Women Need Theology, Too

Writing a blog has given me countless opportunities to encounter the varying beliefs women across the country hold. These women come from diverse backgrounds and demographics, but one thing unites a great deal of them. They frighten me! The emails and blog comments I receive illuminate more than poor grammar and spelling. A lot of these women are spiritually shallow. Sometimes I am blown away by the biblical wisdom I read, but many of the women I hear from demonstrate poor discipleship, biblical illiteracy, and progressive beliefs more often than I care to see. I can’t stress this enough. Women need theology, too.

What Is Theology?

Theology is one of those words that Christians toss around and assume everyone understands. Depending on who is speaking, though, theology can be in reference to very different things between one person and another.

A quick search of theology online and one may find assertions of three, four, or six types of theology. With a little more digging, I’m sure more opinions on the matter would be discovered. However, six seemed prevalent enough that I will share them with you here. They are, in no particular order, exegetical theology, systematic theology, biblical theology, philosophical theology, historical theology, and practical theology. I won’t dive into those today, but I will say that I am not trying to be that deep when I say “theology.”

I mean theology by its most basic definition. When I tell you that women need theology, I am saying that women need to personally study God through his Word. Pretty simplistic, right? God has revealed Himself through the Bible. His character, commands, and promises are not a secret. There is no mystery waiting to be revealed by a particularly motivated charlatan teacher. All we need to do, ladies, is read and study the Bible.

However, doesn’t it seem like men focus on theological matters while women tend to discuss and discuss again topics we have deemed “appropriate” for women?

No Women Need Theology Like This

“But, Julie, the women I know study God. In fact, some of these women know more than their husbands.” That may be true. As I said earlier, some women are incredibly wise and know their stuff when it comes to the Bible. I’m blessed to personally know several of these women. I just don’t think, from real life experience and internet interactions, that it is common for women to pursue theology.

Allow me to share beliefs/statements I have encountered that give me pause. I won’t offer any commentary on them. Suffice it to say, the statements I’m about to share indicate very little or poor study of God’s Word.

– Christians can speak their desires into existence.

– God just wants us to be happy.

– My pastor can heal your cancer if you have enough faith.

– Not everything in the Bible is true.

– God shares new revelation with me.

– All “Christians” can yoke together.

– Marrying an unbeliever will not affect my children.

– There can be more than one truth.

– We can’t judge. Full stop.

– Don’t be so critical of that pastor/author/teacher. (S)he has helped me and/or makes me feel good.

– Christianity needs to change with the times for CRT, feminism, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Maybe you agree with some of what I have listed, but I hope not. Can we agree that those beliefs are at a minimum – suspect?

So, where are women getting these ideas? What’s with all this bad theology? What are they studying?

Why Do So Many Women Embrace Bad Theology?

Are we just dumb, ladies? I mean, how else could we be so easily pulled into false doctrinal beliefs and become so protective of bad Bible teachers? Well, simmer down because I don’t think this has to do with our intelligence. Like most things, the answer is more nuanced with several variables.

There are six common factors in our lives that I believe lead women to neglect personally studying God and, instead, adopt someone else’s bad theology as their own.

1. Laziness

Some of us are lazy. The end. We don’t want to seek God diligently in our lives. We don’t want to devote time we could use to be watching something or scrolling on the phone in order to dust off our Bibles and hear from the Lord. It’s too hard.

I might sound harsh, but I mean it when I say regular time studying the Word is hard. Life is filled with distractions, and many of them are actually good things. But good things still pale in comparison to the best things. For example, time spent in prayer and in the Bible is a “best” thing while a workout is a “good” thing. If we manage our time better, then we can prioritize God first and then fit in a workout rather than the other way around.

Our laziness also comes through when we could check the source (aka: the Bible) but opt not to. No matter how gifted and spirit-led your pastor is, you ought to compare what he says to the Bible. We can’t just assume anyone who teaches and preaches is correct. We need to use our own discernment when we choose in which church we will participate and whether or not a teaching aligns with Scripture.

You won’t know God or please Him unless you seek Him out yourself (Hebrews 11:6).

2. Spiritual Immaturity

A spiritually mature woman will want to know God and understand that the Bible will provide that information, but a spiritually immature woman will seek God’s truth in sources aside from the Bible. She will cling onto charismatic speakers who say things that sound “spiritual” or tickle her ears. This reminds me of Ephesians.

“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (emphasis mine)

Ephesians 4:13-14 (ESV)

When we lack spiritual maturity and choose to seek Christ from untrustworthy sources outside of the Bible, then we get pulled into bad theology. We begin to identify with and know a false Jesus rather than the God of the Bible.

3. Publishers Market Garbage To Women

Have you been to a Christian bookstore or checked out a Christian Book Distributors catalog? The people in charge appear to put any book on their shelves so long as they think someone may make a purchase. Don’t, not for a second, think that the books inside a Christian bookstore are doctrinally sound just because they are sold at a Christian bookstore. Women do this, though, all the time. So, what are these bookstores trying to sell you?

