I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of the Launch Team for Rachel Green Miller’s forthcoming book, which will be available Sep. 2019!
Looking forward to reading my pre-publication early access copy of the book over the next few weeks!
In the book’s Introduction, Miller writes:
I’ve become increasingly aware of what’s being taught in conservative circles about the nature of women and men and what’s considered appropriate in marriage, the church, and society. It’s troubling, and much of it isn’t biblical. In addition, I see that authority and submission have become the lens through which all of women’s and men’s interactions are viewed—even to the point that some people try to figure out if it’s okay for a woman to write a book that a man may learn from.
Here, she is referring to John Piper’s response to a question submitted by a pastor: “Pastor John, would a pastor who uses a biblical commentary written by a woman be placing himself under the biblical instruction of a woman? If so, would this not go against Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 2:12?”
Piper ultimately thinks it’s OK to learn from books written by women, because “There is this interposition of the phenomenon called book and writing that puts the woman as author out of the reader’s sight and, in a sense, takes away the dimension of her female personhood.” Read that last part again: reading a book written by a women is safe for men because she is out of the reader’s sight. Out of sight. Erasure. And not only that, taking away the dimension of her female personhood. Wow.
Miller’s book will add to the growing chorus of voices that are challenging the status quo and pushing for a fresh reappraisal of the biblical texts. Women are demanding (deservedly) a place at the table, and this is surely bringing woe to men who view this as a threat. Whoa, men–time to pause and reflect: search your hearts and the scriptures.
I’ll be offering reflections on Rachel’s book as I begin reading it in the coming days and weeks.
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