to get blasted for it.
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Actually, Michael didn’t write it, I did. Although, I still might get blasted for it.
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I’m fairly young, so I have much more experience with most church’s youth ministries than women’s ministries, but your assessment seems very accurate. I think many areas of the church today need more focus on theology and exegesis, but women’s ministry is one of the areas that needs it most. By the way, you’re not the only woman with the unusual interest in theology and exegesis. There are at least two of us in existence.
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I am a women & you are right!!!!! Thank you Lisa!
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Well I am not a women, but here’s my problem: I can’t figure out how to cut and paste these PnP articles without the pages being full of black and me going broke on toner!
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Neil, get the cutting and pasting right and watch the DIBS enrollment will go up
Heck, they might be banging the door down and demand Michael Patton and Dan Wallace come there in person 
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Thank you, Lisa, I think you speak for more of us women than you realize — count me as another woman who avoids women’s ministries and has an interest in theology and exegesis.
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Hmm. To me, this sounds very similar to saying “Man, I wish women would *think*.” Many don’t. But some do.
I don’t think that you can make sweeping generalizations about women as a whole, because I think that there are a fair number of women out there that are frustrated by this sort of thing – myself included. But I would agree that it is a problem…and that for the last several years, women’s ministries events that I’ve been invited to have been my least favorite opportunities. I’ve heard the same girly feel-good messages before, and I’ve had more than enough of modge-podge.
I think the same lack of thought and careful discernment is a problem with a lot of men’s ministries too, though. Part of that probably just depends on what church you’re going to…but I’ve seen issues there, too.
People should think more.
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Lisa Robinson: “I am especially concerned because I think that women are more likely to be susceptible to distorted doctrine and unscrupulous teachers.”
Dear Lisa, there’s some biblical warrant for your concern here. As you obviously know, but which I want to purposely cite, apostle Paul wrote: “And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” (1 Timothy 2:14).
Why I Think Women Need to Study Theology
Yes!!
Let’s smuggle in…
Why I Think Women Need to Study Complementarian Theology
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In addition to needing to study theology, I think women – or more women – need to TEACH theology.
And not just to other women, but to men, too.
In my job (government, not religious) of more than 3 decades, I have experienced enough examples of the opposite of “women are more emotional and men are more objective” to question and challenge and ignore that generalization. Many of the administrative and executive and financial persons I work or interact with are women. Some of the best students in the NT Greek classes I taught at church were women.
I wonder if some of what the church has thought and done re: what women should learn in “women’s ministries” has been too influenced by cultural expectations and/or is based on a particular (and IMO one-sided and questionable/challengeable*) reading of Biblical texts?
* Full disclosure: I have become pretty much a so-called “egalitarian” when it comes to what women can do and be in the church, though I’ve spent most of my Christian life in so-called “complementarian” churches.
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In the seminary where I teach, Systematic Theology is a required course for the MS in Counseling, a program with predominantly female students. So 1/3 to 1/2 of my students each semester are female.
They routinely outscore the men.
dpo
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And… there need to be more women on Bible Translation teams. The paucity of such, though, might be due to the lack of women with advanced degrees in Biblical languages and translation and theology due to the aforementioned prejudices against what women should learn and do or are allowed to learn and do – which I somewhat attribute to a leftover “male priesthood” mentality in Protestantism where the pulpit has basically replaced the altar such that it is thought that only males can handle and administer the Scriptures to the gathered body.
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Dan, that sounds about how it is at DTS. But as a ThM student, I experience the reverse – including myself, 3 of 25 students in greek and 3 of 35 in historical theology are women. These are classes exclusive to the ThM degree. Other classes, its more in line with your percentages.
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Eric W: “I have become pretty much a so-called “egalitarian” when it comes to what women can do and be in the church”
Tis a pity. FWIW, you could still be on CMP’s pastoral staff as an egalitarian, but his church wouldn’t practice egalitarianism.
CMP: “I could have someone who was not a complementarian, but this does not mean we practice it. Does that make sense? In other words, if we practiced Egalitarianism, we would not be Complementarian. If we practiced Complementarianism, we would not be Egalitarian.“
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“In addition to needing to study theology, I think women – or more women – need to TEACH theology.”
That is the plan, God willing. It keeps me focused when I want to quit the juggling act I’m doing as a single mom, part-time professional and full-time seminary student..
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A great woman of the Bible: The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Loving, dutiful, and obedient.
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TUAD wrote: Tis a pity.
TUAD:
That’s funny; I don’t feel pitiful.
I don’t need your pity or condescension, nor anyone else’s. Nor did F.F. Bruce, nor do Scot McKnight and Ben Witherington III and countless other “egalitarians.”
