Few words stir as much tension in Christian circles as feminism. For some, it represents a cry for dignity and equity. For others, it evokes rebellion against God’s design for gender and family. But what exactly is feminism? Should Christians avoid the term altogether, or is there a faithful way to engage the conversation without compromising biblical convictions? In this first part of the series, we will consider what feminism claims to be, where it departs from Scripture, and why the Church cannot afford to be silent on matters of justice and womanhood.
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What Feminism Really Means (and What It Does Not)
Secular definitions often describe feminism as a movement for the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. In principle, the pursuit of justice for women is not inherently wrong. Indeed, Scripture teaches that women are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and are co-heirs of grace (1 Pet. 3:7). Yet feminism as a movement is not monolithic. It has taken on various forms, many of which depart from or outright contradict biblical teaching.
Feminism in its purest intention may claim to oppose the abuse and marginalization of women. However, we must be careful not to baptize the term or its ideology without rigorous biblical examination. The gospel affirms the worth of women, but it does so within the structure of God’s created order—not in opposition to it.
Why Christians Should Engage in This Discussion
Feminism may carry secular baggage, but the underlying issues it raises—such as abuse, neglect, and injustice—are not foreign to the Christian conscience. God’s people are called to uphold justice and righteousness (Mic. 6:8), and Christ Himself honored women in a time when society often dismissed them. He spoke with them, taught them, and received their witness (Jn. 4; Lk. 8:1–3). These actions, however, were rooted not in social rebellion, but in divine compassion and truth.
Silence on issues of injustice does not reflect the heart of our God. But the Church must also avoid uncritical alignment with secular ideologies. Some forms of feminism promote self-autonomy, deny the reality of biological sex, or reject God-given roles within marriage and the Church. Christians are not called to conform to culture (Rom. 12:2), but to uphold biblical categories of justice, mercy, and truth.
Clarifying the Tensions Between Faith and Feminism
Modern waves of feminism—especially those focused on sexual autonomy and identity fluidity—stand in direct conflict with biblical anthropology. At the same time, the Church must not retreat from advocating for the oppressed. Upholding the value of women is not optional; it is a biblical mandate. The question is not whether we fight for justice, but how—and under whose authority.
Christ Over Culture
It is possible to affirm the dignity of women without affirming feminism as a whole. Where feminism aligns with justice, it does so by God’s common grace. But where it rebels against God’s order, Christians must resist it. Our allegiance is not to movements, but to Christ. And in Him, we find the clearest picture of true justice—one that dignifies women, upholds truth, and glorifies God.
Our Answer to the Question
So, is feminism a dirty word or a divine calling? In its modern usage, feminism often carries assumptions and goals that are incompatible with Scripture. When feminism demands autonomy from God's design or denies the distinctions He has established, it must be rejected. But when concerns about justice arise within it—such as protection from abuse, equal value, or the dignity of womanhood—we should not dismiss them simply because the world raises them. These are not uniquely feminist concerns; they are biblical concerns. Therefore, feminism is neither a divine calling nor inherently dirty. It is a human response—flawed and fragmented—to real issues that only Christ can resolve rightly. As Christians, our calling is not to redeem feminism, but to proclaim Christ, through whom justice, dignity, and order are perfectly held together.
How Should Christians Respond to the Word “Feminism”?
So, is it right, then, to be angry at the term feminism? That anger may be understandable, especially given the modern expressions of feminism that war against biblical truth. But anger must be governed by discernment. We are not called to react by labels but to judge all things rightly (Jn. 7:24). To use the word feminism carelessly—as if it were inherently wicked or wholly virtuous—fails to do justice to the complexity of both history and Scripture. Christians should approach the term with caution, neither embracing it uncritically nor rejecting it without understanding. Most importantly, we must be far more concerned with being faithful to God’s Word than with aligning ourselves with any social movement.
Our task is not to sanitize feminism nor to demonize it. Our calling is to hold fast to the gospel, speak the truth in love, and uphold the God-given value of women without compromising God’s created order. In Christ alone, we see what human dignity, justice, and purpose truly mean.
