The Accidental Feminist

Notes and highlights for

The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God's Good Design

Reissig, Courtney

1 What It Means to Be a Woman (and Not a Man)

Highlight (yellow) - Page 27 · Location 330

The problem, Friedan said, was that women were finding their identity in their relationship to a husband and children, and they were coming up short. Her solution? Find your identity in yourself.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 28 · Location 344

One of the lasting impacts of feminist thought over the last one hundred years is the idea that womanhood is culturally learned, not something inherent to us as created beings.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 29 · Location 361

On one hand, some Christians say that because women, like men, are created in God’s image, they have equal value and worth as an image-bearer, but they are created different by God’s good design. In light of this, God has given us all different functions within his body (in the church and the home). As you probably guessed, I believe the Bible teaches this. Women like me call ourselves complementarians, believing that God created men and women equal, yet different. And our differences are designed to complement one another. On the other hand, some Christians believe that being a woman created in God’s image, and having equal value and worth as an image-bearer, means that our differences do not impact our function in marriage and in the body of Christ. Giftedness is the deciding factor, not gender. These brothers and sisters call

Highlight (yellow) - Page 32 · Location 412

The biblical understanding of gender is that both genders were created in the image of God and together must have incredible worth and value.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 32 · Location 423

Before we go any further in our discussion of what it means to be a woman, we must first understand that our identity lies not in our gender but in whom our gender points to— our Creator. We find our identity in God because we bear his image. We don’t find our identity in what we can do. This is where Friedan is right. She rightfully called foul on the idea that the home was the place for a woman’s identity; but she swung the pendulum too far and took God out of the equation. As women, we don’t find our identity in our home, our work, our body, or our marital status. We find it in the God who created us in his image.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 33 · Location 433

Eve imaged God in two distinct ways: as helper and as life-giver. She was uniquely able to complete Adam as a helper in the divine calling of ruling God’s creation. She was also uniquely suited to bring life into the world as “the mother of all living”— which is the meaning of her name. She possessed gifts and abilities that complemented Adam and glorified God in the garden. Life-giving is a specific and amazing quality given to women. Eve was designed to nurture, care for, and cultivate life in God’s creation.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 34 · Location 443

The man was alone, and something was missing. Adam needed a helper. Today, this concept is often viewed as controversial or demeaning— as if a helper were someone of unequal value. But our idea of a “helper” does not necessarily line up with God’s idea of a helper. The Hebrew word for helper (ezer) is actually used for God in other parts of the Bible: God helps his people (Ex. 18: 4; Pss. 33: 20; 70: 5; 115: 9– 10). 6 Ezer has also been used to describe God the Holy Spirit (John 14: 26).

6 Women in the Church

Highlight (yellow) - Page 132 · Location 1949

God has a purpose for the local church. And we don’t get to change that purpose.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 133 · Location 1952

The end and purpose of all of this [leadership in the church] is the glory of God as we make Him known. Throughout history, God has desired to make Himself known. This is why He delivered Israel from Egypt in the Exodus, and why He delivered them again from the Babylonian Exile. It was for His own glory, to make Himself known … He has created the world and has done all that He has done for His own praise. And it is right and good that He should do so. … All who read these words— those who are church leaders and those who are not— are made in the image of God. We are to be walking pictures of the moral nature and righteous character of God, reflecting it around the universe for all to see— especially in our union with God through Christ. This, therefore is what God calls us to and why He calls us to it. He calls us to join together with Him, and together in our congregations, not for our glory but for His own. 1

Highlight (yellow) - Page 135 · Location 1983

Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt give three qualities of the local church as seen in 1 Timothy 3: 15:

Highlight (yellow) - Page 135 · Location 1984

The local church is the household of God— the family of God. The local church is the church of the living God— he assembles among us. The local church is the pillar and buttress of truth— we are to be the vehicle for evangelism and discipleship, and the defender of the faith.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 136 · Location 2003

the overarching purpose for all women in the local church: we are to use the gifts God has given us.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 136 · Location 2005

Just as feminism has told women that anything a man can do women can do just the same, it has encouraged women to clamor only for what men do, and to belittle “traditional” women’s activities.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 137 · Location 2017

It means you serve a vital purpose in your local church.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 137 · Location 2029

Our purpose in the local church is not to strive for the greatest amount of power or authority, but to excel in service to God and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom.

Highlight (yellow) - Page 145 · Location 2155

The purpose of the local church is not to benefit ourselves. What we do in the church has nothing to do with our rights and everything to do with God’s glory.