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Lisa-
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I agree that women are starving for theological training, but don’t know it. I am a stay-at-home mom of 4 studying apologetics and philosophy and I am routinely one of a handful of women in my classes. I recently attended a conference by the Discovery Institute and sadly the trend repeated. One of the scientists asked me why women are not interested. I had to point out that women think and function by way of relationships and the arguments presented in any apologetics arena strip any opportunity for emotional tie to the material. Plus the speakers themselves seem intellectually isolated from the group at large.
We discussed the possibility for women to teach breakout sessions, but I don’t think it should stop there. For any women’s missional effort to succed it is critical to create community. Your prayers are coveted as I continue to gather information and guidance in creating a network of female apologists and theologians to minister at the grassroots level – and equip women as they raise up the next generation. This includes exposing them to the evidentiary support for a biblical worldview.
Conferences are nice and have their place, but they do not effect any real change – that must happen through one-on-one (or one-on-few)relationships. If we are successful in training women with a biblical worldview, we can change the world.
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Eric W.,
Don’t forget to add Bishop John Shelby Spong and Brian McLaren to your list of egalitarians
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TUaD,
Your statement in 18 not only lacks tact but is a logical fallacy. By your logic we should throw out the doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ since Brian McLaren seems to believe in these as much as you and I. Simply because someone is wrong about X doesn’t make them wrong about Y.
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Lisa, sorry about the mis-atribution. I followed Michael’s link from facebook and missed the author info altogether.
Truth Unites and Divides: You wrote “A great woman of the Bible: The Blessed Virgin Mary. Loving, dutiful, and obedient.”
I’m not sure what you’re saying here. I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but it sounds to me like you’re advocating for women to be mindless little things. I’d like to point out, that based on her song in Luke, she was pretty well versed in Scripture.
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Dan (#11),
That is only because they cheat off the men. Or, alternatively, they are intent on usurping our authority through through the let’s-get-higher-grades-than-men-so-we-can-show-we-can-do-anything-men-can-do campaign. Or, maybe they start with a handicap like in golf.
Either way, I suggest that you simply give them lower grades no matter what.
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Great post Lisa,
There is only one way to be confident and not tossed about and that is through the study of God’s word. No one else, not your father, husband or pastor can do that for you.
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Michael (#22), yep that’s the spirit…see #16. That’s one way to get them there
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This is a great post, and some great discussion. I wholeheartedly agree with Lisa’s primary point — that women need to know theology. Of course, I have been through Michael’s classes, and frequent this blog, so that’s no surprise
.
As of July, I became the women’s ministry director at my church. I love the women I serve, and on the whole I find them earnestly committed to the Lord. But systematic theology is a really tough sell. So I am starting small, planning to offer a couple of short classes, and trying to wade in slowly and meet the women where they are at. But I think it is absolutely possible to have rigorous program of study, but keep things as accessible as possible. We’ll see
So Lisa, I welcome any future thoughts you have along these lines! And Nancy, from you as well. There is probably a need for women who see this need to support one another in our respective endeavors!
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Thanks for this! If I have to hear one more ‘Bible Study’ where I am told how Esther was a paragon of virtue and a model for Christian women… gahh! I think women need to embrace ‘Love the Lord with all your mind’.
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I couldn’t agree more.
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Fantastic post, Lisa. I agree with everything, although I might emphasize that men today have become pretty feminized, and are often guilty of the same weaknesses as the women in Paul’s time. In other words, men today need to learn theology for many of the same reasons you cite!
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The leadership of our church just decided to discontinue the Women’s Ministries are as a separate ministry, and fold its various programs in with general church programs. One part of me applauds this move. Like others here, I’ve never had an interest in women’s conferences, or woman-focused women’s Bible studies.
But there are times I do prefer to meet just with women, so I hope that the ministry change won’t make it hard to find women-only groups. The small group I’m part of is all couples (except me, because my husband stopped attending church due to his work schedule – long story). But I like knowing that there is a small group that is just women that I could join if I wanted to.
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After being in the corporate environment and working almost exclusively with men for many years, I thought this was one reason why I love to do unconventional things like study theology. I am more of an analytical and logical thinker, less emotional. I say amen to the above comments. Let the women go on with their feel-good ministries if that is what turns them on. Just keep letting us gals into theology classes. I think more men ALSO need to get into theology classes so we women would have someone to lead us and be our equals!
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Thanks Lisa.
I feel the same way about the bulk of what constitutes “womens’ ministries”, but have by and large kept that opinion to myself rather than bring heaps of conflict raining down on my own head.
In my teaching of women and in my blog, I seldom touch on “womens’ topics”. The Scripture has little to say specifically to women and I think our teaching should as much as possible maintain the same emphases as God’s Word – lots of doctrine, lots of general Christian living instruction, and only very occasional gender specific instruction.
