Cummings, Christianity and women

As familiarity with Bill Cummings’ column sets in, a watchful eye can begin detecting patterns. One of his oft repeated moves is implying that historical Christianity is anti-women. History, however, shows that with Christianity’s geographical spread came also an elevated status of women in society. Promoting, not oppressing, is the recurring theme regarding women with the gospel’s influence on a culture. Just as Cummings, made in his creator’s image, has inherent dignity equal to my own – so too are women created in that same image and possess an inherent value equal to men.

Matthew gives a vantage point (Mark as well) of a significant event when Jesus, while outside of Israel, encounters a woman. Her daughter is in desperate need of help, and this lowly Syrophoenician gentile cries out for mercy. His disciples, at times slow to learn, desire for their teacher to dismiss her (Matt. 15:23). Seeing this woman’s informed faith (15:22), he leads her along by responding to the plea – “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (15:26). Far from a prideful heart receiving an insult, this woman understood the historical and theological relationship her Jewish Lord spoke of. And she passed the test, putting even his disciples to shame – “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (15:27). In contrast to this woman’s belief system, one will find no place for a humble heart crying out for mercy in Cummings’ published “Christian credo” (July 2).

Though Cummings would dodge this, there exists a distinct Christian ethic. His autobiography, “The Checkered Church: A World of Conflicts, Confusion, and Controversies,” reveals in many ways the result of his anti-Christian value system of both past and present.

Chapter 14 is no exception. In 1963, 32-year-old Father Cummings was struggling to gain the interest of his classroom full of male college students. The philosophy of Matthew’s gospel was the topic. His idea was to have his students compare different philosophies. Father Cummings enlisted the help of a local female stripper by sending his students to her for an interview. He openly makes known his attitude surrounding this in the context of this chapter.

Additionally, he turned to Hugh Hefner. Cummings states, “(Hefner) had just begun publishing the ‘Playboy Philosophy’ in each edition of his magazine” (117). Father Cummings followed through. “They perked up wildly when I walked down the aisles holding the recent Playboy centerfold in front of me” (117). Father Cummings thereby aided these men to further their self-serving practice of reducing some women to the status of mere sexual objects for visual consumption and gratification. Would the centerfold lady’s father have appreciated Father Cummings’ actions?

In the real world, actions and beliefs are inseparably linked. In Cummings’ fantasy world, he remains a Christian even to this day because he can redefine anything he desires. Nonetheless, where the rubber really meets the road, is not that scripture contradicts itself, but rather, scripture contradicts him. The result is a suppression of the truth (Rom. 1:18-20).

This story was originally published July 21, 2017 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Cummings, Christianity and women."