The Gospel-Centered Woman, Part 1 {Book Review}

It seems that I am on a roll with reading books that are geared toward women living Biblically. Well, it’s a roll for me anyway. I don’t read many of ‘those’ kinds of books usually. I won’t say it’s intentional but I won’t deny that it could be. Just because one accepts Christ as their means of redemption and salvation, the ‘work’ doesn’t stop there. There is more growing and learning to do. It’s life long. I’ve just been privileged to have some books come my way to read on the subject.

The latest book that I’ve been reading is actually a review book that will be part of a blog tour later this month with LitFuse. I’m choosing to do this in two parts; the first is here and now, the second will be the blog tour. The book is The Gospel-Centered Woman: Understanding Biblical Womanhood through the Lens of the Gospel by Wendy Alsup. ISBN: 9781451574821

I will start this with the description from the back of the book—what got my attention and why I requested to review this book:

Many Christian books written to women claim to present God’s good instructions for their lives. Some expound on the value of marriage and children. Many extol the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman. A good number teach the value of love, submission, and respect in Christian marriages. Though this book deals with these topics, The Gospel-Centered Woman addresses women from an entirely different perspective. The most important parts of the Bible’s instructions to women center around the gospel. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection brought about a seismic shift in our understanding of Scripture. After His resurrection, His disciples understood words written thousands of years prior with a  clarity no one had previously. The good news of Christ illuminates all other Scripture, including instructions to women.

You are invited to explore with the author what God created women to be as image bearers of Himself and how Christ made a way for us to embrace anew our legacy as daughters of God.

I will go through chapter by chapter, narrating to you what I understand of the passages as well as my thoughts. I won’t cover the entire book in this post. It’s a small book, only 147 pages, but there is a lot to it.

Introduction- Wow, this book isn’t for me after all! That’s what I’m thinking as I read the beginning of the Introduction. The women she speaks of all have ‘issues’. I don’t. Or do I? Mine may be different than these. She talks about those who look like they have it all together but at some point, recent or long past, had dealt with ‘serious trial and struggle’. I missed those words at first. I decided it didn’t matter if this book was ‘for me’ and to read it anyway. She (the author) says there are plenty of books geared toward women from the perspective of being wives and mothers, and all that is entailed in that. In the intro she talks about the fall of man—and woman. But she also points out that “we never want to read of depravity without also holding tightly to God’s good plan to redeem all that was taken by the fall” (p. 4).

I truly was thinking “I have made a mistake choosing this book.” But I was determined to continue through.

Chapter One: God Is Our Help- Alsup starts right away with the point that both man and woman were created in God’s image. She also points out that woman was the ezer (help) to man. The word ezer is also the word for God in other verses—it’s not like woman was created to be “the help” in a negative way. She also points out that many women look to women in the Bible as their role model when it should be Christ we strive to be like. The women of the Bible aren’t necessarily poor role models but Christ is to be the ultimate role model.

In this chapter she makes a point of talking about ‘relationships’ and she supposes that God made woman, not exclusively, or necessarily just for the institution of marriage, but because it is more about relationship and companionship. More about not being alone or lonely. I don’t agree with this. If this were the case, why didn’t God just make two men? I think I understand her line of thinking as a way to lessen the feelings of inadequacy or guilt that those who are not married may feel. But not everyone marries. Paul even advises in the New Testament that it may be better for some to remain single. But we’ve not gotten that far in this book so I’ll wait to see how she handles that.

Chapter Two: The Fall of Man and Woman- Again she points out that we don’t want to talk about the fall without the hope of redemption. In Genesis 3 we are reminded why women have pain in childbirth as well as the desire for the husband and his rule over women. Alsup gives insight into the word ‘desire’—craving, strong longing. It helps some to understand why some women look to men to fulfill their lives (I include myself in that). But it is likened almost to idolatry, this ‘desire’. She talks more of the women that desire the attention and acceptance of men but gives reassurance when she says: “The woman bought by Christ who is set up as God’s honored daughter with full access to the King of Kings has her needs met in Him.” It’s difficult to realize for some women how this can be the case, but it truly is.

Section Two: Redeemed to Reflect God Once More- This is a short, two page introduction to the section. Although man and woman fell from God’s grace, He had a plan. Jesus would be the redemption. She says in this section she will ‘flesh out’ what the gospel is.