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AMEN!! I haven’t read all the comments but will when I can sit down for 5 minuttes. Most women studies I have been in have focused on being a better wife, mother, cook, house keeper, evangalist, decorator, money manager, minister…..with the exception of the Beth Moore studies, but I still can’t watch those videos. I found myself trying harder to be better at these things without realizing any change in me was going to come through the HS working within me. God wants my time, not necessarily for me to scrub the oven. I found myself feeling worse and worse and ultimately thinking God did not love me. This all happened recently and by God’s grace it didn’t turn into something more serious, like me leaving the church or something, although when I tried expressing myself during Bible study someone cut me off and said we should immediately pray. It may have been the great deciever but I think it was God showing me his mercy, trying to get me to realize I don’t have to try so hard. I can relax and let him take over- his yoke is easy. I believe many women have been in my boat or are there now. We need good theology to get us through life. We’re all different and the same formula doesn’t work for everyone. I see numerous women living joyful, Christ-filled lives, there houses are in perfect order, they have great mariages, and they spend their extra time going to women’s conferences. That’s just not me- I’ve had a pretty tough, long road; I need the meat, not the gravy. Now everyone needs to go see Precious. Michael you need to do a blog on that movie! I’d love to know your thoughts. It’s a good movie about the times we live in- very frightening. I had to throw that in because I want to know how to reach women outside the church!
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You know frankly… I think it depends on the person.
I suggested to my wife to come to TTP with me and she declined. She’s stronger in her faith than I am, less doubt, knows more about scripture and solid doctrine than I do. She’s just less inquisitive. I’ve called her a Mark 10:15 believer before. And she’s fine with that moniker. And so am I.
If you’d change the topic to “Why I think there should be more theology classes offered to women”, you may have a better point.
That’s like saying “There should me more teaching on male relationships and accountability”. Which we tried and men dropped out like flies once they get a little bit introspective.
On the whole, I think the TTP classes I took where about 50/50 split.
Considering your statistic that 3 of 25 students in greek and 3 of 35 in historical theology are women, that’s about 10%. What’s the overall enrollment for women at the ThM degree at DTS ? Or for that matter, any major, including non-theological, 4 year masters degree of that caliber ? I have a suspicion that it’ll hover around 10%, but if anyone has numbers I’ll gladly be corrected.
Could it be a more general challenge that women tend to go after master’s degree less than men ?
In Him
Mick
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Hmmm
Did a quick google.. I may be wrong:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/09/16/enroll
Only engineering scores around 20% for female enrollment. All the rest is way higher.
DTS overall is about 27% female enrollment based on fall 2008 numbers, but it’s not broken down by degree program
http://www.dts.edu/about/stats/
Does look like a “theology” graduate program scores somewhere between physical sciences and business degrees.
Based on those numbers I’d say, yes we need more women in theology education, but I’m not convinced it’s necessarily alarming compared to others.
I still concur there’s room for more theologically sound classes at different Churches around.
Mick
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Mick, I think you’re confusing the need for more theologically sound instruction with more women enrolled in seminary. I was really referring to the former. The stats were in reference to Dan’s comment (#11) but not meant to suggest that more women need to enroll in seminary.
I’d say that 27% for overall female population is about right. If fact, I think it might be a tad higher. But most female students are not in the ThM program. I am not suggesting it is alarming. It is not. But it does speak to the fact that many women are not interested in the more rigorous theology programs.
In reference to this post, I think it does start in the local assemblies. Pastors and church leaders can foster learning by tightening up the curriculum and offering TTP or like instruction.
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I think many women are scared off from taking degreed theological programs because the opinion in the church at large still seems to lean toward women not teaching. In my area most women with degrees are confined to Christian counseling or children’s ministries.
I agree with Lisa that too many women’s ministries across the denominational board lean toward more gender specific things.
Very few women’s Bible studies I’ve been involved even study from the Bible directly, and that has always bothered me. I know there are lots of women out there who are interested in more depth teaching, even as lay people, but they are afraid they will look too radical if they speak up.
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Mbaker, sadly I think you are right. Even though this post was not about women in seminary, I think it is a natural by-product, especially in more staunchly complementarian churches.
I hate to say this, but if women are not being properly educated through women’s ministry programs, the fault rest at the feet of the leadership. It’s one thing to meet people where they are and if there are women that want feel-good theology, that’s fine. But the leadership has a responsibility to raise the bar and teach women what they need to be taught concerning their faith AND to let them know that’s what they need. It’s a tough balance that extends to any teaching ministry. I applaud the efforts listed above of Lisa S and Laurie M and anyone else, who sound like they won’t allow women to wallow in superficial Christianity.
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Pauline, I meant to respond to your comment but then got distracted. I agree that women need to have exclusive women time. But who says that time can’t be really rich.
