This week’s guest contributor is coach Rachel Ann (Website | Instagram)
As a life coach who works with Christian women of color, I enjoy hot takes that make us think and wonder about what Jesus would do about all things we’re experiencing in our world today—capitalism, advocating for people who are marginalized, international suffering, power struggles, food insecurity, and more.
Throughout my spiritual journey, I’ve learned that nothing is as simple as it seems, so taking time to reflect, wonder, and research from various vantage points is helpful. Much of my Christian walk is wrestling with God and learning how to exist in tension in many ways, like how to have hope and spread light in the world while witnessing atrocities that make me feel hopeless about the future and powerless to make any real change.
One of the biggest wrestling moments for me was about feminism, particularly about the rights and roles of women. I grew up learning that women had their “place” in the church, which was silent and out of the way. I just accepted it as true.
Then, as I entered adulthood and started reading the Bible for myself, I found this perspective (among many other things) was untrue and needed to be unlearned. Here’s what I came to realize as I developed a relationship with God for myself…
1. Equality and dignity: Central to Jesus' teachings is the concept of the equal worth and dignity of all individuals, with a special highlight and focus on people who were being harmed or marginalized. Jesus rooting for the underdog is a common narrative throughout his life. The idea behind this is that Biblical society expected God to make them rich and powerful but that’s not God’s heart, so He consistently flipped the script on what power, prestige, and true success looked like.
Hint: It looks more like caring for your neighbor and less like getting rich, exploiting people for your benefit, or trying to impress others. In various instances in the New Testament, Jesus interacted with women in ways that challenged the societal norms of his time, treating them with respect and recognizing their intrinsic value.
2. Inclusive ministry: Jesus included women in his ministry, which was unconventional in the cultural and religious context of ancient Judea. Women such as Mary Magdalene and Esther are mentioned as followers of Jesus and played a huge role in the story of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene is the first person to witness and proclaim the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is kind of a big deal for us Christians and the fact that a woman witnessed it first? That’s a bigggggg deal! Esther literally risked her life to save her people. That type of courage is considered a masculine trait when, in actuality, it’s a trait for God’s people regardless of gender—another ‘flip the script’ moment.
3. Challenging gender norms: Jesus often challenged societal norms regarding gender roles. He engaged in conversations with women, defended them against societal judgments, and prioritized their spiritual and emotional well-being. If Jesus were in the USA today, I can see Him being really mad at the “boss babe” movement, and a big fan of The Nap Ministry (Jesus himself napped!).
4. Countering patriarchy: Some people, like me, would argue that Jesus' interactions with women and his teachings implicitly challenged patriarchal structures. For example, his criticism of divorce practices and emphasis on marital fidelity applied to both men and women, challenging unequal standards.
Jesus exemplified true leadership, which is a characteristic our society attributes to men, in a way that shakes the table. He exemplified servant and heartfelt leadership that says a true leader serves others and cares about them holistically, not just their talents or skills.
5. Concern for the marginalized: Jesus consistently showed compassion and concern for those marginalized or oppressed, including women. He didn’t just talk about it, he actually did something about it each time —empowering women, correcting sexist comments and behaviors, and more. He uplifted the voices of women, advocated for justice for widows (who had no rights at the time), and listened to the stories of the women he encountered in the Bible.
I came to the conclusion that Jesus is indeed a feminist because he centered the voice and concerns of the marginalized, with the understanding of the multiple layers of marginalized identities, and advocated for their rights.
Christians call themselves “Christ followers.” If Jesus had a commitment to justice, compassion, and the inherent value of every person, including women with additional marginalized identities, we followers should have that commitment, too.
Rachel Ann (she/her) is a Christian holistic life coach, specializing in supporting Christian BIWOC to show up as their authentic selves, without fear or judgement and helping them understand how the past impacts the present and, potentially, the future.
Rachel’s journey began in counseling, advising, coaching and mentoring back in 2014. As a previous psychotherapist and educator, she now develops mindset and wellness programs, equipping clients with tools for self-sufficiency, healthy coping mechanisms, and mindfulness techniques to develop healthy views of self, build confidence, and operate in the fullness of who they're called to be.
She lives in New York City with her husband and six plant babies. When she's not coaching, you can find her sipping boba, dancing to Afrobeats, or volunteering at her church. Website | Instagram
Amen!