Annotated Bibliography for Gender-Related Books in 2004

In this issue of the journal we profile some of the most significant gender-related books from 2004. Here is a brief reminder about the categories we are using and our intent in using them. Complementarian designates an author who recognizes the full personal equality of the sexes, coupled with an acknowledgment of role distinctions in the home and church. Egalitarian classifies evangelicals who see undifferentiated equality (i.e., they see no scriptural warrant for affirming male headship in the home or the church). Under the Non-Evangelical heading, we have classified important secular works and books that address the subject of biblical gender issues from a religious, albeit, non-evangelical point of view. This category also serves as our classification for liberal scholars wanting to retain some sort of Christian identity. Finally, under the Undeclared heading, we have listed those books that do not give sufficient indication of their fundamental stance for us to classify them more specifically.

Complementarian

Chanski, Mark. Manly Dominion in a Passive-Purple-Four-Ball World. Merrick, NY: Calvary Press, 2004.

Chanski argues that far too many men today are like the four-ball in billiards-passive and knocked around by their environment. By contrast, he contends that biblical manliness is to be marked not by passivity but by the exercise of assertive leadership. In developing this concept of "manly dominion," Chanski's book is marked by its breadth of biblical analysis and application to such significant areas of life as career choice, decision-making, churchmanship, and child raising.

Clarkson, Sally. The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ's Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children. Colorado Springs: Water Brook, 2004.

Given her own experience with the hectic realities of a mother's world, Clarkson knows how quickly even necessary daily tasks can eat up the hours of the day, leaving a mom to feel that, at best, she has only just survived the day. As a result, in The Ministry of Motherhood-a companion to her earlier volume The Mission of Motherhood-Clarkson has mapped out a very intentional plan for mothers to use in strategically weaving the discipleship of their children into all the other facets of a given day. She writes in very congenial manner, employing a variety of personal anecdotes to illustrate her points. In all of this, it is clear that Clarkson desires to use everyday realities as a training ground, in the lives of children, for growing Christian character and building a Christian worldview, much in the fashion that Deuteronomy 6 instructs us.

Dobson, James. Marriage Under Fire. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004.

Dobson has penned an eloquent plea for the defense of the institution of marriage against the current efforts to legalize homosexual "marriage." After tracking some of the political and legal steps that have brought us to the current situation, he addresses the consequences that will result-both for individual families and for society as a whole-if homosexual activists win the day. In the concluding chapter Dobson articulates his concern for the necessity of a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA). Appendices address common questions about "gay marriage," provide suggestions for supporting the FMA, and suggest a list of organizations and resources that will be of benefit to the reader in addressing this issue.

Ennis, Pat and Lisa Tatlock. Designing a Lifestyle That Pleases God. Chicago: Moody, 2004.

In this companion volume to their earlier book Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God (Moody, 2003), Ennis and Tatlock-both professors of Home Economics at The Master's College-use the principles of Titus 2:3-5 to establish biblical priorities for Christian women that will guide them in the building of their homes. The authors combine sound reasoning from Scripture with an abundance of practical wisdom as they cover topics ranging from embracing submission to managing motherhood to cultivating a hostess's heart and dressing with discernment.

Grudem, Wayne. Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth: An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 2004.

This resource is unsurpassed for its value in responding to the key claims of evangelical feminism, and in my judgment that makes it an essential companion of Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (still the definitive statement of the complementarian view). Whereas, RBMW established the major contours of complementarianism, this new volume is noteworthy for the way it focuses in on critiquing the egalitarian view, as well as for the updated scholarship it provides. Herein, Grudem answers over one hundred egalitarian arguments that range from matters of biblical exegesis and theology, to issues of hermeneutical method, to areas of application. In addition to being a wonderful analysis of the issues at hand, Grudem's book exhibits several strengths that commend it to a wide readership. First, while providing an example of first-rate scholarship, EFBT reads very easily, which will endear the volume to pastors and lay leaders as well as scholars. The book also has the advantage of treating each question in a succinct manner. So, if a reader wants an analysis of a particular claim he or she can look it up in the very thorough and well-organized table of contents, go right to topic in question, and read Grudem's analysis of it, usually in a matter of just a few pages.