I am very thankful for my 5 Spiritual Formation buddies that I meet with every Thursday while the semester is in (and some off-time fellowship as well). Even though they have labeled me the “theologian” of the bunch, we all enjoy rich conversation as we work our way through our Spiritual Formation curriculum.
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I didn’t realize DTS actually permitted women to study for advanced theological degrees. How does that square with their staunch complementarianism?
Oh wait, I forgot that women are welcome to learn all kinds of biblical and theological insights from male instructors as long as those women don’t turn around and “teach” or violate “male headship” by actually sharing any of those theological insights with males over age 18 in a local church assembly- unless their teaching takes form of a Bible commentary or theology textbook of course!
It should be obvious that pastors are in positions of spiritual authority while Bible/Theology professors are not.
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Lisa,
And certainly it would be wrong of us to lay that at the feet of the men, because then we would be even more guilty of gender specific issues!
To be fair to the pastors I know who encourage women to explore theology more deeply, and they are definitely out there, there are many who are reluctant because they are afraid they will step on overly sensitive feminist toes if they speak up as well.
This is where I think people in the church as whole need to come together and discuss these issues honestly without so much pressure for political correctness on either side.
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Dan S., is that sarcasm I detect?
I think you’ll find a range of positions on the issue of “male headship” and “authority” among seminaries. There are seminaries, mostly of the southern Baptist variety, that will not allow women to teach theology and Bible classes where men are present. Only english classes.
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Does the name “Sherri Klouda” ring any bells?
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Eric, it didn’t so I did a little investigating. Wow! That is unfortunate, is all I have to say. Our OT department has one female prof – Dr. Coover-Cox. I haven’t taken Hebrew yet but she is all the rave. This semester is a first for a female NT prof, even though she is just adjunct. No women in the Systematic or Bible exposition departments though. I’m not sure about BE, but I do have hopes for ST…one day (which is my track). We shall see.
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Female interest in theology and exegesis may not be as unusual as we think. But it doesn’t seem to be encouraged, even by many who ostensibly encourage it! I agree that much “women’s material” offers little more than shallow encouragement, theologically speaking. But I haven’t found it necessarily to make me “feel good about being a woman” (though I’ve never been particularly concerned about that), because it doesn’t address the kind of woman I am.
I am also not convinced that women are more geared toward emotional dealings than men. Perhaps they approach these things differently, but most everyone, men included, are ultimately motivated by psycho-emotional concerns.
I think many go to conferences and womens’ Bible studies because they think they’re supposed to, and they support the programs and people they think they’re supposed to. They may want good spiritual food, but don’t know a better way to find it. Perhaps they are fooled by seemingly solid teaching that really is not. Perhaps they “go along” for fear of appearing masculine, or divisive, or maybe they are comfortable in traditional roles. Perhaps they prefer superficial companionship to being the “odd-woman out.” There are few in the public eye modeling a different way, unfortunately, either in secular- or church culture. Many probably see the alternative as militant feminism, which of course isn’t the only alternative.
Regarding emotional comfort, many women are extremely hurt and want validation of their pain and wrongs; they want guilt properly placed, and want to learn how to properly handle it all. I think men want this too, but are less willing to admit it, at least in the same ways, because they get the cultural message that they are supposed to be “tough” and in control.
Perhaps women are more vulnerable to certain kinds of theological distortions, in sex-specific ways, but I don’t see evidence that they are more generally susceptible. Glorified greed and self-focused teaching appeals to both sexes. I suspect that men want “feel-good” theology as much as women. And while they may, in general, like to argue theological topics more, that doesn’t mean their theology is much better, nor does it mean that women wouldn’t like to argue more if they felt better informed, or understood that theology needn’t mean dry, cumbersome, esoteric scholarship that only boring old men come up with, or care about.
Women, as men, ought study theology not merely as a defense, but as a means of educating themselves to live responsibly before God, serving Christ as their Savior and high priest, with no one else mediating. Both men and women who don’t pro-actively study theology for their own sake and the sake of their relationships are susceptible to fickle temporal tides of doctrine, as well as emotional weakness.
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Your whole point, while I agree with it, is unnecessary. Theologically, Galatians 3:28 pretty much negates any reason for making an argument to get women on board. Everyone is supposed to be knowledgeable about what the Word says.
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Mike, not sure why you say its unnecessary citing Gal 3:28. We all have equal access to the promises, but that does not translate to how we practice that in reality.
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Lisa,
I concur with your differentiation between seminary studies vs programs at congrational level.
I know our Church is a major exception around since we are (in the words of our staff) already quite cerebral in our setup
It’s even been called the “geek Church” amongst DTS students
That being said, it’s tough to get solid theology programs off the ground in general. Not only for women.
