There was an interesting article up today at relevantmagazine.com about How the Church Can Fail Women. The thing I find fascinating is how precisely the article reflects my own experiences, and how many of the comments reflect the “it doesn’t matter” mindset I’ve encountered so often in Christian circles.

I am not certain whether to feel encouraged or horrified.

I don’t believe for a moment that the majority of churches set out to oppress or suppress women. And even if they did, we live in a free society, and could pursue our callings in a more supportive environment. No, what really troubles me is the subtle messages we all grow up with, the limiting beliefs that distort our views, and keep us from taking an honest assesment of who God really created us to be. The ways in which we are encouraged or not encouraged, equipped or not equipped, based on gender, not God-given gifts.

What really troubles me is the fact that so often, we don’t even realize that we are doing it.

If you’re interested, you can read more of my thoughts on the matter of How the Church Can Fail Women in the rather lengthy reply I posted to the article.

But the short version is this: For Christ’s sake, don’t settle for becoming anything less than he created you to be!!!