Heimbach, Daniel R. True Sexual Morality: Recovering Biblical Standards for a Culture in Crisis. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

This book may well be the best one volume treatment of Christian sexual ethics available. It is both thorough as to its range of subject matter and insightful as to its analysis. In section one, Heimbach surveys how our culture came to the point of such sexual chaos. Then he extensively portrays the superior path of biblical sexual morality. Contained herein, is a very nice statement of seven positive principles that distinguish biblical sexual morality. In the third section, he turns to provide an analysis of leading "counterfeit" views of sexual morality. Then, in the last section, Heimbach analyzes where the current trajectory might lead.

Kennedy, D. James, and Jerry Newcombe. What's Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage? Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

Kennedy and Newcombe make the case for resisting the advancing efforts to legalize same-sex "marriage." In their defense of traditional marriage, the authors unmask the real reason that homosexual activists are pushing for same-sex marriage: not a desire to enjoy marriage, but to destroy it and force widespread acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle on everyone else. They present a two pronged strategy for a response: (1) conversion of homosexuals who want to change and (2) an aggressive push for a Federal Marriage Amendment.

Köstenberger, Andreas J., with David W. Jones. God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

This is perhaps the most comprehensive volume on its theme. The authors plumb the depths of scriptural teaching and then apply that teaching to a whole range of issues (e.g., divorce, contraception, singleness, etc.) facing contemporary families. Specific roles for fathers, mothers, and children are clearly conveyed. The book comes complete with a study guide, enhancing its value for use in group discussions. The bibliography of resources for additional study is also extremely valuable.

Lutzer, Erwin W. The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage. Chicago: Moody, 2004.

Lutzer pleads for the church to resist the advancing agenda of same-sex "marriage," while also insisting that the church reach out to the homosexual community with compassion. He opens the book by diagnosing how homosexual activists have been able to exercise such a strategic influence over the culture so as to bring us to the current cultural moment. Then, he shows how the legalization of same-sex marriage will, in effect, destroy the institution of marriage, thereby harming children and undermining the very fabric of society. In all of this, Lutzer displays the pastoral wisdom required to stand unapologetically for the truth of Scripture in the midst of a hostile culture, while also demonstrating great compassion for and outreach to homosexuals-many of whom intuitively sense the wrongness of their behavior or are likely to have had traumatic experiences as children.

Mahaney, C. J. Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

Mahaney's discussion of sexual intimacy in marriage is superb. He correctly recognizes the larger purpose of marriage in pointing to the relationship between Christ and his church. He also understands that passion in the bedroom is not isolated and unrelated to the larger reality of the marriage relationship. Consequently, Mahaney's guiding principle for husbands is to lead their wives lovingly in this area by touching their hearts and minds before touching their bodies. Beginning from this principle, Mahaney proceeds to blend insights from the Song of Solomon with advice and applications from his own observations and experience about how a husband can truly romance his wife in various dimensions of their relationship. All of this, of course, feeds into (and, in turn, benefits from) the unabashed pleasure of intense sexual joy between a husband and wife bonded together by covenant love. In my own estimation, every Christian husband should read this book.

McCulley, Carolyn. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God With a Hope Deferred. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

In this very thoughtful volume, McCulley offers encouragement to single women, by helping them see their singleness through a God-centered lens. Laced throughout with solid Bible exposition (especially framed around Proverbs 31), McCulley does not skirt the real frustrations and struggles of singleness. Instead, treating those issues head-on, she continually points her readers to the grace and wisdom of God. She maintains that growth in godly femininity is a biblical objective no matter what one's marital status may be. McCulley also encourages her readers to make the most of the opportunities for ministry unique to singles.

Moore, Doreen. Good Christians, Good Husbands? Leaving a Legacy in Marriage and Ministry. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2004.