We’d rather have our Sunday school classes or Bible studies focus on the next edition of The Shack or The Purpose Driven life. On occasion we’ll throw in things like 12 Ordinary men or 12 Extra-Ordinary Women. For women, if we really want to stretch it we’ll go for something by Beth Moore (which btw has excellent stuff.. this is not a criticism on her work or ministry.. don’t go there). For men, it’ll be something by John Eldredge (Same comment).
So yes, I concur that it is true that teaching more profound theological concepts, principles or history is a challenge. However, I think it’s challenge for both genders and not limited to women.
Hope this clarifies
Mick
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My interest of study was not theology, but Biblical history, culture, languages, etc. What I have observed is a tendency in certain fields of study to get very bound up by arguments and discussions about words, subtleties, etc… and to completely lose the forest for the trees, so to speak. This happens more easily in some fields than in others… ‘Theology’ has always struck me as a field of study where this would be a continual challenge. It is human nature, I think, that we strive to become very skilled at presenting arguments.. figuring everything out… finding all the right words… but then we don’t always actually DO anything with it. We can start to resemble what I like to refer to as an ‘intellectual tractor pull’. Our brains are very strong, but it is not serving any real purpose, and it is easy to grow very imbalanced.
I am passionate about wanting to think rightly about God, and I believe that thinking rightly about God is foundational to our entire faith. I have also found that intensive study of the Bible in an academic way made me personally feel very far removed from God emotionally… when the Bible became my ‘textbook’, I simply could not read my Bible ‘devotionally’ anymore. I could not go to it for strength, encouragment, wisdom… my eyes just read everything through a different filter. That was obviously a huge loss for me for a season… and I think it is very, VERY hard for alot of women (who tend to value the emotional relationship with God) to push through that to the place where knowledge no longer frightens us, feels like a loss, or consumes our passion for God. I think we as women are perhaps more happily attached to a sentimental relationship with the Divine; if there is something that is going to make me feel on an emotional level like God can’t wrap His arms around me in the middle of the night, it is going to be very difficult to convince me that I should want that…
I’m wondering if you have had a similar experience, or have thoughts on that?
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Tamara, I hear you. Unfortunately, you describe a dichotomy that need not exist. Knowledge should foster emotion not repel it. The goal of serious studying is our understanding of God that should prompt a heart response that recognizes gain, not loss. But it is a barrier for some.
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I did not state it as a dichotomy… simply something which must be pushed through.
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Lisa:
Thanks for the reflective post. Women, as well as men and girls and boys need a solid theological framework so that their house is built on the rock and can endure the trials and temptations that are sure to come.
The typical female emotional makeup I believe is actually an advantage in many ways if it is harnessed in a personal way to the greatest story ever told.
Boys and girls at a young age need to listen to the Old Testament scriptures like they are actually part of the story because in truth, they are a vital part of the Old Testament mystery where clues everywhere point to the coming Messiah. Along the way the obtain a love of goodness and truth and a hatred of sin, lust and perversion.
This is the soil from which a profound theological grounding can grow.
Blessings,
Bruce
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Lisa,
In a comment above you mentioned your spiritual formation classes.
Could you tell us what all that entails theologically? I am interested because I’m wondering if it’s something that could or should be taught in congregations as well, to an audience of both men and women.
In your opinion, do you think would it help to get lay women more interested in a deeper level of theology?
Thanks.
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Bonnie, thanks for that very well articulated response. I am not necessarily saying that women are more emotional, but geared to require a more emotional connection to things then men. That’s not bad but different, as you point out. Nor am I am saying that neither sex can be vulnerable to distorted teaching – they will and probably for different reasons. Specific to the text I cited in 2 Timothy, it does draw out the type of woman that would be vulnerable to false teaching and this is what I focused on.
You know its interesting, a friend and fellow classmate told me yesterday that I should write from the heart and approach the Biblical text with more emotion than intellectually. This suggests that I cannot be emotionally impacted by the text unless I approach it that way. This is the problem and as I indicated earlier, creates a dichotomy between knowledge and emotions that pits one against the other. Why would I do that? I want to first understand what the text says, then what the text means. That ought to produce an array of emotions if we truly want a connection to God.
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Mbaker, its a 4 -semester curriculum that focuses on spiritual growth in the context of community. Each semester is a different theme: 1) identity; 2) community (focus on life story) 3) integrity; and 4) service. It’s kind of like a small group and we work through the weekly curriculum and do various exercises, like writing your own screwtape letter (OUCH!) – we are on integrity this semester and that was a very convicting exercise
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Sounds interesting, Lisa. Is this something offered through the online theology program?
I’m trying to think of things that would close the gap between what some women consider over intellectualizing the Bible, or over personalizing it to the point they lose context. In my area that’s a real problem, and unfortunately the schism between the two is becoming wider.
