An informal introduction to Womanist theology from Rahiel Tesfamariam

March 8, 2013 1 Comment

I have “met” some wonderful people on twitter. One of those people has been Urban Cusp founder and Washington Post columnist Rahiel Tesfamariam. Rahiel is passionately engaged in issues of faith, justice, and politics, especially as they affect urban communities. Occasionally, she’ll give “twitter sermons” that inspire and challenge. Today she gave one that, in my opinion, is one of the best short introductions to Womanist theology that I’ve ever seen. I’ve included the “sermon” below. Enjoy!

This is an example of why I think Womanist theology is one of the most powerful correctives to a lot of popular theology. Scripture, when read a certain way, can be a source of further humiliation, pain, and degradation rather than of hope and salvation. Womanists force us to face that truth and read scripture with new eyes that see the marginalized in our midst. Our churches are full of broken women who read the stories of the abuse, rape, ownership, and sacrifice of women and are told (often, though not always, by men) that this is God’s way in the world. Womanist readings of scripture shine the interrogators light on this practice and expose its ugly side. For this, we should be grateful.

And, as I wrote that paragraph Rahiel tweeted this:

My fellow male Christians, I guarantee that if your church is of any moderate size there are women there who have been abused, molested, raped, and taken advantage of, and those wounds are often reopened by the sermons we preach and lessons we teach on the many passages that speak of the abuse of women. The statistics bear this out – churches are, sadly, no better than the rest of society. A significant percentage of women in America, around the world – and in our churches! – will experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

When is the last time you heard a sermon or attended a class on domestic violence in the church? Or on care of rape victims? Or on any other such topic? In my experience, there are more often sermons and lessons that encourage women to silently bear such abuse – through appeals to patience, Christ’s suffering, or even by blaming them for their abuse. Victims are often called to repent for not patiently bearing their abuse rather than perpetrators to repent for their violent oppressions. This is sinful, and womanists help us to see that it is sinful.

Indeed, there are more often sermons that encourage men to “be more manly” – meaning to be more authoritative, more willing to impose one’s will, and encouraging women to submit to the (often violent) way this “manly” authority is practiced. All of this is wrong because it too often leads to the continued abuse of women in the world. This is the exact opposite of what the Christian gospel, best exemplified in the ministry of Jesus, is meant to do.

Jesus empowered women and challenged cultural norms by inviting them to be disciples of a rabbi in a world where this was rare (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus invited women to be the first evangelists by being the first people he appeared to after the resurrection (Matthew 28). Jesus learned from “minority” women when they challenged him about his teaching (Matthew 15:21-28). Jesus was dependent upon women for the financial viability of his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). Jesus protected women from their exploitation and abuse in the legal system (John 8:1-11). And Jesus inaugurated a new kingdom in which both “sons and daughters shall prophesy” and all have equal standing before God and each other. Anything that goes against this goes against the ways of the Kingdom of God and the desires of God for the world.

Let us listen to and learn from our sisters who tell us that there are stories in scripture that can be harmful. Otherwise, we may continue to perpetuate their abuse as told in those scriptural stories.

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One Response to An informal introduction to Womanist theology from Rahiel Tesfamariam

  1. Pingback: Review: Chris Stedman’s “Faitheist”

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