Moore provides a well-researched account of the efforts to balance ministry and marriage by John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards. All of this is undertaken not just as an interesting historical study, even though it would be of interest for that reason alone. Instead, all of Moore's historical analysis builds toward her concluding chapter in which she makes use of her historical observations along with biblical guidance in order to outline an approach to balancing marriage and ministry for contemporary readers. Here, she distills thirteen well-conceived principles that make for one of the most thoughtful and well-rounded approaches to this topic that I have seen.

Patterson, Dorothy Kelley, and Armour Patterson. Parents in Ministry: Training up a Child While Answering the Call. Nashville: Broadman & Holman,2004.

Dorothy and Armour Patterson-wife and son, respectively, of South-western Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson-provide an excellent field-manual for parents faced with the unique challenges of raising children while serving in vocational ministry. Their combined experience as a mother and son trying to conduct minis-try and home life amidst the tumultuous years of the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention, gives the Pattersons an invaluable perspective from which to address this issue. Chapter topics range from the adolescent years, to the importance of affirming the gender distinctives of sons and daughters, to a discussion of Christian virtues.

Pearcey, Nancy. Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004.

This is a book about the importance of the Christian worldview and Christian cultural engagement. Though it is not primarily devoted to a consideration of gender issues, Pearcey's book does devote one fine chapter to that end. As with the other chapters in the book, this particular chapter (entitled "How Women Started the Culture War") is a well-documented and extremely insightful piece of cultural analysis. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, Pearcey deftly analyzes how the public/private dichotomy has infiltrated and reshaped the ordering of home life as well as cultural understandings of manhood and womanhood.

Poythress, Vern S., and Wayne A. Grudem. The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004.

This is an update of the authors' The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God's Words, which was also published by Broadman & Holman in 2000. In the fall of 2002, JBMW devoted its fall issue (vol. 7, no. 2) to responding to the recently released TNIV New Testament and the arguments made by its advocates. The contents of that journal now appear as chapters 1-6 of The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy. These chapters address specific texts and categories of mistakes found in the TNIV New Testament, and they offer a response to key rebuttals from major proponents of the TNIV. The second half of The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy retains all of the material from the previous volume by Poythress and Grudem. Combining these two components in one book allows the authors to present, in one place, the theoretical arguments against gender-neutral Bible translation, along with the focused application of these arguments to the translation practice and policy of the TNIV. For a more detailed outline of the key arguments advanced by Poythress and Grudem in their previous volume, readers may wish to peruse my lengthier review of the earlier edition (see JBMW 6, no. 1 [2001]: 31-34). In any case, it remains my judgment that Poythress and Grudem have provided us with the most thorough and persuasive approach to the hotly debated issue of translating gendered language in Scripture. The material they have compiled in response to the TNIV offers a timely response that sustains and extends the wisdom of their earlier observations.

Stanton, Glenn T., and Bill Maier. Marriage on Trial: The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.

Marriage on Trial is a social-science field-manual for the defense of marriage against the onslaught of the homosexual agenda. The book is arranged in a question and answer format in order to pro-vide sound responses to key questions about same-sex marriage. In the course of critiquing the arguments for same-sex marriage, the authors also build the positive case for the value of traditional monogamous marriage, which they term "natural marriage."

Egalitarian

Johnson, Alan F. 1 Corinthians. IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove: InterVarsity,2004.

For the purposes of the present bibliography, it is enough to comment briefly on Johnson's interpretations of 1 Cor 11:2-16 and 14:33-36. First, it should be noted that he does make some helpful observations. For instance, he does acknowledge the presence of a hierarchical ordering in 1 Corinthians 11, and unlike some egalitarians, he contends for the authenticity of 1 Cor 14:34-35. With respect to 1 Corinthians 11, however, he relativizes the force of his earlier observation by contending that in vv. 11-16 Paul proposes a "new creation" egalitarian model of gender relations that, for all practical purposes, trumps his earlier comments in vv. 2-10.According to Johnson, it seems that Paul wanted to maintain a sense of deference, in matters of dress and decorum, to the cultural patriarchal expectations so as not to attach unnecessary offense to the gospel. And yet, in Johnson's view, Paul was simultaneously laying the groundwork for a new egalitarian model of ministry. With respect to 1 Cor 14:34-35, Johnson advocates an under-standing of this passage that limits the force of Paul's instruction to the isolated circumstance-namely certain wives interrupting the worship service and prophetic ministry by asking questions-of his direct recipients alone. Since spatial limitations preclude a detailed interaction with Johnson's proposals, allow me to point the interested reader to a couple of helpful resources that can give a brief response to interpretations such as these. (1) For a more persuasive reading of the relationship between 1 Cor 11:2-10 and vv. 11-16, see Tom Schreiner's chapter "Head Coverings, Prophecies and the Trinity" in Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, 124-39. (2) Concerning Johnson's specific interpretation of 1 Cor 14:34-35 see Grudem, Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth, 242-47.

Mathews, Alice P., and M. Gay Hubbard. Marriage Made in Eden: A Pre-Modern Perspective for a Post-Christian World. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

In a variety of ways, Mathews and Hubbard contend for an egalitarian framework for marriage. Historically speaking, they suggest that complementarianism was largely a development of the Victorian age that has accommodated itself to the culture. They maintain that complementarian theology is a key indicator of domestic violence. Sociologically, they have conducted several surveys, which indicated to them that those with complementarian views were more likely to rate their marriages negatively. The authors further contend that Scripture unequivocally supports an egalitarian model of marriage-so much so that they see 1 Cor 7:2-5 as the only NT text that "explicitly addresses the question of authority in marriage." For a deft analysis of these and other claims by Mathews and Hubbard, the reader is encouraged to see John Tarwater's thorough review of Marriage Made in Eden in JBMW 9, no. 2 (2004): 42-48.

Pierce, Ronald W., Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, with Gordon D. Fee, eds. Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.

According to the editors, "Discovering Biblical Equality is the first multi-authored volume to comprehensively, systematically and consistently articulate an egalitarian position based on the tenets of biblical teaching" (18). To that end, it serves as the counterpart to the one-volume multi-authored statement of the complementarian vision of gender roles found in Recovering Biblical Man-hood and Womanhood (Crossway, 1991). DBE proceeds in five main sections, successively addressing historical concerns, exegetical treatments of key passages, theological syntheses, hermeneutical issues, and practical applications. Many of the chapter topics herein mirror those found in RBMW, although the conclusions clearly differ. Given the sheer magnitude of the volume, a detailed interaction is not possible in the limited space presently available. (For the needed depth of interaction, the reader is encouraged to see JBMW 10, no. 1 [2005]-an issue completely devoted to responding to the pivotal chapters in DBE.) For the moment then, drawing attention to just two issues will have to suffice. First, it should be noted that, at the outset, the editors (Pierce and Groothuis) of DBE disallow the possibility of finding "middle ground" on the basic issues at stake (17). They are correct in their conclusion; complementarianism and egalitarian-ism are mutually exclusive in their core distinctives. We should all, therefore, feel the obligation of searching the Scriptures diligently to ensure the biblical fidelity of our views. Second, this recognition of fundamental incompatibility on the part of DBE's editors raises questions concerning their appropriation of the term "complementarity." The editors of DBE affirm "complementarity without hierarchy," and they suggest that the term "complementary" may more appropriately speak to areas of agreement between the two opposing evangelical views. In my judgment, however, this clouds the terms of debate. Complementarians, for instance, rightly insist on the complete equality of men and women as creatures made in the image of God. But, they do not as a result attempt to appropriate the term "egalitarian," since this label has long been a self-designation of those who affirm, not only full equality as image bearers, but an undifferentiated equality with respect to roles and relationships in the church and home. Conversely, the term "complementarian" is the long established short-hand designation for the view that simultaneously affirms equality of essence and distinction of roles. As such, it does not make for accurate representation to claim the complementarian label, while voiding the term of its established distinctives. This observation is especially important, when there is agreement over the mutually exclusive nature of the fundamental claims of the two views.