Any specific suggestions for studies?
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BTW, we did the Beth Moore studies on the book of Daniel and also “The Patriarchs”. They were in depth, as far as women’s studies go, but still required a lot of extra expense for the DVD’s, books and workbooks, which they couldn’t be completed without. While they are more reasonably priced, I find the individual studies available on the NT books, (at least the ones available in the Christian book stores), a little too much on the light side.
However, in this struggling economy where we have several families in our church out of work, not too many folks can afford Beth Moore type prices.
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Michael T,
Your statement in #20 not only lacks tact, but also shows deficient reasoning skills. You fail to note that your objection cuts both ways. Simply because someone is right about X doesn’t make them right about Y.
Substitute “Trinity” for “X” and “Egalitarianism” for “Y”.
Substitute “F.F. Bruce, Scot McKnight, and Ben Witherington III” for “someone”. This rebuts Eric W’s argument in #17. Which was the point of my #19.
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Mbaker, I don’t know if that curriculum is available outside of DTS. I’ll have to look into that. In terms of other curriculum, to be honest, I don’t know. I do think TTP is more in line with what I was thinking. But you’re right, there should be something more oriented towards Bible study/small group.
I will have to check out the Beth Moore series on Daniel and the Patriarchs. To be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of hers but those sound interesting.
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I guess mentioning those scholars’ names “might” be considered an “argument” of sorts (i.e., since there are reputable and knowledgeable and able Evangelical scholars who see the NT as supporting the so-called “egalitarian” position, the position is defensible; Gordon Fee’s name should be added), but I wasn’t so much arguing for something in #17 as stating something. My posts #10 and #12 are more of an argument for my position than #17 is.
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tamara #48, your first paragraph makes a very important but generally neglected point. After flags are planted on hills (or seats on tractors), various attempts are made to explain how these theological distinctions play out in real life, resulting in contradictions or impossible/ridiculous scenarios such as those in Dan’s #39. You’d think this would tip them off that something is wrong with the theology.
Lisa,
I am not necessarily saying that women are more emotional, but geared to require a more emotional connection to things then men.
Perhaps. But I’m skeptical
. I think that modern cultural expectations may cause this to appear to be true. Women are allowed to be more overt about their emotional connections, and expected to express these connections differently, in many cases. But this doesn’t mean their connections are in truth more emotional, either to people or things. Perhaps men and women are connected emotionally to different things, or to some things differently–I’m not saying there are no differences. But what are the actual differences, that is the question 
I agree with you about the mistaken notion that pursuit of true knowledge of God–true theology–precludes emotional connection to Him. Why would anyone want to give themselves emotionally to something that wasn’t worthy, or true, anyway? Emotion and intellect can’t be separated, and the fact that many think (or feel) they are shows a flaw in our modern understanding, I think.
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I sent this link to my wife to read and she just couldn’t say “amen” enough! We had a good conversation about this and to be fair, we talk along these lines allot.
She is in the middle of a B.S. degree in nursing and intends on getting the masters in nursing, and eventually would like to teach at a Bible college nursing program and work with missions. I think she’d make a good MTh candidate, too
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Eric W.: “the [egalitarian] position is defensible.”
No, it’s not.
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1 Corinthians 14:38.
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Joshua Allen, #28: “I agree with everything, although I might emphasize that men today have become pretty feminized, and are often guilty of the same weaknesses as the women in Paul’s time.”
Yep. I agree. You can thank egalitarianism to some degree for that.
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“Gordon Fee’s name should be added”
Let’s also add seminary president Katherine Hancock Ragsdale to your list of egalitarians too.
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Let’s also add seminary president Katherine Hancock Ragsdale to your list of egalitarians too.
While one might naturally expect women to counted among egalitarian theologians, the greater significance to me is the male theologians and scholars who find that the Scriptures, when understood in their original languages, cultures and contexts, support an egalitarian understanding re: church life and practice. Hence I restricted my listing of names to men.
This is not unlike the significance of Whites who supported freeing the Black slaves vis-a-vis a default expection that many or most Blacks would be in favor of abolition.
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The greater significance to me is what Joshua Allen said in #28:
“I agree with everything, although I might emphasize that men today have become pretty feminized, and are often guilty of the same weaknesses as the women in Paul’s time.”
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Guys, let’s not turn this into an egal/comp debate. There are more appropriate posts for that.
