This article is from the September/October issue of Outreach magazine. Subscribe today!
I have been grieved by recent television documentaries such as Shiny Happy People and The Secrets of Hillsong reporting on the sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse of women within the church. Most of these damaging incidents were carried out by men who used their theology to take advantage of their power, and whose narcissistic actions were supported or covered up by others who had their own agendas.
Unfortunately, these stories are not new. For almost two decades, the #MeToo movement has shed light on the sexual harassment and abuse of women who have suffered in silence, with the hashtag going viral after the sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein came to light in 2017. The boldness of those revelations opened the floodgates and led to the #ChurchToo movement, which revealed the same patterns of sexual violence toward women in churches across the United States.
God’s Purposes
From ancient reporting in the Bible to the modern day, the mistreatment of women has been pervasive. Women have been treated like property or slaves, less than human, and oftentimes less than men. Of course, this point of view is the complete opposite of what God intended. He had a very clear vision and purpose in mind when he created woman—and it wasn’t to be less than man.
Woman, like man, was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Woman was designed to partner with man to fulfill the cultural mandate, to produce and make use of the resources God provided for the flourishing and multiplication of a very good creation (Gen. 1:28–31, 2:20). Woman was created so man could have companionship and a family (Gen. 2:18, 24–25). God never desired or endorsed the mistreatment of the imago Dei that is her.
Jesus’ Treatment of Women
When we survey Jesus’ encounters with vulnerable people—especially women—in the New Testament, we see him responding with kindness. Jesus loves and cares for the plight of women. He treated those who had lost children, were physically ill or hungry, those who were working, were mourning, and those who were ostracized by society with special compassion.
Being a disciple of Jesus requires that we become like him and respond to the harsh realities that women face in the church and community.
Going Forward
I believe that a church is only as vibrant and healthy as the women within that church. If scrutinized, how would your church stack up? Consider these questions:
* Am I and my staff sensitive to the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health of the women in my church?
* Is the commandment for women to love God with their entire being—heart, mind, soul, body—only the responsibility of the women’s ministry, or is it an intentional part of my church’s discipleship mission?
* What practices are in place to ensure the safe reporting of abuse in my church?
* Are women who put forth accusations treated with respect? Are they believed?
* What protocols do we have in order to address the accusations of harassment in my church?
* How often are these policies reviewed with the entire congregation?
* Is training in this area provided and reinforced with the leadership team?
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is an author, podcast host, president of T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc., and visionary founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc.