Conservative Feminism

You've seen a Hijab? Also a Burka? Freeze those in your mind.

We always think of feminism as a progressive thing... but it's not. It's driven by pride and the desire to control, and this is not based on a left/right economic belief model. Conservative women do the same thing.

Rememeber this verse? That's the Greek flushed out. God provides to each of us a portion, and those are our jurisdiction. We are not to seek after anything he has given to our neighbors. If we do that, we break his covenant of ownership. The Jews, when they left Him and saught other gods, were called adulterers... because they broke their covenant and ran to another. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:28 that when we seek to possess a married woman who is not in a covenant with us... we are violating our own marital covanent with him.

So, check out this vixen below:

Are you lusting?

By the English word's definition, you might. (You also might not be!) 

• Men have a tendency to find themselves attracted to women. It's a part of our biological drive.
• Women have it too, but men are much more driven by it and by the visuals. God did that for us.

Now, the Greek word for lust is ἐπιθυμῆσαι:

Similar to the Hebrew word for lust, the Greek word showcases a strong longing to "reach out" and "connect" with the object.

Every time God forbids this action it is in reference to your neighbor.

Why?

Yes, your neighbor is important, but the primary reason is because God wants us to honor Him... by honoring the jurisdiction and gifts he gives to each of us.

Thus Matthew 5:28 is no different. The woman in question is in a covenant with another man, and she be honored as such... just as much as God should be honored.

So, are you lusting?

From a Matthew 5:28 standpoint, it is impossible to lust after this woman, because this isn't a real woman and you don't know her... and you also don't know if she's in a martial relationship.

Now... you may be compounding a habit of licentiousness... which is an intentional rejection of self-control. Let's review that.

Understanding The Human Flesh

So, should men just run around and stare at every woman they can find, masterbate to naked/sexy photos, and go all crazy with enjoying the pleasures of gazing at feminine sensuality without restraint?

No, but that's restrained through restricting licentiousness and tempering our drives:

NOTE: It's important to know the conext of verse 21, because this not saying those who commit these sins are not saved... it is saying those who commit to a lifestyle of unrepentance in any of these is not being lead by the Spirit, and thus has no place in God's Kingdom... because the entire point of His Kingdom is to bring us into confirmity to His nature and the Command of Christ.

The greek word for sensuality in verse 21 is ἀσέλγεια, and it means:

The context of this word is founded around having no self control, which is very easy with all forms of human existance, because God did not give us restrictions on our desires. Without being intentially tempered they destroy us.

Thus, we must learn to temper ourselves and fit without the constructs of his authority and the jurisdictions he gives us:

1. Don't try and steal that God has given to your neighbor.
2. Don't invest in physical pleasures to the point they become your god and you are no longer in control -- meaning you can walk away indefinitely without an issue.

Enter Conservative Feminism

Unfortunately, many Christians handle parts of God's creation through tryrannical oppression because of how dangerous it is in community when missused. Also, many of them have missused it so, they have come to hate feeling sexy.

In English, we mistakenly translated Matthew 5:28 differently, however:

In this context, we are pushing the idea that visually looking on a women to feel an arousal is the same as violating a marital covenant. According to the rest of the Scriptures, this isn't true. When it's done without constraint and a life-style is formed around it, as mentioned above, the Scriptures call it licentiousness.

Demonzing any and all forms of this (not just the ones that fall into licentiousness, gives people a license to an unbiblical perspective on sexuality and sensuality.

Because of this new anti-righteous license, feminists are looking to ensure men behave, and thus begin enforcing the idea that not only should their daugthers be "modestly clothed," but also that their young men should demonize feminine sensuality into an abstract that can only exist inside the marital bedroom.

In a nut shell, this perversion suggests:

• Women should only sensually express themselves inside the martial bedroom.
• Men should honor God and their wives by restricting any and all perceptions of sensual attraction to only their wives.

Violations of this standard result in:

• Women are shamed as slutty and vulgar.
• Men are shamed as fornicators and adulterers.

These ideas are religiously pushed by conservative feminists as a tyrannical way to temper sin and create a moral assembly, however... they rarely work, with most young people exploring their own sexuality in hidden bouts of self-expression.

Well-Intentioned Tyranny: Tempering Our Environment Through Guilt-Modesty

This idea is as old as time: "Cover up that which potentially produces sin and we won't have sin any more."

The problem is, it's a completely false narrative that has no place inside the Scriptures.

• The "Christian woman" on the left can be just as sanderous, backstabing, short-tempered, and rebelious as the one on the right.
• The "Not Christian woman" on the right can be incredibly humble, submissive, compassionate, righteous and a seeker of Jesus... because the heart isn't reflect in showing midrift or your legs.

