Sarah Bessey’s book Jesus Feminist releases today. We’re so excited for her and for anyone who gets to read this book. She is first, and foremost a disciple of Jesus, and her embrace of feminism is inextricably wrapped in her identity as a disciple. Here’s a little snippet of something she’s written that beautifully expresses her heart.
To the world, it’s foolish to choose peace instead of war. It’s foolish to forgive. It’s foolish to be kind. It’s foolish to hope. It’s foolish to offer grace and conversation. It’s foolish to care for your weaker brothers or sisters, let alone change your own behaviour to accommodate them. It’s foolish to live without legalism and “clear boundaries” that apply to everyone.
Foolish things will confound the “wise” of our world.
And when a feminist chooses to eschew the tactics of the world that are often used against women – silencing, shaming, name-calling, belittling, ganging up, violence, and so on – we are being foolish in the ways of a disciple. We are living prophetically into the Kingdom of God. How would Jesus be a feminist? How would Jesus do justice and seek mercy and walk humbly on behalf of his global daughters?