Modern Feminism and Christian Homes
Uji, Wilfred Terlumun
Professor of History
I have never felt an urge to write on what I have seen happening to Christian Homes as a result and consequence of modern Feminist trends in our contemporary World.
My thesis is that, the idea that individuals can be separate with their given inherent fundamental rights cannot work in a Christian Home based on traditional biblical principles. The extent and import of my thoughts is that, modern Feminism within the framework of Big Feminism, the idea of a free and independent female, is an anti thesis of a Christian Home where exist a mutual interdependent and interrelated relationship that is based on submission, transparency and accountability.
I grew up in a traddional Christian Home with the idea of the “Old time Religion” stuff that believes in the unbroken and undivided unity of the spouses in marriage.
Over the years, I have been educated through the University to have risen up to the rank of a Professor who knows and appreciate the deep currents of Western Feminism deeply rooted in the ” Satanic Uprisings of the West” since the age of the industrial and scientific revolutions. There is an African Feminism that has been swept under the carpet by the currents of European Colonization and domination through the institutionalization of Western Christianity.
The Modern Evangelical and Pentecostal Movements in Africa have come to inherit the colonial legacy of Western Christianity with all it’s roots and philosophy that undermines the Cultural values of Traditional Christianity .
One of strong weakness of Evangelical Christianity is the attempt to reproduce the African within the context of European Culture and Civilization both in thought, Values, Cosmic interpretations and material ideology. The essence of the Christian Church is not to makes us look like the Word of God, but, to look, think and talk Western.
In Bible Studies and Sermons, there is a fragmentation of the Scriptures , not wholesome biblical truths, to justify the expediency of a material World that looks like the West.
This mode and perspective of thought, to be like the West, to fragment Scriptures for material gains, has far reaching impact on Christian Homes in Africa.
Modern Pentecostal Movements, with her teachings on radical fundamentalism, promotes values of individualism and greed over and above that of collective existence and mutual communal living. The home is nothing but a piece of loosed treaties, of contracts and mutual understanding, where couples exist as independent and free people.
I was growing up thinking that husband and wife should operate one bank account, deliberate over the family budget, share personal intimacy to avoid holding on to what is private and secret . Mutual inclusiveness should ensure we share phones together, know about each other movements, have a common stand on issues and perspectives.
The emerging new world of western feminism abhors the ideas mentioned above.
Couples operate in marriage as individuals and autonomous entities
Couples can subscribe to their separate, often divergent and independent religious beliefs and thinking, operate a parrarel budget and account, the right of movement where ever it pleases..
It is therefore not anything strange that the Christian Church in Contemporary times has the highest divorce rates and failed marriages that cuts across the congregation and the Clergy.
Biblical teachings based on tested traditions are being pushed aside in the name of modernity. The landscape has produced pastors and preachers, mostly on the social media, not accountable to any establishment or organization of high reputation and integrity.
The Social Media has popularized these fortune – fame seeking preachers more than some of our traditional churches.
Obviously, this is the Age of the Anti Christ. The Church is a Kingdom divided against itself.
The way forward lies in returning back to the ancient land mark. Land marks are for preservation and direction. They are the critical compass and nautical charts that re directs us when we find ourselves lost in a storm.
There is always a voice that says, return back, herein is the way.
God is faithful.