Christian book publishers are directing their marketing campaign directly at women in very effective ways. First, they ensure the books are pretty. Why would a woman buy a Bible that isn’t bright pink or covered in a floral design? When looking for a book, some books look like they are meant for you because they are brighter with a feminine font, flowers, pinks and purples, and the topic is geared to women (i.e., motherhood, being a wife, etc.).

Second, the topics women are “allowed” to cover in Christian reading and Bible studies are limited according to most marketing campaigns. Women have an abundance of studies available on Ruth, Esther, “women in the Bible”, motherhood, marriage, and homemaking. I like these topics, but it’s patronizing to peruse the books marketed to women and then see what men have. Men’s books are meaty and filled with deep dives into God’s Word. We’re just told the importance of serving meat at dinner…

Even Bibles are being marketed differently. For example, study Bibles are a great tool to have in your home, but there’s a whole market for women’s study Bibles. I don’t want notes about “female topics” in a study Bible! I want intellectual and theological commentary. We deserve and need a deeper understanding of Jesus, not more discussion about Mary and Martha.

Third, books being marketed to women are often self-help focused, thus, we are encouraged to work on self-improvement. I wonder if we would “improve” if we spent more time understanding God rather than ourselves.

Fourth, New Age and Eastern religions have made their way into women’s books and resources. Whether it’s contemplative prayer or vision boards, books marketed to women are moving into other religious traditions, altogether.

Women Need Theology, But They Don’t Buy It

So, marketing departments in the publishing world are evil? No. Publishers need to make money, so they market in a way that will sell the most books, and they only put out books they believe will encourage readers to pull out their wallets. These books are so prominent because women buy them.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) puts out lists of the bestsellers in the Christian publishing world every year. So, I took a look at the 2022 list of overall best sellers. This list excludes the Bible and children’s books. Also, it is not specific to books marketed at any particular audience. The top eight books are as follows:

1. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This books isn’t bad, but it comes off as pop psychology with the gospel tucked in at the end to keep the conservatives like me happy. Moreover, a pamphlet would have been sufficient for the amount of information it offers.

2. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Young writes in first person as if she is Jesus, yet Jesus speaks like He is a middle-aged woman… She also created this, and her subsequent books, from occultic roots. You can read more about that HERE.

3. Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

This is just more of the same from Young.

4. Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen

Allen is an author, podcaster, speaker, and founder of IF:Gathering. She, despite seeming like a really nice woman, is problematic. For starters, IF:Gathering is based on the question “If God is real, then what?” If? Am I the only one who thinks that’s a troubling question for a Christian leader to ask?  

Next, she’s a proponent of the Enneagram which demonstrates a lack of discernment at the very least.

Finally, she yokes with false teachers and female “pastors” on her podcast and speaking engagements. Some examples are Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Christine Cain, Lysa TerKeurst, and Jen Hatmaker.

For more information on Jennie Allen, you can read this post by Michelle Lesley.

5. Find Your People by Jennie Allen

This book and the previous are just self-help books with some Bible verses slapped on.

6. The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn

I’m unfamiliar with this book, but research revealed that it’s end times fiction meant to be a warning to Americans. Many people who read his books believe him to be a modern-day prophet.

7. Total Money Makeover – Classic Edition by Dave Ramsey

I’m not a fan of Ramsey, but Christians love this guy.

8. Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

TerKeurst’s pastor is Steven Furtick from Elevation Church. He is deep in Word of Faith and allows women to preach. One such woman is TerKeurst. So, between her support of her false teaching pastor, membership at a Word of Faith church, and willingness to preach to men…I’m done with Lysa.

Bestseller Takeaways

Six of the top eight bestselling books in 2022 are obviously geared more to females. Also, all eight of the books lack spiritual depth, push self-help with a Christian veneer, are written by people with bad theology, lean heavily on practicality, or are some combination of these elements.

Why are they the bestsellers? Because we’re buying them, ladies, and we’re apparently doing so in droves. We don’t demand solid biblical teaching. Rather, we continue to clamor for teachings that are shallow, self-focused, and written by people who are undiscerning, or worse, false teachers.

4. An Over-Reliance On Books

That ECPA bestseller list indicated women are the primary audience for Christian books. I personally see no problem with that. I love to read and always have a book I’m trying to work through. The potential problem reveals itself when we rely too heavily on books for our knowledge of God.

High book sales don’t mean women rely too much on books to learn about God, but those sales make sense after spending some time on social media. For instance, women on Facebook groups I belong to are asking on a daily basis for advice about a myriad of topics. They are struggling with marriage, parenting, prayer, etc. In addition, they come to Facebook in search of help with issues their children are having with school, friends, and a rejection of the Christian faith. The advice these women get sounds a lot like this:

“You need to read (popular book). It has great information.”

