Review: "Reformation Women"

Reformation Women:  Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth by Rebecca VanDoodewaard is a wonderful introduction to sixteenth-century reformation-minded women in the form of twelve min-biographies of the women and their work.

I was reading this book in the doctor’s office, and my doctor asked me what I was reading.  I told him I was reading a book that argued there were women in the sixteenth century!  The sad truth of sin and culture is that women – until rather recently – have largely been dismissed, neglected, or had their work destroyed.  Women worked alongside of their male counterparts in proclaiming and spreading the Reformation message, as the author shows.

While these women were not ministers, they held all types of positions in society and were well known in their day – which is why we have what little we do of the history and writing of these women.

The book is engaging and enjoyable and concludes with two appendices that include a time line and family tree.  There are also notes that mention other books that may be of interest to the reader.

She concludes her work stating that women (and men, I should think) should understand that we are to be fruitful using the gifts God has given us, no matter what our station in life (109).

And that there are seven things (women) can learn:

1. “A radical change in circumstances did not stop fruitfulness” (109).

2. “These women all had a multifaceted identity” (110).

3. “The Reformation women who were married to godly men knew that biblical headship and submission produce fruit” (111).

4. “These women prove that good leadership is servanthood” (111).

5. “Everyone has gifts, and everyone needs to use them” (112).

6. “God uses individuals’ faithfulness to bring about His kingdom” (112).

7. “Death comes when our work is done, not before or after” (113).

Christian biographies are instructive and encouraging, and I am thankful for those who write them.  May this fine work be an encouragement to all who read it – male or female.

#ReformationWomen

[This review appears on my blog and on Amazon.com.  I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.]