In short chapters full of memorable personal stories, Danielle Strickland challenges us to take seriously our reading of the Gospels and the consequences of that reading. Strickland exposes the lie that debates regarding women's positions in the church and in life are academic exercises conducted by theologians with no impact on the day-to-day lives of women and the lie that the debate is even about gender.
Strickland starts with stories of women in subjugation--women who are considered property, or have been told to remain in abusive relationships, or face extensive cultural restrictions. These are women she has met as she serves around the world for the Salvation Amy. She calls us to know each woman as she meets Jesus and by her spiritual gifts-not by a culturally defined category.
After tackling overt cases of oppression of women, Strickland confronts the subtleties of gender inequality in the Western world. Laying open the Bible and inviting all to come, she thoughtfully outlines the positions regarding gender equality and reviews related passages of Scripture. Using her gift as an evangelist along with the guiding of Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience, she makes her case that the more women are empowered to be true equals to men, the closer we bring the Kingdom of God.