“Give your son (popular book) to read. My son read it when he was struggling with friends, too.”

“Read (popular book) with her. It will help her understand Jesus in a whole new way!”

The suggestions almost never point to the Bible or suggest seeking out counsel from a pastor or other godly person. No book can replace the wisdom and truth held in the Word. Read books, sure. But we can’t study God without the Bible. What is Jennie Allen going to tell you that tops what God has to say?

5. Placing Programs And Pastors Over The Bible And The Local Church

Again, from personal experience and testimony from other women in ministry, Christian ladies seem to seek out programs, pastors (i.e., personalities), and experiences over God’s Word. Women need theology, yet they seek out opinions, popular speakers, and experiences to form their knowledge of God. That is not where solid biblical theology comes from, and it almost guarantees you won’t really be learning who God is and understanding Him.

Are programs bad? Not necessarily. Is having a favorite pastor a bad move? No. But don’t mistake those things for the study of God.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. A Love Of The World

If a woman were to study the Bible and get to know God, then she would see He hates sin. She would realize her fleshly desires, self-interest, and comfort are at odds with being obedient to the Lord. Who wants to think about that?

We are drawn to the deceptions and allure of the world, and a lot of Christians choose to stay in the dark concerning God’s will and commands on certain issues. If I don’t know what God says about the things I want to do or have, then I can allow myself to carry on as I choose.

Some women need theology but actively avoid it to stay in guilt-free fellowship with the world.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

James 4:4

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

1 John 2:15

Does Our Theology Matter?

So, any theology is good, then? Women need theology, but it won’t matter what that looks like?

There is bad and good theology. Now, this is where lots of arguments will come up between Christians. Who’s to say what good and bad theology looks like? Well, I can answer that. Good theology is rooted in the Word of God. If your study of God is based on extrabiblical resources, you’re doing it wrong.

Moreover, your theology will lead directly to your beliefs and understanding of doctrine. Let’s say I start using Brandon Robertson as a primary source of my understanding of God. I would walk away believing homosexuality is not a sin when God is clear on that subject in the Old and New Testaments. What went wrong in that example? I took a man’s poor understanding of the Bible and applied it to my understanding of God. I should have turned to the Scriptures instead.

There are more reasons, though, than having sound doctrine to pursue theology.

5 Reasons Women Need Theology (The Good Kind)

1. Good Theology Protects Us From False Teachers

We will know false teaching when we hear it if we know the true teaching inside the Bible. Understanding who God is helps us recognize the imposter versions.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

1 John 4:1

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Matthew 7:15

2. Good Theology Deepens Our Relationship With God

The more we study God, the more we know Him. And, I hope, that deeper knowledge will lead us to love Him more and to more readily obey Him.

Think about your husband. Maybe that relationship started as a crush. He was cute and good at sports (or whatever impresses you…). Is that where the relationship plateaued? Of course not! You two spoke often, spent time together, shared stories, and genuinely sought out information about each other. Over time, this investment paid off with a deep, intimate connection.

The same is true with God. We can have a deep and meaningful relationship with our Lord, but we have to take the time to know Him and study His Word.

3. Good Theology Helps Us Disciple Our Children

Moms, you spend a lot of time teaching and leading your children, even if you don’t homeschool. As parents, our main responsibility (aside from caring for immediate physical needs) is to disciple our children. We want to help them grow in their understanding of the Lord and walk with Him as His son or daughter.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

We can’t teach our children what we don’t know. If we don’t know God well because we have neglected theology, then how in the world will our children know Him?

4. Good Theology Allows Us To Serve Others Better

The better I understand God, the closer I am to Him.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18 (ESV)

When I am in close fellowship with the Lord, I am more responsive and willing to obey His promptings in my life. He makes us sensitive to the needs of those around us, and we are able to share the hope and wisdom available through Him alone when we know Him. How can I counsel or comfort someone with the hope of the Lord if I don’t know His promises, character, and deep love for His children?

5. We Are Ultimately Responsible For Ourselves.

You guys, we can’t blame other people when we don’t understand God. I can’t say it is Joel Osteen’s fault that my theology is bad because his teaching is unbiblical. Oh yes, men like him will answer to God for their false teachings, but I am responsible for where I seek out the truth about God. (Spoiler: That won’t be in a Joel Osteen sermon.)

Women need theology because they can’t rely on others to tell them who God is and what they should believe. We need to search the Bible themselves.

Your faith is your own, and you need to take ownership of it. There is no such thing as passive Christianity.

Final Thought

Women, we don’t need to be Bible scholars, and we can certainly enjoy the things in life that aren’t all that deep. Life isn’t a seminary class, after all. On the other hand, As Christians, we need to grow in our faith and understanding of God. We shouldn’t be satisfied being told what to believe about the Lord. We need to take our Christian faith into our own hands, and women, we need theology to do that.

What do you think? Is theology important or just an intellectual pursuit for some people?

Image courtesy of Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash.