Cynthia Hester, DMin

Catalyzing Conversations on Women & the Church

Women in the Bible

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A Daughter’s Worth: Rise, Church. Reclaim Your Daughters’ Worth

My article titled "A Daughter's Worth" was originally published at Fathommag.com in July 2019.

Be a Daniel, not an Esther." With papercut precision, the church elder's words sliced to my core. "Unlike Daniel," he explained, "Esther discredited herself because she hid her faith." The elder's criticism of Esther stung with familiarity.

Indeed, Esther—the young girl ripped from her home and forced into a king's harem—exemplified courageous faith despite a huge power differential. Relying on prayer, Esther used her wits and death-defying actions to save the Israelite nation from impending slaughter.

But, according to this elder, Esther isn't to be imitated.

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“Mom, When Are We Having Family Dinner Night Again?”

I'll never forget when my son Matt stopped me in our kitchen and asked, "Mom, when are we having family dinner night again; we haven't had one in a while?" He and his twenty-months younger brother played basketball on their local high school team, but one attended a Christian school and the other a public school.

With their busy athletic schedules, my son was right. The funny thing is that my husband and I didn't call it "family dinner night," but that is how Matt had understood one of our family values—together time around the table.

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Did God Choose Only “Exceptional” Women as Leaders of Men?

Did God choose only a few “exceptional” women as leaders over men? In the evangelical church, some complementarians believe that the accounts of women leaders in the Bible were a “special case” to the “general rule.” That God only chose a few \"exceptional\" women but predominately favored male leaders. Those who hold this view prescribe male leadership as a “general rule.” They believe the Bible teaches a hierarchical leadership system both in the church and in the home. The Collins Dictionary defines “hierarchical” as a “system or organization in which people have different ranks or positions.” Under this system, men\'s rank is leadership, and the position of women is support to male leadership. Let\'s look at the three arguments supporting the premise, \"God chose women leaders because they were \"exceptional.\"

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What Do Women’s Stories in the Bible Teach about Women Exhorting Men?

White lights twinkled along the wrought iron railing, as the stainless-steel patio heater adjacent to our table released invisible waves of warmth. My two new friends and I enjoyed a leisurely meal, thankful for the opportunity to talk in-person. We are new course creators—each preparing to launch a 2021 online course into cyberspace. After discussing the merits of Flodesk, Kajabi, Canva, and Momentum, Julie sought my advice on her Bible literacy course. She asked, “What do I do if men sign up for my course?”

Read moreWhat Do Women’s Stories in the Bible Teach about Women Exhorting Men?