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As there seems to be some small discussion surrounding this, I just want to be clear: I am not suggesting that knowledge of God and being ‘in touch’ with one’s feminine emotions are in any way mutually exclusive. My own personal experience… (and as I stated, my field of study was not theology, but a multi-disciplinary field of Near Eastern culture, religion, languages, archaelogy, etc.. ‘text criticism’ in a secular university setting…).. was that for a season, while engaged in serious study of the Bible, with the fundamental intention all the while being to grow in knowledge of God and His word, my Bible became a textbook to me and I was personally unable to read it ‘devotionally’ (which for me, tapped the emotional connection – not to God, but to my Bible). Excuse the run-on sentence. I could not just read a verse like, ‘A bruised reed He will not break’, and take that for MYSELF. I was constantly running everything through the filter. Who said it? To whom? Did they REALLY say that, or was that attributed to them, but written by someone else with an agenda? What was the agenda? And on and on… There was a definate loss for me, for a time, that absolutely was replaced with something better, but that was not immediate. It required a significant amount of courage, faith and simple pressing on.
So while I am infinately glad I learned, among other things, to read the Bible in its original languages, and I’m glad for the journey my soul took as I learned to see the Bible with new eyes, it is true for me that for a time, pursuit of knowledge meant that I had to sacrifice my attachment to my emotional experience with the text. This is just honest. Whether it ‘should’ or ‘should not’ be this way, this was my experience. It was frightening, and lonely, and I simply wondered if this were an experience unique to myself, or if perhaps this could represent an experience that is perhaps not altogether uncommon for women, because our relationships with God tend to be more generally about attachment than about occupation? And perhaps the study of theology by its nature offers more emotional undergirding, and this is why you don’t seem to understand what I am speaking of? Most women I know simply do not have the time or energy to have their faith journey disrupted in such a way… Without the inner passion to pursue truth for truth’s sake, it is alot to bring upon yourself, even if it is the right, noble and wise thing to do. I don’t know how much a person can ‘dabble’ in these things, either… You know what they say about a little knowledge…
All this to say, I do not see knowledge and emotion as being opposing forces in our pursuit of knowledge of the Holy. Obviously not. One cannot read the Bible without realizing that God is a very passionate, emotion filled Being. I only suggest that for women there is a temptation toward being satisfied with, or sometimes even preferring, sentimental attachments to…
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tamara,
Thank you for further sharing about your experience. I do think it takes courage, and faith, to press beyond one’s ‘comfort zone’ of sentimental piety in order to gain a truer faith, and for many women this may be a ‘cost’ they are unwilling to pay. I’m fairly certain your experience was not unique. But I am not sure how much more prevalent this is among women. Not all are sentimental, just as not all men are non-sentimental (don’t know percentages). I think men hide sentimentality or couch it in different terms; they run up against much greater cultural resistance.
On men being more inclined to view faith as occupation, that could be. Yet if this view is based upon superficiality, or an emotionally gratifying misunderstanding of what the true occupation of faith is, then it’s not that much different from a woman being attached to her own emotional attachment to God.
If knowledge and emotional connection are not mutually exclusive, then neither should reading the Bible critically as well as devotionally be. I realize it can be very difficult to read it both ways at the same time, but this could be for several reasons: (1) not being taught how to approach the Bible properly, (2) treating the Bible itself as if it were God, (2) treating the Bible as if were not the living Word of God, (3) reading portions of the text as if they were prophetic for us specifically, individually, when they may not be, and (4) making an idol of either knowledge or our own emotional doings. I’m sure there are other reasons.
I do think that full apprehension of Biblical text can take a very long time, especially the more obscure parts; some we may never fully understand. And we all have varying degrees of maturity in different areas – we are all “works in progress,” as they say. I’m sure we’ve all had our “desert” times, and scary times, along the way; I certainly have. (BTW, I’m envious of those who get to study Bible or theology at the university level; I’m a middle-aged mom of 3 with a BM in music who may never get that opportunity…)
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Perhaps those who complain about the low level of “women’s groups” are comparing apples and oranges. That is, perhaps you are comparing the informal bookclub approach of a women’s group to the serious seminary study which seems more the male domain.
I have been turned off by lots of women’s groups. But I have learned that men aren’t much different. Okay, different topics, but really, often descending to fart jokes.
I find that in general women are just as focused, just as intellectual and academic as the best of men. The one simple reason that few women follow an M. Th. is that it is very expensive to invest in studies that cannot lead to paid employment.
I don’t think it is helpful for women to distance themselves from their own sex. I am proud to be a women and to think with and learn from other women.
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“I find that in general women are just as focused, just as intellectual and academic as the best of men. The one simple reason that few women follow an M. Th. is that it is very expensive to invest in studies that cannot lead to paid employment.”
Not sure this can be supported. What evidence exists that indicates women with ThM degrees don’t get jobs?
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It depends on where you might expect to work I guess. Would a Th. M. not normally go on to a doctorate? Aren’t there seminaries which do not welcome women on their faculty? I do know that women with an M. Div. have a harder time getting hired.
