As you can imagine, the responses ran the gamut from solidarity with the Feminist Movement to blatant chauvinism, all wrapped in Biblical piety. I was struck that what was intended to be a discussion about empowering and defending women often degenerated into a discussion of empowering and defending men! How did that happen? Easily. Whenever those who rest comfortably in institutionalized positions of power are challenged, they react in ways to retain their power.
Was Jesus a feminist? Well, Jesus was rather progressive for his day when he interacted with women. He would call women to be disciples (Lk 8:1-2), he would touch unclean women (or be willingly touched by them—Luke 7:44-46), and he would converse with foreign women who weren’t his wife (a big no-no in his time and place—Jn 4). Despite this, Jesus was still a product of his cultural and religious location, and he benefited from (and in some ways perpetuated) the patriarchal norms of the day. So, while he certainly blurred the lines, Jesus wasn’t quite waving the banner. But still…
Jesus did have a lot to say about power. The first shall be last. The least shall be greatest. Those who would be great must be servant to the least. While the historical Jesus might not have read a copy of Ms. Magazine, he would certainly have stood in solidarity with the marginalized, the outcast, the disenfranchised, and the poor. In the discussion about #MeToo, I have little doubt Jesus would point out the uneven power dynamics that underlie our modern culture, and he would grieve with the thousands of women whose lives have been devastated by men who abuse their privileged power.
One of the most powerful descriptions of the reversal of power is the Magnificat—the song of Mary that speaks of a lowly servant who has found favor, of the proud being scattered in their deceit, of the mighty being toppled from their thrones and the lowly being lifted, of the hungry being filled while the rich are sent away empty. Is it any wonder that this powerful indictment is sung by a teenage, unwed, pregnant woman? Nope.