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Christ was the best friend Women's Libbers ever had.
Posted October 10, 2008
In reading a recent article about the role of women in church leadership (as defined by the Southern Baptist Convention), I shook my head and ground my teeth as only one raised in a Southern Baptist church can.
Some of the godliest people I've ever known, and know today, are women. If women are being called to lead, perhaps it is because they have a spiritual heritage along the lines of Esther, whose courage saved a nation.
After all, the Apostle Paul's words about women's roles within the New Testament Church have little to do with it's primary mission.
As anyone who has ever been caught up in adultery, or divorce, or drug addiction, or alcoholism, or homosexuality, or pornography, or insert sin here, and left for dead by the local religious community can attest - what saves and delivers is not a clear understanding of the role of women in the local church!
What saves is the message of Christ, crucified!
It does not matter if a woman is a woman.
Esther was a woman. Thank goodness she wasn't a Southern Baptist, or the entire nation of Israel might have perished. (Historically, this is beyond significant. Were it not for Esther, Isreal would have been annihilated. And, no Isreal, no Messiah.)
Meanwhile, the world still needs Christ. In Him, they find what mere religion cannot give, as evidenced by John 8:1-11 where we see a woman, condemned by the establishment, being set free by Christ.
She was an adulterous woman. A home-wrecker. A slut. The religious leaders of the day were hoping to use her sin, and their religion, to trap Christ in a semantic debate.
Christ, of course, wasn't (and still isn't) fooled. He utterly shamed the religious men, turned to the woman, and set her free.
Gloria Steinem, eat your heart out.
The greatest friend of women everywhere was, and still is, Jesus Christ.
In Him, women find a level of freedom mere men do not have the power to give, or take away.
When we get away from His message of freedom, and start worrying about questions of gender, we really, really, really bog down.
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Posted by jenjenn711 (Jenny Harmon) on October 10, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I read that other article. It's surprising (but, really, not THAT surprising) that they would pull the magazines just because of that. I thought the Lifeway stores ministered to ALL Christians, not just certain denominations. Why not let those women help as many people as they can and agree to disagree? I was raised to believe that women should go ahead and lead if they are so moved. We are Presbyterian (USA), and women do everything men do in our church. My husband's family (but not my husband) are Southern Baptist and think only men should lead. I was appalled when I attended my brother-in-law's wedding and his bride pledged, in vows she'd written herself, to be his "helper." I had never heard of such a thing! I've come a long way since then, and since I have several friends who believe this I've learned to respect it. They are sincere about their belief in it and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not for my family.
Posted by RickSpruill (Rick Spruill) on October 11, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We're saying the same thing in different ways. When it comes to the role of women in the Pulpit, I just flat don't care. Esther was a woman. The debate is a red herring and does more harm than good.
When it comes to the role of a woman in marriage - a bride pledging to help her husband isn't the least bit appalling when BOTH parties truly understand the meaning of the pledge.
What is appalling is when men abuse the whole Galations 5:22-24 thing (Wives submit to your husbands) and utterly neglect the whole Galations 5:25-26 thing. (Men, love your wives with the same level of selfless sacrifice the Lord demonstrated for his Church).
I'd submit to you that when a husband sets the tone for the marriage in terms of being selfless, helpful, compassionate, and forgiving, his wife is not the least bit appalled or threatened by the thought of helping him.
Posted by RickSpruill (Rick Spruill) on October 11, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excuse me: It's Ephesians 5:22-24 and 25-26....not Galations!
My bad....
Posted by use_common_decency (Edward C) on October 16, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lifeway. Selling magazines from behind the counter - presumably wrapped in brown paper? *sigh*
In their defense, as a business they can't afford to offend the buyers of inspirationally-scented candles and Test-a-mints.
I'm admittedly of two minds on the issue of women in church leadership. Also raised SoBap, I expect I'd feel uncomfortable in a congregation led by a female pastor.
[At least, I think I would - but as long as I continue to attend a SB church, I expect that I'll never find out.]
On the other hand, I'd never question the call of anyone who feels led to the ministry (at least until their works suggest they may have misjudged that calling). God has always used for his purposes the willing woman, just as he has the willing man.
But, yeah, it's a shame Lifeway feels the need to "protect" it's consumer base from the very notion of a female pastor. Don't want to alarm the flock, I suppose - no telling where we might run off to.