Institute on Religion and Democracy Press Release | May 28, 2014
Contact: Jeff Walton office: 202-682-4131, cell: 202-413-5639, e-mail: jwalton@TheIRD.org
“Emotional and physical harm against women is real. But resolution will never be found in hasty preconceived notions and finger pointing at men in the Church.”
-Chelsen Vicari, Director of IRD’s Evangelical Action Program
Washington, DC—On the heels of a killing spree at the University of California, Santa Barbara, that led to the death of four men and two women, the hashtag #YesAllWomen has gained traction. Shortly before his rampage, Elliot Rodger in a video posted on YouTube blamed his rage on the women he felt rejected him.
The #YesAllWomen hashtag has been tweeted over 1.8 million times, mostly by women sharing testimonies of abuse, discrimination and harassment.
IRD Evangelical Action Director Chelsen Vicari commented:
“The cultural outcry that #YesAllWomen represents requires the Church to take notice. As followers of the greatest Healer and Comforter, we must respond with compassion, love and share the hope we ourselves (many women hurt in some form by men) found in Jesus Christ.
“The body of Christ currently is working to support women abused by men, as we should. Yet sadly, another Twitter tag, #YesAllBiblicalWomen, is being co-opted by Religious feminists and liberal Christians to focus once again on presumed gender inequality in the Church.
“Treatment of women is not getting better, even as social stigma surrounding emotional and physical abuse grows. But the reason is not because we are not consumed with gender inequality and feminist ideology.
“Emotional and physical harm against women is real. But resolution will never be found in hasty preconceived notions and finger pointing at men in the Church. Gender inequality is not the crux of this heartbreaking tragedy that led to the death of four men, two women, and wounding of 13 others. The problem is larger than sexism, it is human sinful nature perpetuating the harming of human beings by other human beings.
“Sin lurks in the depths of us all stirring feelings of control, self-gratification, anger, bitterness and hatred. As Christian women, we know that the eradication of sin does not come in the form of feminist slogans nor man-hating retaliation.
“There is only one solution to the problem of sin: Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. Through Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, we are transformed, sanctified and offered aided against future recurrences of sin.
“Remember the words of Romans 7:24-25, which applies to men and women, ‘Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!’”
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