Non-Evangelical Books

Venker, Suzanne. 7 Myths of Working Mothers: Why Children and (Most) Careers Just Don't Mix. Dallas: Spence, 2004.

While Venker's case is not made on biblical grounds, her book nevertheless contains some wonderful insights and observations. She does acknowledge differences between the genders, and as the title of the book suggests, she clearly rejects the "have it all" mentality that modern feminism has foisted on so many women today. Simply put, her main thesis is that mothering is an enormously valuable full-time job, not a responsibility on the side. Linked to this thesis, Venker discusses topics ranging from family economics to day care.

Wilcox, W. Bradford. Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004.

Wilcox presents a very interesting sociological analysis of Christianity's effects on the strength of men's attachment to their families. What emerges from his study-surprising as it may be to some secularist misconceptions-is that evangelical Protestant men, whom Wilcox terms "soft patriarchs," appear to be more dedicated to and involved with their families than either their secular or mainline Protestant peers. Indeed, Wilcox finds this group of committed evangelicals to be more affectionate with their families and to have lower rates of domestic violence than any other group. Wilcox suggests that this is an initially surprising finding given the history of evangelical support for "gender-role traditionalism." From his point of view, however, the drawbacks to affirming gender role distinctions are offset by three prominent factors: theological conservatism, familism, and church attendance.

Undeclared Books

Blankenhorn, David, Don Browning, and Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen, eds. Does Christianity Teach Male Head-ship? The Equal-Regard Marriage and its Critics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.

This book is classified as "undeclared" because of the diversity of view-points contained herein. Contributors to the book range from non-evangelical to Roman Catholic to evangelical egalitarian to complementarian. In its layout, Part I of the book is given to making the case for what proponents term "equal-regard" marriage. With varying shades of emphasis depending on the particular author and chapter aim, this is a model of marriage that embraces the egalitarian rejection of male headship. Part II provides criticisms of the "equal-regard" marriage from a variety of perspectives, including a fine essay defending a traditional complementarian point of view by Robert Godfrey.

Dewey, David. A User's Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.

Dewey examines a host of issues pertaining to the philosophy of translation, and he also surveys the history of English Bible translations all the way up through the twenty-first century phenomenon of internet Bibles. He favors a translation policy that incorporates inclusive gender-language. With respect to masculine generics, for example, Dewey believes that the broader culture is either incapable of understanding such passages or that the culture will take great offense at them. (With respect to these concerns, I refer the reader to The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy by Vern Poythress and Wayne Grudem. See the review above.)

Thomas, Gary L. Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Much as his earlier volume (Sacred Marriage) did with respect to marriage, Thomas's newest book focuses on the spiritual formation that comes to parents as a result of raising children. To that end, he suggests that parenting is not, first and foremost, about raising successful well-adjusted kids. On the contrary, he maintains that the parent-child relation-ship is an instrument, in the hands of God, designed to make us more holy as parents, even as we try to impact our children with the beauty of the gospel. Peppered with anecdotes, personal illustrations, accounts from church history, and biblical analysis, this book brings a healthy perspective and needed reminder to the issue at hand. (In the interest of full disclosure, the reasons for classifying Thomas's volume as "undeclared" should be noted. As helpful as I have generally found Thomas's writings to be, I have come across a few passages in my reading of his publications that, so far as I can tell, reflect conflicting intuitions on his part concerning the notion of male headship.)

Thompson, Chad W. Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2004.

Thompson, who himself has come out of the gay lifestyle, pens a thoughtful volume aimed at helping conservative Christians reach out in love to homosexuals without condoning homosexuality. While he honestly depicts his own story and addresses controversial issues such as the causes of homosexuality and the possibility for change, he is keenly concerned to address the church's short-comings in actually reaching out to the gay community. He suggests that the confrontational "turn or burn" approach employed by many street preachers is less than helpful when the recipients do not already have a sense of their own sinfulness. By way of contrast, Thompson suggests that something akin to Paul's approach in Acts 17 may be a fruitful evangelistic model in attempting to reach homosexuals with the gospel and the hope of change.