Jan
11
2007
Book Review: Evangelical Feminism
Wayne Grudem’s Evangelical Feminism is a wake-up call to the evangelical world. Packed with hard-hitting evidence that documents the trajectory from egalitarianism to liberalism and eventually to the normalization of homosexuality, Grudem systematically demolishes the reasoning behind many egalitarian readings of Scripture.
I appreciated Grudem’s constant reminders throughout the book that not all egalitarians are by default liberals. He clearly counts many egalitarians as friends and colleagues. But all liberals are egalitarians. And furthermore, as Grudem relentlessly points out time and time again, the treatment of Scripture by many evangelical egalitarians is the same reasoning which eventually nullifies Scriptural teaching on a whole host of issues.
Grudem’s extensive research and his long defense of complementarianism make him the perfect person to author this work. Unfortunately, because many in the egalitarian camp have read other works by Grudem, it is likely that many will dismiss this book as another rehashing of previous arguments by Grudem.
However, Evangelical Feminism is different than Grudem’s other works, because here, Grudem is not offering evidence for complementarianism. Instead, he is focusing on the nature of the arguments in favor of egalitarianism, and showing through historical and theological research what happens when the same ways of thinking are applied to other issues. Liberalism always follows!
This is a very important book. Egalitarians can disagree with Grudem’s conclusions, but they cannot dismiss the evidence outlined in his book. The burden of proof now rests squarely on the shoulders of those who wish to remain egalitarian and evangelical.
written by Trevin Wax. © 2007 Kingdom People Blog