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Image: Southwark Fair, T. Phillibrown after W. Hogarth (Mid-19th century). Provided by Branislav.
What Feminism Really Means (and What It Does Not)
Secular definitions often describe feminism as a movement for the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. In principle, the pursuit of justice for women is not inherently wrong. Indeed, Scripture teaches that women are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and are co-heirs of grace (1 Pet. 3:7). Yet feminism as a movement is not monolithic. It has taken on various forms, many of which depart from or outright contradict biblical teaching.
Feminism in its purest intention may claim to oppose the abuse and marginalization of women. However, we must be careful not to baptize the term or its ideology without rigorous biblical examination. The gospel affirms the worth of women, but it does so within the structure of God’s created order—not in opposition to it.
Why Christians Should Engage in This Discussion
Feminism may carry secular baggage, but the underlying issues it raises—such as abuse, neglect, and injustice—are not foreign to the Christian conscience. God’s people are called to uphold justice and righteousness (Mic. 6:8), and Christ Himself honored women in a time when society often dismissed them. He spoke with them, taught them, and received their witness (Jn. 4; Lk. 8:1–3). These actions, however, were rooted not in social rebellion, but in divine compassion and truth.
Silence on issues of injustice does not reflect the heart of our God. But the Church must also avoid uncritical alignment with secular ideologies. Some forms of feminism promote self-autonomy, deny the reality of biological sex, or reject God-given roles within marriage and the Church. Christians are not called to conform to culture (Rom. 12:2), but to uphold biblical categories of justice, mercy, and truth.
Clarifying the Tensions Between Faith and Feminism
It is often claimed that feminism and Christianity are inherently at odds. Historically, some feminists had religious motivations. Yet we must acknowledge that even early advocates like Elizabeth Cady Stanton distorted Scripture to fit their views. That history should give us pause. We do not measure truth by who said it, but by whether it aligns with the Word of God.
Modern waves of feminism—especially those focused on sexual autonomy and identity fluidity—stand in direct conflict with biblical anthropology. At the same time, the Church must not retreat from advocating for the oppressed. Upholding the value of women is not optional; it is a biblical mandate. The question is not whether we fight for justice, but how—and under whose authority.
Christ Over Culture
It is possible to affirm the dignity of women without affirming feminism as a whole. Where feminism aligns with justice, it does so by God’s common grace. But where it rebels against God’s order, Christians must resist it. Our allegiance is not to movements, but to Christ. And in Him, we find the clearest picture of true justice—one that dignifies women, upholds truth, and glorifies God.
Our Answer to the Question
So, is feminism a dirty word or a divine calling? In its modern usage, feminism often carries assumptions and goals that are incompatible with Scripture. When feminism demands autonomy from God's design or denies the distinctions He has established, it must be rejected. But when concerns about justice arise within it—such as protection from abuse, equal value, or the dignity of womanhood—we should not dismiss them simply because the world raises them. These are not uniquely feminist concerns; they are biblical concerns. Therefore, feminism is neither a divine calling nor inherently dirty. It is a human response—flawed and fragmented—to real issues that only Christ can resolve rightly. As Christians, our calling is not to redeem feminism, but to proclaim Christ, through whom justice, dignity, and order are perfectly held together.
How Should Christians Respond to the Word “Feminism”?
So, is it right, then, to be angry at the term feminism? That anger may be understandable, especially given the modern expressions of feminism that war against biblical truth. But anger must be governed by discernment. We are not called to react by labels but to judge all things rightly (Jn. 7:24). To use the word feminism carelessly—as if it were inherently wicked or wholly virtuous—fails to do justice to the complexity of both history and Scripture. Christians should approach the term with caution, neither embracing it uncritically nor rejecting it without understanding. Most importantly, we must be far more concerned with being faithful to God’s Word than with aligning ourselves with any social movement.
Our task is not to sanitize feminism nor to demonize it. Our calling is to hold fast to the gospel, speak the truth in love, and uphold the God-given value of women without compromising God’s created order. In Christ alone, we see what human dignity, justice, and purpose truly mean.
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