Many Christian woman promote abortion. That’s right. Abortion. They have been aborting some of the brightest intellects and some of the greatest artists, writers, musicians, some of the finest teachers, preachers and pray-ers.

On the other hand, Christian women are excellent consumers. I have found the best hand-wringers in Christian circles. We’re great accusers, get high scores in “circling the wagons” when necessary. I have been sickened by what I call the princess-syndrome. We shield our young girls from exercising their minds in difficult situations (do we expect their prince to spring to their side?).

True, there are times we encourage their intellectual growth–but only to a point. After all, once they’re grown they do they have need for a brain? How difficult is it to exchange recipes, sweet deals, and travel/mission experiences. Serious theology, preaching, and serious talk is frowned upon; if you are serious about prayer and deeper work within — well, those are akin to “extra credit” and not a norm for every able-minded Christian.

Women (and men) tell me they don’t have time for spiritual growth. But they find two hours to watch a feel-good movie that makes us feel-good about mediocrity.

Women, the only thing we are to be baby-like in is in regard to evil (doing evil). I admit I was in denial about the Barbie-like attitude towards life Christian women had. But, once the fog cleared from my brain, I stopped attending women’s conferences and buying women’s books at Christian book stores. Dumbing down a book or sermon might have broad appeal, but is it necessary, or more to the point: is it right to do? A book is insulting when it’s dumbed down to sell to women.

Here is a sample of something for “Christian women” “One of my favorite foods on earth is fresh, hot, homemade apple muffins. I make them occasionally when I have time and enjoy one with a fresh brewed pot of coffee. I take the muffin, the coffee, and the newspaper, and sit on my patio (sometimes with the neighborhood cats) relishing the beginning of a new day. All my senses are pleased. Complete satisfaction. ” – Luci Swindoll, I Married Adventure

If this were merely the beginning of a great book I wouldn’t include it, but it’s not. My point: we do harm to ourselves by publishing, buying and recommending books. What’s the harm? Christian books of this type don’t sharpen my mind, they flatten and dull it. I have a spirit of inquiry, I desire discussion and exchange with the author. Our interests ought to be piqued, not squelched nor distracted.

How does this connect with practical theology? Many Christian women go through the motions of missions, social justice, and fellowship. But, is it missing something? Do we do it with understanding? Have we read, reflected, and grasped our piece in the global setting, historical landscape of time, and the spiritual Body of Christ?

Or, do we roll along, struggling, to be nice, hoping to please our neighbor most of the time now, and God in the end when our “good works” balance out our bad? If so, we don’t understand what it is to be a Christian.

Discipleship is a call to growing up; a fully mature mind can and should think critically (in the positive sense). We’re good at being cheerful or being worried, but we’re not good at thinking about how we think.

I believe in, but also like the weightiness and succinctness of The Apostles Creed–and it ends this way: “I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.”

In our life the Holy Spirit at work now, and our life is in His Kingdom here and now; the church is universal. But, here’s the big question, if you dare ask it: What do you think you will be doing in your resurrected body? Eating fresh, hot muffins on your front porch?

Our Christian calling is for progress: for ourselves, each other and the world. Christ’s redemption in this world does not end in me, no, it begins. Each thing I do, or chose not to do), hidden or open, in private or in public, here and now, counts in eternity.

Women, men, let’s raise the bar for ourselves.

On The Image of God:
“Those things which are said of God and other things are predicated neither univocally nor equivocally, but analogically… Accordingly, since we arrive at the knowledge of God from other things, the reality of the names predicated of God and other things is first in God according to His mode, but the meaning of the name is in Him afterwards. Wherefore He is said to be named from His effects.”
– Thomas Aquinas,Summa contra Gentiles