Me Too! ….Are You a Captain Ahab?

Most of us are aware of the history of the degradation of women.  Centuries and millennium of subservient and maligning of women just because you were born a woman.   In some cultures, this is still going on today.  Women are lesser than – treated as second class citizens.

Feminism initially arose for a good cause.  To protect women and give them equal rights as men.  To protect them from being harassed just because they are women and making women feel like they are only worthy of one purpose – sex.  To give them equal status including the right to vote.

Most recently was born the “Me Too” movement to stop sexual harassment and assault and to give women courage to stand up and speak out against powerful men who exploit.

But we need to ask ourselves – “Is all feminism good”?  I would have to answer that with a resounding “NO”!  It’s as if some women don’t know where to stop.  It has morphed into a serious male bashing time and suppression of men where they don’t know what it means to be a man anymore.  Sad!

There are 3 categories of women today regarding this issue –

1. Women who have been exploited and used and abused by men who DO speak out boldly.
2. Women who have been exploited and used and abused by men who do NOT speak out.
3. Women who are simply angry and have found a HAMMER – feminism and all its tools, to hurt another(s).

For all women who have been truly abused by a man or anyone, for you I am sorry and grieve for your hurt and pain.  Please remember, that God can heal anything that is broken.  And He is more than willing to heal you if you come to Him.

But it is the women in category #3 that I want to talk to today.  Women in this category have pretty serious problems.  They want to focus and funnel all the pain from past childhood and the present towards one person – usually a man and punish him.   These women are very sad because they have misplaced anger and rage.

Can or should a person define abuse as – “You hurt me, therefore, you are abusive.” ?

We at this place today.   Not only in the area of feminism but if we don’t like someone’s opinion about abortion, gender-ism, homosexuality, religion, God, etc – you name it – we ALL have strong opinions about EVERYTHING, then we are quick to cry “Abuse”!

Women who fit under this category are narcissistic, which is defined as –

“Extremely self-centered with an exaggerated sense of self importance, marked by a characteristic of excessive admiration of or infatuation with one-self”, (Merriam-Webster.com).

But are narcissists happy people?  Can you ever be happy when “self” is King or I should Queen – in this situation.

No!  Happiness and fulfillment is never found in pursuing “SELF”!

Instead Jesus says that true life comes in giving up our lives – TO HIM in Matthew 16:24-26 –

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Life is found in unexpected places – of giving up our life to God.  While it is NEVER God’s will that anyone be physically or sexually abused, we need to define abuse correctly.  We can’t punish another for the hurt and pain we already have in our life.

Our society says that life is found in following after one’s pursuits, while JESUS says, life is found in HIM!  Getting off the throne of “SELF” and letting Jesus have His way in our hearts.  Some of the most miserable people in our culture are people who are extremely self-absorbed brats!  However there is hope because Jesus is true fulfillment in life, true joy to our souls, true happiness.

Once again Jesus says in John 10:10 –

The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The thief (the devil) is using the hurt and pain of these women and focusing their anger in the wrong direction.

It reminds me of an old story – Moby Dick.  Captain Ahab had lost his arm to the whale and was bent on finding that whale for the purpose of REVENGE – and when he did find him?  Well, here is a quote from the book –

“He piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.  (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/herman_melville_130583)

Are you a Captain Ahab?  Are you so angry that you just seek to hurt someone and it ends up being the people/person closest to you.  If we are not careful, we will be consumed and destroyed by our own hatred, rage, and pursuit of revenge.

Life is never found in this way.  Jesus has the life you long for but it is found by kneeling at the cross and giving up your life to Him.  He holds the keys to true life, happiness and joy.  Forgiveness is the true path of freedom.

Father forgive me for my self-absorption.  I confess to You that I am miserable and have tried to pursue life in all the wrong places.  I come before You and give it all up.  I thank You for Your willingness to give me life after all I have done.  I am so thankful for Your mercy and forgiveness You freely give.  I want You to have rule in my life because I see where my rule takes me.  Lead me to true life.   Be Lord in my life.  Amen.

#metoo  #captainahab  #selfabsorption  #selfcentered  #truelife  #misdirectedanger

#narcissists  #feminism