Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot

reviewed by Samantha Lee

Clear, honest, no holds barred – that is the kind of writer Elisabeth Elliot is. This book is a collection of 49 short notes, which Elliot wrote to her daughter in anticipation of her impending wedding. Here, she gives her (very strong) thoughts on the meaning of womanhood.

Much of the book revolves around the identity and special purpose of women, and clearly defines the role of women in society and marriage.

Whilst some of her opinions might be deemed as “old-fashioned” or “archaic” by a few critics (it was written in 1976 after all!), Elliot has provided much insight that is currently lost in our generation. “You marry a man, not a woman. Strange how easy it seems to be for some women to expect their husbands to be women, to act like women, to do what is expected of women. Instead of that they are men, they act like men, they do what is expected of men, and thus they do the unexpected. They surprise their wives by being men and some wives wake up to the awful truth that it was not, in fact, a man that they wanted after all. It was marriage, or some vague idea of marriage…”

How refreshing to read a book for women by a woman who refuses to coddle the weaknesses of her gender! These perspectives are rarely found in the more contemporary books on womanhood, which makes the book a precious gem indeed!

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs

reviewed by Jezreel Pillai

If there is anything one should feel as they read this devotional, it should be discomfort as there is much to be learned about ourselves from the Bad Girls of the Bible. Written humbly (not religiously arrogant) and simply (easily understood) yet with much thought (surprisingly deep), I was left laughing, crying, and ashamed at the many similarities shared with the likes of Rahab, Delilah, Jezebel, and Michal, to name a few. ??Bordering on a novelistic twist with fictional characters for the modern day woman before the ten real biblical characters are expounded, you will find Bible narratives springing to life.

Author Liz Curtis Higgs writes of Jezebel as one who had “a finely tuned mind, boldness and courage, strong leadership abilities, assertive personality and royal lineage,” which describes any woman today who is smart, educated, charismatic, has a colorful career and stable Christian family and yet, by golly, the flaws… they are there too. But God, the creator, alone “understands, forgives, and loves” each one of us so truly that we cannot but be transformed as we render God the worship He deserves – “passionate, personal, and with humble abandon.”

With “What Lessons Can We Learn” which are reflective and challenging points culled from each character and “Good Girl Thoughts Worth Considering” where succinct questions unmask our thoughts, this is a study that will make one consider the motives of the heart – with the sole purpose to refine it

Why Not Women? by Loren Cunningham, David Joel Hamilton, with Janice Rogers

reviewed by Sheryl Han

Thankfully, I faced minimal obstacles in ministry solely based on the fact that I am a Christian woman. However, I know that the freedom, education, and privilege I enjoy is not without the labor of many women before me. This book did a great job in presenting many historical, antagonistic mindsets that befell upon the fairer sex, and I acquired a newfound appreciation of the sacrifices, courage, and resilience those women endured to pave the way for the rest of us to carry out God’s Kingdom work.

For instance, I learned more about the attack against the Gospel workforce when women, who make up two thirds of all Bible believing Christians, were excluded from the work of evangelizing. The enemy attacked men as well, when it appealed to their pride by suggesting that women were not only inferior but vile, subhuman or deformed, as suggested by influential ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. The injustice women suffered were heart wrenching but yet, they were at the forefront of revival movements, and women missionaries often take on the hardest jobs.

Questions of submission, women in public ministry including leadership, praying, and prophesying, as well as God’s absolutes regarding gender were addressed in length, with much reference to historical events and the Bible.

I loved the way the authors described how Jesus’ ministry revolutionized the lives of women, propagating no exclusion, no double standards, and no limits on our God given destiny. In fact, women were in the spotlight in Jesus’ life, birth, death, and resurrection. Read this book to be inspired and encouraged!