The Feminist Movement … has had a very powerful influence on our modern society and on the churches.

The feminist movement has had a very powerful influence on

modern society and on the churches.

It began in the second half of the 19th century with the push for

women’s suffrage, political equality (an equal voice and place for

women in politics), workplace equality (equal pay for equal work),

and female education. The first gathering devoted to women’s

rights was in 1848 with about 100 people in attendance. It was led

by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Full voting rights

were granted to women in America in 1920.

By the early 20th century, the feminist movement was pushing

for “reproductive rights,” which refers to birth control and

abortion. Many 19th century feminist leaders were opposed to

abortion, but by the 20th century, feminism was at the forefront of

the abortion rights movement which has resulted in the

destruction of millions upon millions of unborn children.

The feminist movement has become ever more radical. It has

pushed for “non-sexist” or “gender neutral” language (e.g.,

chairman becomes chairperson). It has often been an opponent of

457 traditional marriage and has been at the forefront of homosexual

rights. It has reconstituted goddess theology. Pressure for

accommodation of women in all positions, has resulted in the

lowering of physical standards for police, firefighters, and the

military. Feminism created the unisex movement and paved the way for

homosexual rights.

The feminist movement has had an influence in Bible-believing

churches because so many professing Christian women are more

influenced by feminist thinking than by the Bible. They consider

feminine characteristics such as “a meek and quiet spirit” (1 Pe.

3:4) and modesty, shamefacedness, and sobriety (1 Ti. 2:9) to be

outdated. As Don Boys points out, “For us to suggest that women

be modest in apparel, attitude, and actions as Paul commanded is

almost quaint. Moreover, not only do feminists go ballistic but also

many closet feminists in our churches are quick to demand the

right to wear whatever they choose, even if the Apostle Paul or

their husbands disagree” (“Megyn Kelly, Whatever Happened to

Modesty?” donboys.cstnews. com, Nov. 17, 2016).

Christian mothers aren’t content to be keepers at home (Titus

2:5). They resist the Bible’s command that the wife submit herself

to her husband as unto the Lord. The Scripture’s command that a

woman not teach or usurp authority over the man is thought to be

outdated (1 Ti. 2:12). They want an equal voice with the men in

church affairs. They want their daughters to “follow their hearts,”

even if that means playing male-dominated sports or pursuing

something like a career in the infantry.

They bob their hair and wear pants (as a product of the

feminist-influenced unisex fashion movement), and woe be to that

preacher who tries to reprove them. It has been a long time since a

Baptist preacher published a book by the title of Bobbed Hair,

Bossy Wives, and Women Preachers! (That was the title of a 1941

pamphlet by Evangelist John R. Rice.)  Rice wrote, “The pulpit is a

place for the strongest men that we have. The preacher in the pulpit

should speak with an authority that is absolutely forbidden a woman to exercise.”

Where are those strong men today?

The feminization effect has resulted in a softening of the

preaching and the militant stance of the church. God is a “man of

war,” but very few preachers are. Christ took on the Pharisees and

Sadducees, and Paul took on every heretic that raised his head, but

such zeal is foreign to most so-called preachers. Martin Luther

took on Rome and called the pope the antichrist and called the

pope’s bull “all impiety, blasphemy, ignorance, impudence,

hypocrisy, lying.” Charles Spurgeon took on the Baptist Union and

railed against “soft manners and squeamish words” in the pulpit,

calling for “dinging our pulpits into blads” [smashing them with

forceful preaching]. Gilbert Tennent took on the Presbyterians of

his day, lifting his voice in 1740 in the midst of a synod (a regional

governing body) to warn that many preachers were unregenerate

and calling them “rotten-hearted hypocrites, and utter strangers to

the saving knowledge of God and of their own hearts” (Joseph

Tracy, The Great Awakening, 1842).

This type of boldness is entirely unknown among convention

Baptists, and it is exceedingly rare among fundamental Baptists.

The protest has long gone out of Protestants, and the

“fundamentalism” has largely gone out of fundamentalists.

I am convinced that the feminization of society has resulted in a

weakening of even the best churches and a rapidly growing deemphasis

on biblical militancy (being a soldier in Christ’s army).

The feminization of the churches can even be seen in a softening

of the hymns. There is less forthrightness in the lyrics and less

military boldness in the music.

Page 457 – 459 The Discipling Church:

The Church That Will Stand until Christ Comes

Copyright 2017 by David Cloud

This edition May 7, 2017

ISBN 978-1-58318-227-7

https://www.wayoflife.org/publications/books/the-discipling-church.php