Nonfiction Review: The Accidental Feminist by Courtney Reissig

Courtney Reissig started life out as what she considered a feminist, but her view point changed when she came to a biblical understanding of men and women. As explained in "The Accidental Feminist,"  that complementarian view sees men and women as equal, but not the same, and compares the role of male leadership in the church to the Israelite tribe specifically selected for the purpose of priesthood.

After Reissig begins with her own story, she gets off to a rough start with a chapter that could use better organization. But then she gets down to business and provides some very good, thought-provoking thoughts. Like Eve, humans tend to question what God has said. God has a purpose for men and women. Women are to be life-givers in hospitality and love. They can serve within the church, leading Bible studies and younger women. Reissig gives multiple examples of what this looks like for both the single and married woman, as well as what godly submission in a godly marriage looks like. She also looks at feminism throughout history to show how it has affected Christian women. Women can work in the home or in the work place. They should not make either of these ultimate, but rather focus on God as ultimate.

The book does get a little preachy at times. As a person who does not have a heart for service, I found the hospitality examples irrelevant and exhausting to just think about. But the one thing that really disappointed me was that Reissig did not address the gay/lesbian issue. There were certain things she covered, like modesty and maintaining a personality while still having a "quiet" spirit, but I still left feeling like there was more practical issues and applications that needed to be addressed. All in all, though, "The Accidental Feminist" is an easy, but thought-provoking read with several great points.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.