Dear male-supremacist,
I have some things that I want you to consider. Forgive me if I seem too harsh in this letter to you, whoever you are. Forgive me if I seem hateful or unforgiving to my own sex. But you see, I have a sister, and a Mother, and a future wife and daughter, so this issue concerns me closely and dearly. I will not see them trampled, purposefully or inadvertently, by your belief. And because you would see them as uncompliant and rebellious if they spoke up for themselves, I will do it for them. You see, I've seen a mindset, a sickness, that has crept into your beliefs and it occasionally rises to the surface in your conversations and actions. Whether you intentionally or unintentionally allowed this to happen matters not. All that matters is that this sickness is harming you, and more importantly, the women in your life. What is the sickness you ask? What is this half-invisible belief that hides within the walls of your heart, only making itself known in subtle, yet immeasurably destructive ways? Listen sir, and I shall tell you.
Sir, the sickness of the mind that I am referring too is the belief, however so small, that your gender is superior to women. The sickness is the belief that the will of a male has authority over the will of the female. Your belief that women must "stay in their place" and "operate within their strengths" is only a twisted way of trying to give yourself control. One drop of this thinking breaks the Heart of the One who designed womankind. Let me tell you something my dear sir. Let me share something with you man to man. Thinking you are stronger than woman is the weakest thing you can do. Believing that you are superior to her is the lowest level to which you can stoop. You are valuable my dear sir. You are loved and created by a Father who adores you more than you can imagine. Don't stoop so low as to consider yourself higher than your counterpart. For that is what she is: your counterpart. Not your plaything. Not your subject. She is your equal and opposite force in EVERY respect. Don't try to elevate the patriarchal end of the gender scale. Stop looking at woman as nothing more than a rib from man.
You see sir, contrary to your selfish opinion, woman was not made singularly for man! You were made for each other. Stop acting like her whole purpose of existence is for your pleasure. Of course she was made perfectly for man, but the Creator also designed her with a will and a heart, separate from yours. Sir, it is not your right or your privilege to control her, just as it is not her right or privilege to control you. I've heard you say "Woman is equal to man, but it is her role to 'submit' to her husband according to scripture." But I say to you, if you believe scripture gives you a right to control your wife and overrule her will with yours, you need to take a closer look at the scripture you're reading. As a husband, you are called to love your wife as Christ loved His bride, the Church. Do you think Christ takes the will of His bride and forces her to comply with His wishes? Then what gives you a right to do so to your wife? Stop twisting scripture to justify your desire for mastery.
As for the lie you believe about women being weak, emotional, and therefore inferior to man, there are many things wrong with that. Firstly, you are thinking as a fool indeed sir if you believe emotional expression is weakness. Secondly, woman is far more capable than you in many areas, sir. Can you grow a human inside you? Can you give birth to a child? Can you feed a child using only your body? Can you overcome a powerful man without throwing a punch? No you cannot sir. But woman can. She has power that you don't give her credit for. Just because she's different doesn't mean she's less powerful.
In conclusion sir, I implore you to begin to see womankind with fresh eyes. I ask of you to look at your wife as your equal and opposite force, your counterpart. Stop your tongue-in-cheek humor about the "pettiness of women's fancies" and let go of your desire to control her. Stop using scripture as an excuse to get what you want from her. Instead, put her above and before you in all things and remember that woman is one of the most amazing things God designed. Treat the daughters of God around you as Jesus treats His Bride. With Love, honor, and respect.
I have some things that I want you to consider. Forgive me if I seem too harsh in this letter to you, whoever you are. Forgive me if I seem hateful or unforgiving to my own sex. But you see, I have a sister, and a Mother, and a future wife and daughter, so this issue concerns me closely and dearly. I will not see them trampled, purposefully or inadvertently, by your belief. And because you would see them as uncompliant and rebellious if they spoke up for themselves, I will do it for them. You see, I've seen a mindset, a sickness, that has crept into your beliefs and it occasionally rises to the surface in your conversations and actions. Whether you intentionally or unintentionally allowed this to happen matters not. All that matters is that this sickness is harming you, and more importantly, the women in your life. What is the sickness you ask? What is this half-invisible belief that hides within the walls of your heart, only making itself known in subtle, yet immeasurably destructive ways? Listen sir, and I shall tell you.
Sir, the sickness of the mind that I am referring too is the belief, however so small, that your gender is superior to women. The sickness is the belief that the will of a male has authority over the will of the female. Your belief that women must "stay in their place" and "operate within their strengths" is only a twisted way of trying to give yourself control. One drop of this thinking breaks the Heart of the One who designed womankind. Let me tell you something my dear sir. Let me share something with you man to man. Thinking you are stronger than woman is the weakest thing you can do. Believing that you are superior to her is the lowest level to which you can stoop. You are valuable my dear sir. You are loved and created by a Father who adores you more than you can imagine. Don't stoop so low as to consider yourself higher than your counterpart. For that is what she is: your counterpart. Not your plaything. Not your subject. She is your equal and opposite force in EVERY respect. Don't try to elevate the patriarchal end of the gender scale. Stop looking at woman as nothing more than a rib from man.
You see sir, contrary to your selfish opinion, woman was not made singularly for man! You were made for each other. Stop acting like her whole purpose of existence is for your pleasure. Of course she was made perfectly for man, but the Creator also designed her with a will and a heart, separate from yours. Sir, it is not your right or your privilege to control her, just as it is not her right or privilege to control you. I've heard you say "Woman is equal to man, but it is her role to 'submit' to her husband according to scripture." But I say to you, if you believe scripture gives you a right to control your wife and overrule her will with yours, you need to take a closer look at the scripture you're reading. As a husband, you are called to love your wife as Christ loved His bride, the Church. Do you think Christ takes the will of His bride and forces her to comply with His wishes? Then what gives you a right to do so to your wife? Stop twisting scripture to justify your desire for mastery.
As for the lie you believe about women being weak, emotional, and therefore inferior to man, there are many things wrong with that. Firstly, you are thinking as a fool indeed sir if you believe emotional expression is weakness. Secondly, woman is far more capable than you in many areas, sir. Can you grow a human inside you? Can you give birth to a child? Can you feed a child using only your body? Can you overcome a powerful man without throwing a punch? No you cannot sir. But woman can. She has power that you don't give her credit for. Just because she's different doesn't mean she's less powerful.
In conclusion sir, I implore you to begin to see womankind with fresh eyes. I ask of you to look at your wife as your equal and opposite force, your counterpart. Stop your tongue-in-cheek humor about the "pettiness of women's fancies" and let go of your desire to control her. Stop using scripture as an excuse to get what you want from her. Instead, put her above and before you in all things and remember that woman is one of the most amazing things God designed. Treat the daughters of God around you as Jesus treats His Bride. With Love, honor, and respect.
With sincerest wishes for the renewal of your mind,
-Seth Hensley
Comments
Post a Comment