Chapter Three: Godliness with Contentment- “Godliness with contentment is great gain…” 1 Timothy 6:6 –Interestingly, Alsup admits that she holds a bias to the word or idea of ‘contentment’ from her “conservative Christian upbringing.” I gather it was taught as a quality women were to have. I personally haven’t thought contentment was pointedly a womanly characteristic in the New Testament but appreciate her viewpoint (and honesty). I think she tackles this chapter as if she is talking to herself at a ‘rebellious’ or overwhelmed point in her life; her ‘replies’ are exasperated or stressed. Since this is a book that is meant to be of help, I gather it is really trying to make a connection with women who feel that contentment is so far off…along with ‘godliness’. Here she gives the Greek word- eusebia. Devotion or piety. It comes from a word meaning duty.

Back to contentment…She talks about “this mess of a life” and how can one be content with that? I can’t relate now in my current frame in mind with the examples of women who may be having a difficult time with contentment. I have been in a place or two when I could have not imagined contentment though so I understand what she is getting at. Contentment is the Greek word autarkeia. Adequate provisions and adequate supplies. Alsup calls that the gospel.

She then goes on to talk more about justification and sanctification. I really like:

“[Presentations of the gospel] focused on the value of Christ’s death for me. But they did not focus on the value of His life…God did more than just bring my account to zero. He also has lavished positively His grace on me…” p. 40

After this Alsup goes through some portions of her life and of her friends’ lives that makes one wonder how they coped, let alone were content! She then sums that up with:

“…If by contentment I mean that I have faith that God has adequately supplied me and them through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection; that He has sufficiently equipped us by lavishing on us a spiritual bank account with great equity to face these struggles head on; that the same power that rose Christ from the dead is now the power supernaturally at work in us, equipping us to deal with these struggles…if that is contentment, I understand why devotion to God [godliness] coupled with that confidence [contentment] is great gain.” p. 45

I also appreciate the last paragraph of the chapter, which I will quote these sentences:

“Godliness with contentment does not mean pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. If the phrase fills you with guilt, you are missing the entire point. The gospel does not obligate you to contentment. It equips you for contentment.” p. 46

Chapter Four: The Gospel Gives Us Sanctuary- In this chapter she goes through- verse by verse –Psalm 73. It is a “vivid contrast between our devastating need and God’s overwhelming provision” (p. 52). Through it all, the Psalmist, who sees the evil apparently flourishing and those who look to God, perishing or being mocked and oppressed. It isn’t until the Psalmists enters “into the sanctuary of God; that I discern their end” (Psalm 73: 17). I recall a point that the Psalmist is not ashamed to be upset, and upset with or at God but, he repents of this feeling. Alsup sums that up with, “God is sovereign, God is wise, and God is compassionate” (p. 57). God is compassionate to those who look to Him. She ends this chapter with the point that we have direct access to God through Christ’s sacrifice. He is our sanctuary as nothing, or no one else, can be.

The rest of the book is organized as follows:

• Chapter 5: Equipped to Forgive and be Forgiven
• Chapter 6: The Gospel Unites Us with Christ
• Section 3: Wisdom in Tension
• Chapter 7: Wisdom Versus Law
• Chapter 8: The Bible is the Best Commentary on Itself
• Chapter 9: Wisdom from Proverbs 31
• Discussion Questions

I will save the rest of the book for the second post. In this book the author has used up to 6 different versions of the Bible. She is mostly consistent with using ESV Bible from Crossway. That’s just an fyi for those who prefer one version over others. Although I don’t necessarily care for the different Bible versions (personally, I think one is sufficient), the Greek and Hebrew definitions that she offers are beneficial. I’ve always enjoyed word study.

Remember how I said that I didn’t think this book was for me? I wouldn’t know that looking at the description on the back cover. It said it would do exactly what it does but doesn’t mention that it has a large focus on the, uh, broken? woman. Or the ones that feel they are broken (or there is ‘something wrong’ with them). Perhaps rephrasing that to ‘the woman who has be made to believe that if she is not the Proverbs 31 woman, she is flawed, or not following Biblical living,’ might be more accurate. It seems to me that the focus is for women who are struggling with finding their place in God’s plan. I don’t mean path, or where God is directing them, but what is expected of them, regardless if they are wives or mothers or not. I’ve always found it easier to find God in times of trouble than times of peace—that’s when I search for Him more. Perhaps that is why this book doesn’t feel like a good fit for me. I do acknowledge that I’m not ‘searching’ as I need to be.

The rest of the book has plenty of references to the women I mentioned in the paragraph above but for a few chapters.

Alsup does indeed focus on the Gospel, with references here and there to the Old Testament. Perhaps one of my favorite chapters was Chapter 8: The Bible is the Best Commentary on Itself; I’ll share more in my next post. I did feel the organization of the book to be a bit chaotic. It flows alright but perhaps could have been rearranged a bit better. Of course I say that but have no suggestions as to how!

The second post will be up around March 26, 2013.