The only time modesty is used in the NT is in 1 Timothy 2:9.

The greek word for modesty is αἰδώς, and it means "thinking lower of one's self, or shame." In context, it means women should not show off clout or power by wearing clothing that pushes them into a superior class in the community.

However, thanks to conservative feminists, we find ourselves embracing the idea that "more cloth" means "more Christian."

Such an idea has no place in Christian thought because of this:

It's not about how much cloth you are wearing; it's about the intent of your heart.

Feminism doesn't look at the heart of a woman, it looks at how it can control it's environment by subverting men through emotional manipulation -- and telling a man that he should feel bad about being attracted to femininity because of conveying "an apperance of evil." Inviting an unmarried woman to sleep over at your house is one thing, watching baywatch is another.

Feminism, conservative or liberal, is wrong, and it does not produce a righteous assembly: only a false mask.

Trust me, I know, I was married to one.

The More You Cover Does Not Decrease The Wonder

The wonder can be just as wicked as the revealed thought.

Men lust abstracted from the number of layers of clothing. Now, if you strip a girl down to a bikini, the magnitude of lust she receives may be in greater velocity than if she was in a burka.

But, this doesn't mean we ignorantly create a society built around tyranical oppression of men and women's God-given beauty and sensuality. No, instead it is done with humility and compassion, giving deference to the individual and their liberties.

This is godliness: Give the Spirit the opportunity to do His work, convicting of sins, and allowing men and women to learn to control themselves by prioritizing Him first... no through guilt and condemnation.

This brings us to the idea of godly sensuality.

Yes, I said that. He made it, and we all exibit it. If the idea that human sensuality should only exist inside the marital bedroom, then we really have an issue with everyone who hasn't arrived there yet.

Can a single or even married Christian express a godly level of sensuality that may cause some heads to turn?

• She's a woman isn't she?
• God gave her beauty, right?
• Are men are already commanded to not seek her out if she's in a marital covenant?
• Is she okay with receiving potentially unwanted attention?

If the answers to all the above is "yes," then let her express the beauty God gave her in a way that still reflects the safety and protection she does wants to afford herself and in a way that does not violate universal community standards.

The Christian should be the first one to support this.

What About The Burka & Hijab?

These are similar expressions of regulating a man's environment to ensure he does not "stumble" and "lust."

The belief, again, is based on this:

• Women should only express themselves in a way that could be considered sensual inside the martial bedroom.

It's not that this is just "overboard," but instead it's entirely incorrect thinking. This is man's attempt at creating a righteous assembly, and man's way is based on ignorance, pride, and opens doors to other sins and expressions of idolatry.

God's Way Is Aways Best

I'm talking about understanding what needs to be tempored. Both sexuality inside a marriage and sensuality expressed in community both have no restrictions, and thus must be tempered through taking everything captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

God didn't make a mistake. Women are beautiful and they can express that beauty (often seen as sensuality) in godliness. Men can choose to covet that beauty, even if only an ankle is showing, so women should not attempt to regulate themselves beyond making decisions that protect them physically... i.e., wearing a bikini while walking home late at night through a slummy area might not be the best idea if you are trying to avoid getting raped.

Instead of looking at the female or male body as an expression of evil based on assumed intension... we should be looking to:

1. Control our thoughts.
2. Not assume we know what others are intending.
3. Embrace the idea that God created clothing for our physical and emotional protection.
4. Not live in fear of other ambigous people and their potential lusting.
5. Temper ourselves for those we know when we are with them.

Godly Sensuality In And Out Of A Marriage

Does this mean women should not wear lots of clothing that hides their skin? By all means NO! Some women do not feel comfortable showing the body God gave them, and thus should only wear clothing that brings them the security they need to walk a godly life.

However, if a husband chooses to acknowledge the beauty of other women who are more comfortable with showing their feminity, a prideful woman will take it personally and demand he reject that part of himself for her sake -- because she is jealous. This is not godliness. A husband can definitely choose to do that, but that should be between him and God, and not based on supporting the sins of his wife.

We have been given much freedom and liberty in Christ, and the primary goal should be to walk in righteousness. That righteousness may be sporting some daisy dukes to get sun on your legs, or it may be to wear a full length dress to protect yourself from flying bugs that bite.

1. Men: control your thoughts.
2. Women: use your bodies to reflect the beauty God gave you.
3. Both: don't hide from sensuality and...
4. Don't abuse it.

Live in a way that reflects the self-control God has given you and challenges you to, and don't hide in fear or shame. You have been liberated from that in Jesus Christ.

— Micah