We are here, we are here, we are here!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 07:50AM 
Anyone ever read Horton Hears A Who? A person's a person, no matter how small. I thought about that this morning.
The whole kerfuffle about Ann Voskamp's book discouraged me a great deal. A number of weeks ago, I was asked by the co-ordinator of our women's ministry committee about One Thousand Gifts. I had read enough to know I wasn't interested in reading it myself. I directed her to some reviews. End of story. Lo, and behold, last week Tim Challies reviewed it and then apologized, so the drama has been in the forefront of my mind. What has bothered me is how both sides reacted to the book. Trisha had an excellent post about this yesterday. I recommend you read it. At the same time, I think those who criticized Tim for acting on his conscience should leave well enough alone.
This morning, Tim linked to another post about the issue at The Christian Pundit. I'm not familiar with that blog, but I appreciated the comments. This comment particularly caught my attention:
What are we women doing for our own serious, ongoing theological education? Is our passion for Christ flowing from biblical grounding expressed in ways that accord with our Reformed heritage?
This is a worthwhile question, and one that we should be asking daily. The answer is that there are many of us who are doing a lot about our theological education. We are nameless, faceless, anonymous women who are doing exactly that: learning. We are the small time bloggers, and some of us are blog-less. But we are here. We are ordinary women who are at home all day keeping the house, caring for the kids, loving our husbands, and loving sound teaching. We read Berkhof, Lloyd-Jones, the Puritans, know the difference between systematic and biblical theology, and what the aorist tense of a Greek verb is. Maybe we even conjugate those Greek verbs in our heads while we whip us some home made cinnamon buns or sew curtains for the living room.
I can say for a certainty that one of my closest friends echoed just about every sentiment about One Thousand Gifts that I heard expressed in the blog world, including what The Christian Pundit expressed today. Who is she? Is she famous? Where is her blog? She doesn't have one. Likely, she never will. But she is one of THE most astute theologians I have ever had the privilege of meeting and working with. And she lives her faith out. She recognized instantly the issues with One Thousand Gifts. She took what she could and moved on. No, she's not in the blog circles, nor will she ever be linked to anyone famous. But her spiritual legacy will be rich, indeed. My husband reminded me recently with this: the blog world is not THE world.
There are women out there educating themselves. We need not feel discouraged about that. We are here, we are here, we are here.
On Tuesday night, I along with a number of other women, gathered though Facebook to discuss the book According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy. Desiring Virtue is hosting these discussions weekly. I was profoundly blessed by the number of women of all ages who want to know deep theology.
We're out here. We live in the sphere of the ordinary. Likely none us will never be famous, but we are here and by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are learning.
Books
Reader Comments (11)
Trisha's post was excellent, and I also liked what the Christian Pundit said:
"If we evangelical women could identify pantheism, mysticism, and poor ecclesiology as we enjoyed the helpful elements in the book, Challies would not have needed to write the review. If we ourselves were passionate about loving Christ and enjoying our rich, theological heritage, we would probably not have found this work so attractive or deep. "
All the more reason IMO for women to be serious about theology and not experience oriented stuff.
Thanks for the post. I'm in wholehearted agreement with you. I love sound theology and it has been my life's pursuit to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior while doing all the ordinary things required as a wife, mother and grandmother. I was disturbed by the book, didn't bother to read it after reading the reviews about it, glad Challies reviewed it but also sorry he felt the need to apologize for it. I think what was said needed to be said as many of the women I know and minister with are too misguided by their emotions. Thanks for the post.
I think there are more women out there who can identify these things than we know. We tend to think that just because we don't now about them through blogs or Facebook that they don't exist. People asked Tim Challies to read it because everyone wants to feel validated about a book they read. We're under the impression that only certain people can review books well, i.e. well known people. I think what Trisha did, in taking the book to her pastor, is great. Tim does great book reviews, but I think he'd be the first to recommend that we ask our pastor, too. We want validation from "famous" people, that's why people asked Tim about the book. Maybe that sounds cynical; I don't know. There are discerning women around. Perhaps they're too busy learning to visit blogs and use the internet much.
I so appreciate this post. I'm weary of the Voskampian elitism that wafts around her. I was asked to read the book when it first came out with some friends. Immediately the untruths were clear and that first meeting we had around the picnic table I said basically what The Christian Pundit said. Though not as eloquently and not on a platform, just some moms reading what we realized was not true and deciding that our time was better spent elsewhere. All the hoopla since has only underlined what 3 moms at a playground playdate concluded. And went on about their lives.
So, yes, Kim, I'm here. We're here. More of us faceless and nameless than not. Reminds me of God's encouragement to Elijah that He still had 7000 of His own who had not bowed the knee to Baal or kissed him with their mouths. WE are HERE.
My thanks to Trisha and The Christian Pundit though for being a voice that carries. We need those too.
Kim,
Thank you for continuing to speak hard things and to glorify the LORD. You are a blessing to so many, and I thank God for you. Oh, that our children would be faithful voices declaring the truth of God's Word long after we're all gone. May He keep them and preserve them from error.
"We are nameless, faceless, anonymous women who are doing exactly that: learning. We are the small time bloggers, and some of us are blog-less. But we are here. We are ordinary women who are at home all day keeping the house, caring for the kids, loving our husbands, and loving sound teaching. We read Berkhof, Lloyd-Jones, the Puritans, know the difference between systematic and biblical theology, and what the aorist tense of a Greek verb is. Maybe we even conjugate those Greek verbs in our heads while we whip us some home made cinnamon buns or sew curtains for the living room."
Kim, just have to let you know I LOVE this!!
Well, you won't find me making cinnamon rolls or sewing curtains, nor do I have the first clue how to conjugate a Greek verb but I do indeed long to be counted here, among godly women who are serious and passionate students of His Word. May we be found faithful not merely in the pursuit of knowledge but in living out its truth, our lives giving testimony to the glorious gospel of grace!
Lisa: absolutely! That is just assumed, as far as I'm concerned. You'll have to excuse a little hyperbole by referring to conjugating Greek verbs. My point was that there are solid, godly, biblical women who can critique out there. And by learning, I mean much more than intellectual knowledge. :)
Oops, I think maybe I wasn't very clear in my comment! In my reference to the curtains and the Greek verbs, I was making a rather poor attempt at poking fun at myself and my lack of skill in both areas. My concluding remarks were meant to agree with your post. I can see now how it might read as being critical, however subtly, of your hyperbole (which I recognized as such) and I apologize!
No problem, Lisa. I just didn't want to come across as implying that intellectual pursuit was more important than really obeying the Word.
It's often so hard to communicate via words alone without the tone of voice. Had we been speaking face to face (which I trust, someday, we will!) we would have known exactly what we meant!
Although I'm not as learned as you & those who've commented, I'm here (and I'm trying)! I'm thankful for like-minded women who want to study the Word & live it out. You've all been a blessing to me! I missed the group Tuesday night, but went back to read the thread & was very encouraged.