The Journey Back to Eden: Restoring the Creator's Design for Women and Men

It can be difficult raising Christian daughters today in an environment that can be socially and spiritually toxic. Even the evangelical church can sometimes send negative messages not giving women an equal voice, not inviting them into decision-making circles, and not having many visible leadership roles. As a consequence, some Christian women, especially younger ones, have felt somewhat demeaned and diminished. Yet we don't want them to turn their backs on Christianity or set up unnecessary roadblocks to faith. How can we remain faithful to the truthfulness of Scripture and at the same time affirm the equality of women? This book shows how the real issue between those who hold a complementarian view and an egalitarian view is not with biblical infallibility. The real issue is biblical interpretation. The canon of Scripture is complete but our understanding continues to develop. Therefore this book sets out to accomplish three tasks. 1. A clarifying task: Correct misunderstandings of normative biblical statements on gender. 2. been regarded as normative for all time were in fact applicable only to the unique situations originally addressed. 3. A discerning task: Discern the overall direction the Holy Spirit is taking the church as he unfolds God's will in a progressive way. Just as the biblical teaching on slavery contained seeds pointing to the eventual liberation of slaves, so the biblical teaching on women points us toward the ideal of gender mutuality in every sense, freedom for women to pursue their calling before God. The author graciously acknowledges there may be parts of the world not ready to embrace the truth of women's complete liberation in Christ. So there's room for temporary compromises. Likewise the author acknowledges it is acceptable for a husband and wife to decide to maintain their home and marriage according to the pattern of male priority and leadership. Yet he counsels that the decision should be a mutual one and not a binding one that sees this as the only pattern commanded by Scripture. The book includes the following distinctive as it traces the trajectory of the Spirit through Scripture: 1. interpreting Scripture). 2. It shows an alternative version by using narrative forms with stories and examples along the way. 3. It's written in an accessible way open to the average reader. 4. It adheres to a high evangelical view of Scripture's trustworthiness.