Scot McKnightOne of the arguments of our new book,The Blue Parakeet, is that any church that calls itself biblical must permit women to do now what they did in the New Testament, and that includes prophesying, teaching, praying and founding churches. I was encouraged by the following letter. We want to hear today from those folks who are working at opening ministries to women ... what are you struggling about? what gains are you finding? what strategies are helping? why the resistance to do what the Bible permits women to do?What do you think?
What do you think the Bible has to say about all of this?
Another comfort zone to navigate out of?
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Comments
My apologies if I've just been offensive....
Your comments are as valid here as anyone's!
The Church is designed for eternity, not a democracy but a theocracy and is supposed to be loose enough in structure so as to be beyond any generational, cultural or socio-economic trends or strictures.
Alas, it has people in it and therein lies it's weak point.
When we read Scripture, which was of necessity written within a cultural context, we read it through our own cultural lenses and try to make application in multi-cultural settings . . . . and we're bound to get it wrong!
IF & WHEN we read Scripture through the eyes of the One who created us all to be in His image, gifted by Him for both beauty and service to eachother, when we are fully aware of the grace & love of God, then gender is a non-issue.
It's the old power thing, the structure thing, the hierarchies and religious thing that creates barriers and burdens. People living in real community with faith & mutual respect for what God is doing in each other's lives are free.
Those of you who know me know that I LOVE the CHURCH and will tolerate the limitations humans have polluted it with so as to be an agent of grace and redemption within it. Further comments?
do we regard the literal nature or the cultural context of Scripture to be more important... ie: what Scripture says, vs, what Scripture does not say but we know was common practice. This is a great example where the definitive statements in Scripture do not necessarily line up with the practice or culture of the time..
Such an interesting question - i for one have tended to prioritise my individual sense of gifting over the cultural acceptability - moving to find communities where I can be myself..
Others place priority on being the community they find themselves and simply be as well they can within the confines.