After yesterdays rant, what then is equality? How are we equal? For it is not outcomes. It is not. I would suggest it is moral agency. For we will all be accountable for our actions. And repentence is never easy, nor is confessing that Jesus is the one sent by the ALmighty.

Firstly, repentence, Sara Winter has left Femen. She has written books talking about how she was pressured into sex outside of her nature — by women. She has written of worse things happening. And she deserves our prayers, for those of the lie will truly hate her.

Sara Fernanda Giromini first made herself known to Brazil and to the world under the alias “Sara Winter” in 2012, when she became the founding member of Femen Brazil, and led a trio of girls in a number of topless protests that garnered much media attention. However, only three years later, the young activist has done an about-face and has declared war on feminism and abortion, and is apologizing to Christians for her offensive behavior. She has also published a short book detailing the abuse and disappointment she suffered at the hands of fellow feminists.

Giromini’s changing attitudes were first revealed in October of this year, when she expressed her repentance for an abortion that took the life of her first child, and acknowledged that the recent birth of her second child had changed her attitudes regarding the right to life.

“I have repented of having had an abortion and today I ask for forgiveness,” wrote Giromini. “Yesterday marked one month after the birth of my baby and my life has taken on a new meaning. I’m writing this while he sleeps serenely on my lap. It is the greatest sensation in the world.”

“Please, women who are desperate to abort, think carefully about it. I was very sorry I did it. I don’t want the same for you,” she added.

Martha is the contrast. She is grieving. The death of her brother Lazarus removes the economic foundation for her family: women were vulnerable in that time, and neither Mary or Martha had married, and as such would be seen as second-class women within Jewry. And while she Grieved, she confessed Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

(John 11:17-27 ESV)

Both of these women are showing moral agency. They are acting for good, knowing the consequences. They are adults, they are accountable. And if there is an equality in accountability, both also point to another accountability: we all need Christ.

It can take a long time to change (let me be honest, it takes me a long time to change). There are roles to play after conversion. Some very important ones. A friend spent time in some very dark places. He has witnessed to those going through such things that there is hope. It isn’t easy, it will take effort, and there will be scars, but there is another way. One that leads to the Lord.

I welcome this sister back. Let us celebrate! But I will keep praying for her and others like her. The journey did not end, it has just begun. We are all pilgrims here. Those of us who did not walk on that side so deeply should remember that the Pharisees also thought they were protected. We all have sinned, we all need to repent, we all need forgiveness.

Let’s us all strive to finish the races, holding on to the One who has paid our debt and offered us salvation.

Amen.

We are all equal in our moral agency.

We are all equal in our need for Christ.

And we are all equal in our need to repent.