We’re constantly tempted to focus on what women can’t do or how women have struggled. Sometimes, it’s for good reason—throughout history, there are countless instances of society and the church failing to affirm women.

But as I explored the topic of contemporary biblical womanhood for my upcoming book, The Accidental Feminist, I realized something we rarely say outloud, especially as conservative Christians: It’s a good time to be a woman in the church.

More than ever, we see pastors, leaders, publishers, and publications seeking out women’s voices and highlighting women’s contributions. This is a time when we are working together, as women, men, and the church as a whole, to see how all of the Bible is for all of God’s children. As Southern Baptist pastor J.D. Greear recently told his congregation, women “better not limit themselves to Ephesians 5 and Proverbs 31,” as if the rest of the Bible were for men.

He went on to say:

The church needs more Deborahs. We need those godly, strong women to step up and use the gifts God has given them. We need Deborahs in the home, speaking courage into their family’s lives. We need Deborahs in ministry, calling us to give and pray and go and sacrifice. We need Deborahs in society, women who lead with wisdom, courage, and faith.

Of course, the biblical precedent for women’s gifts has always been there, but we haven’t always seen it clearly articulated by church leadership. Even within complementarianism (which I hold to), there remains room for debate over how men and women live as equal in value, worth, and purpose, but different by design.

Now is a unique time for women to embrace our God-given ...

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