Could Christ Have Been Born a Woman?

By Esther Liu

About a month ago I came across a systematic theology paper (on Christology) that I wrote almost 20 years ago, titled: Could Christ Have Been Born a Woman? I (a young mother then), partly enraged by the injustice and oppression observed in many women’s lives, and partly still hurting from my own somewhat negative experience with church leadership, decided that this topic would be one way to deal with my own internal turmoil. However, I approached the subject from a different perspective: the perspective of “power and leadership”, based on Jesus’ life and ministry. To me, after all, it was never about the “gender” of Jesus, but the human (sinful) view of power and leadership.

Today, I am a much older woman and a pastor/teacher who however, still is very much appalled at the limitations and yokes churches put on the daughters of God, the injustice some female pastors have suffered, and the perpetuating theological teaching/preaching that justified them all. After so many years of hair splitting exegesis, fine scriptural analysis, and in-depth cultural studies about the few “key passages” (which both the traditionalist and feminist held very tight to), we seems to squeeze out Jesus, his incarnational way of life (which singularly redefine of power and authority), and his humility even unto the cross (Phil 2:5-11). We acted and reacted to the issue of women in ministry as if Jesus never came and we never knew him.

JESUS:
1. Was born of a woman (1 Cor. 11:12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God).
2. Redefined what was discipleship for women (Luke 8: 1-3; John 20: 1-18; Acts 1:14)
3. Raised woman to her rightful place: Daughters (Luke 13: 10-17; Luke 8:43-48)
4. Redefined the meaning of family, womanhood and motherhood (Luke 8:19-21; Luke 11: 27-28)
5. Redefined the meaning of “importance/significance” (Mark 10:13-16, Mark 14:1-11)
6. Redefine the meaning of leadership/authority/power (Mark 9: 30-41; 10:35-45)

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) We will do well to heed the warning from the author of Hebrew “we must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

“Could Christ have been born a woman?” Twenty years later, I still don’t think it would have mattered. Traditionalists’ hold on to the un-redeemed view of men and women, therefore, continue to live in the results of sin (Gen 3:14- 20): husband will rule over the wife and the wife’s “desire” will be for the husband (the “desire” is the same word used in Gen. 4:7 and the usage of desire “of ” is to control/rule over). In so many ways, the feminists are just like the traditionalist: it’s just women now rule over men. Neither group is living as redeemed people of God, as men and women reconciled in Christ and as one in Christ, through his broken body and his blood. However, I do believe that there is still hope. After all, together we are people of Hope, trusting in a God of Hope!

As I love the movement of “Call and Response” which cries out against human trafficking, especially concerning the under aged girls (please check their website and participate), please allow me to use their logos “Call and Response” here to encourage you, my readers (both male and female; my brothers and sisters in Christ): today is the day that God is calling all His people to respond to the inequality, the injustice, and limitation occurring in our churches. Will you respond?

Will you commit to study the above scriptures and pray that God speaks to you?

Will you start praying for the leadership of your churches that they will rightly discern the true meaning of power, authority and leadership?

Will you stand with your sisters when they are called and gifted to do what God compels them to do?
Will you be willing to invest your money, energy and time in women in ministry and walk with them as they serve God faithfully?

Will you fight for your sisters everywhere on this earth who struggle against inequality, oppression and injustice?

Will you?