Reading is the Most Dangerous thing I do

To me, reading is not a luxury, it's a necessity. I am constantly reading. I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I grew up, so in college I majored in English, pretty much just so I could read more books. Not surprisingly, I am currently un-employed (well, I do have those three kids to look after...).

However, for many in the developing world, reading is not only not a necessity or a luxury, it's not even an option. Illiteracy affects 25% of adults in the developing world, and not surprisingly, 67% of those are women. Women are chronically under-educated in the majority world. It is a a well-fashioned cycle of gender-roles and poverty that has kept many girls and women trapped under the authority of men for the entirety of their lives. Education costs money, money better spent to educate boys who will ensure the cultural status-quo.

Without education, a woman in a dangerous marriage has no way of supporting herself or her children and so she stays. Without education, a woman has no way of knowing that she has other options than to be married and raise five children with a man that has multiple wives. She has no voice and no skills to aid her outside of the realm of the house. She has nothing to pass along to her daughter other than the life that she knows. However, with an education, with literacy, suddenly a whole world opens up. If a young girl is educated, she may not marry at the age of 17. Instead she may decide to continue to pursue her education. She may become a lawyer, or a nurse. She may run for political office and seek to change her entire culture.She may not NEED a husband, though she will likely choose to have one. If that husband treats her abusively, she knows she has the skills to leave him. She is confident within herself and she will be able to pass this on to both her daughters AND sons.

And suddenly the status-quo begins to change. Like I said, reading is dangerous. It can fill a young impressionable mind with all sorts of dreams and ideas.

I saw this playing out first hand when I visited Sudan last July and August. All of a sudden the young girls of this new generation were going to school! Their mothers, the women we were teaching and praying with, had not and were all illiterate. We were using a picture Bible to convey gospel stories and messages. Can you imagine having a bible with no words?? Could you remember everything simply through pictures?? I know I couldn't. A long-term team that was set-up there was holding adult literacy classes, however, and some of the women were attending. I can not properly relate to you the pride on their faces when they could write their own name. It was transformational to their whole countenances.

Discussing the education of the girls was an interesting topic to chat with the Sudanese men of the village about with as well. I asked one of my friends there, a young man with a daughter about 18 months of age what he thought of it. He related to me that he wanted his Janie (his daughter) to be anything she wanted to be when she grew up - a pilot, a teacher, a doctor, anything. When I asked him how this would affect her marriage and family, he looked uncertain. There are still many questions about these new gender roles for everyone in the developing world to sort out. The good news is, the change has begun.

Even here in the U.S., the bastion of education for all and promotion of women's right's, reading is still dangerous. Most of all, especially in the church, we still hold on to that statas-quo of long ago, those gender roles I see so starkly played out in the developing countries I visit. I think we might call it "traditional roles" and feel good about it, or slap the label of "spheres" or "equal but different" on our attitudes. Sometimes I even hear submission thrown into the mix and then my skin starts to boil and my mind start shouting out things I should start saying RIGHT NOW! Through my, ahem, reading I have come to a few conclusions.

1. Reading books that challenge my faith only makes my faith stronger. My God is able to handle my biggest questions, doubts, and fears about Him, after all, He is a really big God. Not only can I question everything I am taught at church - I should. It makes my faith my own, forces me to dive deeply into scripture to find out what it says for myself. If I don't, then my relationship with Him is a fraud, inauthentic at its core. He can handle my questions, and yours too.

2. Submission is not my highest calling. Nor is being a wife. Nor is being a mother. If you a married woman with children, its not yours either. Being fully entered into a personal relationship with Christ, the product which is loving and serving others as I am filled with the Holy Spirit in order show God's glory as I work to grow the church is my highest calling. This is the work that I am called to. That YOU are called to. I promise you are, its right there in the Bible. Having a family did not change this calling, whether you are a man providing for one or a woman taking care of one; or a woman providing for one and a man taking care of one :).

3. When our focus is inward it can not be outward. Sort of redundant, but it bears saying, only because I see SO MANY mothers focused solely on the raising of children and taking care of the home. It may be your responsibility, but it is not your mission in life. Jesus tells you very clearly what your mission in life is in the gospels. I'm not going to tell you here - go READ it for yourself!


Reading lands me in places I never thought I would be. It takes me out of the boxes of women's, children's, and hospitality ministries and throws me into a world full of men that is hard to navigate. I don't know if they think I belong. But I do. Its right there in the Bible. Like Lydia, the first Christian in Europe who then teaches others, or Deborah, who was not only a wife and mother, but served God as a Judge of Israel, who all of Israel came to for counsel, I know I can serve the church, serve God, wherever He places me.

Here's some recommended reading to get you started on your journey of danger:

Generous Justice by Tim Keller. One of the best books on justice you will read. READ IT NOW!

When Helping Hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor by Fikkert and Corbett. This book will have you re-thinking missions, both short-term and long, and the ways the church reaches the most vulnerable. An eye opener and conversation starter!

Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. You might start off hating this book. If you do, take a moment and ask yourself what you are struggling with, take a deep breath and finish the book. It can shift so many of your perspectives, and you don't have to end up living in a commune.

Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey. Its always good to know that other leaders in the church have struggled with the church at times, with faith, and have come through it all the stronger. Philip Yancey will introduce you to 13 people who influenced his faith throughout the years. When he does, go read books by them, especially

Annie Dilard' Pilgrim at Tinker Creek which will cause you to wonder at the everyday beauty of the world around.

Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. You could read anything by Dr. Moore and be on the right track, but if you are interested in adoption at all - and you should be, since you are adopted in Christ if you are a Christian, then this is the book to read first.

The Lost World of Genesis One by John Walton. This book will give you lots to think about in terms of your view on creation and God. Whether it ultimately changes any of your viewpoints, of course, is up to you.

Finally, if you have the tiniest artisit or creative hair on your body, Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water: reflections on Art and Faith is a must read. Its beautiful, poignant, and quiet.

Don't have time for a whole book? (And really, who does after getting to the end of this massively long blog post?) Here are some articles and websites that will get those thinking juices flowing:

http://rachelheldevans.com/blog

http://biologos.org/

http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/

The Patriarchy movement

Post-Modern Women: What you need to know about us


More in a vegetative state of mind? Start with these docs:

The Lost Boys of Sudan documentary that will give you compassion and knowledge about a set of boys that have gone through so much.

God Grew Tired of Us Another movie about the lost boys of Sudan.


Happy reading everyone! And tell me what you're reading right now - I always need a recommendation! I'm currently reading this.