The Dangers of Equality
Within the Christian community, a common argument against equality and gender autonomy, is that they are dangerous. Now this is interesting because it begs the question: dangerous for who?
According to virtually every paradigm within Christian theology, both in teaching and in practice, men have unquestioned free will—adult autonomy. Women do not. Christians have always been taught that it is dangerous for women to possess adult autonomy.
It is true, free will can be a dangerous thing. That is why God gave us his Word to light our paths. What is difficult to understand, though, is how the gift of free will—adult autonomy can be dangerous for women but not for men.
It is written that a false balance is disgusting to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight. It is written that the LORD’s ways are equal and that the ways of the wicked are unequal.
Come let us reason together says the LORD, and so say I. Gender-biased double standards preached from pulpits and practiced in homes, jobs, and courtrooms are sin, pure and simple.
When it comes to Christian teaching and practice, unfair and sinful [gender-based] double standards have been responsible for untold misery and destruction.
God gives adult autonomy—free will—to all his children. Free will—adult autonomy—is not a gender-based gift, and it is only dangerous if used for evil. And it often is...by both sexes. Even so, our Creator still gives it. So, who are we to think we know better than the Almighty?
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of several non-fiction books and is currently working on her first novel. She writes and speaks about a variety of topics with an emphasis on the subject of God and Women. Her work in that respect has been featured in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television.