Return To The Garden {Book Review and Giveaway}

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My Thoughts

I am going to be completely honest here, I wanted to love this book. When I saw the title my head had a different thinking of what it would be like. Parts of the book made me sad for Rebecca and my heart truly hurt for the pain and suffering she went through. However, my understanding and beliefs from the teachings of the Bible are different from hers. At first, I will admit I wanted to just throw the book down, all I thought was “Oh here we go another feminist power book bashing the teachings of God”. But after setting the book down for a couple days, I did proceed to read it.

I will be clear that my views differ greatly from Rebecca’s, her interpretation of God’s intent for women before the fall does not only align with mine but I don’t see the Biblical support for this. Genesis 2:20-24 is the passage that talks about the creation of Eve, the first woman. Rebecca takes an almost negative approach to the word “helper” whereas I don’t see it that way. I am my husbands helper, there are things that he does that I can not and vice versa, together we are one. This is what the Bible says in Genesis 20:24, that man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh (NASB). This is what my husband and I are, we are one.

I do agree with Rebecca in that your relationship should have a firm foundation in God. Without this foundation, the relationship is on shaky ground. I do not think women are unequal to men. I do believe women and men are loved equally by God. However, I do believe He calls us to different roles and I don’t see this as a negative. There are examples of the roles God has set forth for men and women throughout the Bible. And to say that the fall at the Garden set us up for inequality is far-fetched in my opinion. There are several strong females in the Bible after Eve. Unfortunately, in present-day people have latched onto the verse Ephesians 5:22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (ESV) Yet there is a failure to continue the reading to verse 25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”. (ESV)

I do applaud Rebecca for bringing to light her story and the pain of emotional abuse. I think people tend to ignore emotional abuse because it doesn’t leave outward marks. But I do not see this as a Christian self-help book but more as a story of one’s life and breaking free from the chains of abuse. God does not condone abuse of any kind. If you are unsure you are experiencing abuse this book might help you recognize some behaviors and signs. If anything this book got me to do more studying of the Bible and build the foundation of my beliefs stronger.