I have to admit that I don’t really know for sure – but what do you want to do with your degree? I am following with interest. I had to put my program on hold at the moment for a variety of reasons. (Fortunately I enjoy the job I have right now.)
I also know that many women want to be chaplains or work in a hospital. I know that this seems like it fits a woman’s temperment, but the women I know often simply feel that they are more likely to get this kind of job.
What do you think?
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Sue, I think that determining the percentage of successful post-ThM employment for women deserves more than just mere speculation and sweeping generalizations. There are some seminaries/Bible Colleges that will not let women on teaching staff, there are some where women are on staff but cannot teach certain topics, and then there are many that are wide open. It depends on the doctrinal orientation, too. Southern Baptists tend to be the most restrictive and Pentacostals/Charismatics tend to be more open. Then there’s everything in between. You might be interested in checking out the female scholars mentioned in my post entitled Women, Scholarship and Authentic Agendas.
Also, it is not necessary for a woman with a ThM to obtain a doctorate degree for successful employment. It depends on what one wishes to do. Some women end up getting paid ministry leadership positions in churches or parachurch organizations, some work with mission organizations and participate in Bible translation, some go back into the seminaries and participate in admissions, student development and alumni placement. There are many other opportunitites as well. I know of a friend of a friend who is head of school at a prominent Christian school here in the Dallas area. She got her ThM from my institution a few years ago and has interned with Dan Wallace. I believe she is working on her PhD now and I hear she is brilliant.
So to say that women opt not to pursue a ThM degree because of a lack of opportunities, I think is fallacious. As for me, I do hope to move on to doctoral studies, teach in a ministry training institution (most likely Bible College) and have an interest in teaching the Bible as an elective in secular high schools. Admittedly, my areas of concentration would preclude me from teaching in some (not all) institutions. But I don’t worry about what doors might be closed because I am most confident that as I tend to the working out my giftings in practical ways, God will open the doors to position me where He will get the most glory. Those opportunities know no bounds.
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I definitely agree with your point. I also think that in many evangelical churches there is a lack of emphasis on educating women in terms of theology and apologetics. Often various theological discussions and endeavors in the church tend to naturally exclude women. They don’t do so outrightly, but often men rarely think to include a women in a theological discussion, and unfortunately, I think many of them assume a woman wouldn’t have anything productive to add. =[ This is an attitude that definitely needs to change.
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[...] Parchment and Pen » Why I Think Women Need to Study Theology. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Ten Reasons Why EVERY Christian Should Study Theology‘Another’ Five Reasons You Need to Study Theology [...]
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I believe that people should not study and practice the Word of God. Theology can be anything and I do not make a practice of making “the tradition of men into the commandment of God.”
I would encourage all women out there to turn (repent) from their sins and belief (have hope and trust) that God will cleanse you completely and utterly clean (white as snow) as the scripture states: (1 John 1:9, 1 John 3:8-9, John 8:31-36, 1 Peter 4:1)
Many times people IGNORE their place in the body of Christ. Men who aren’t called to be pastors become pastors for the sake of money, and I won’t name some bozo pastor who runs a mega church on the east coast. Whatever your place is then I would advise you to follow.
A woman is not to have authority over a man or to be put in a position to teach (when speaking of the context of the church as whole). These are outlined by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy when advising this young Pastor on the “qualifications” of pastoral ministry. A women is not suited to be in the positions regardless of how you argue it. The same could be that the man is not suited to have children.
People look at their position in the church and they get filled with envy and jealousy. This is the sinful lust at the core of a female pastor. Regardless of how you put it there is a right way and a wrong way. I encourage everyone who reads this and gets mad to REPENT of their sins and hope in Christ. For the gift of God is eternal life, and that life is so much better than the one that you will acquire through your own wrath. The wrath of man (or mankind) does NOT produce the righteousness of God. (James)
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Devin, wouldn’t the call to repentance be applicable to both men and women? Just a thought.
Also, you cited that envy and jealousy is at the core of a female pastor. Can we really know what is in a person’s heart? Maybe the female pastor has come to a different understanding of what scripture teaches with respect to demonstration of giftedness, which btw does not make distinctions between gender. I would say that is a separate issue from authority but should not be presented as women not having certain gifts (such as teaching). Afterall, there were women teachers in the early church who probably taught men. What do you do with that?
Btw, I think if anyone were to get mad, it would not be because of the content of what you said but the way you said it. A little grace might be in order.
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[...] only woman who feels this way. I appreciated this post over on the Parchment and Pen blog entitled “Why I think women need to study theology.” Thanks to the author Lisa Robinson for sharing her thoughts. I appreciate her point that [...]
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[...] need more than this as well. In my post, I reference an article written by Lisa Robinson entitled “Why I think women need to study theology.” She also shares her frustrations with women’s ministry, and I appreciate her emphasis that [...]
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