Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The "Worth" and "Rights" of Women
Did I get you with that catchy title? Let me digress for one moment. As Brady termed yesterday, I must feed my “blog cash cow.”
Thanks for the prayers on my son’s behalf. Here are his stats for the last 3 games including last night:
Game 1: 1 for 3
Game 2: 1 for 3 with a walk, double, RBI, and 2 runs scored.
And now (please insert Christmas Vacation drum roll please) last night’s game:
Can we say – 3 for 3! Yes! Steven had another double and 2 singles driving in 3 RBI’s. He was beaned in his last at bat which made for an interesting stare down session before the umpire warned him to “get down the line.” I was staring the pitcher down from the press box but I don’t think he saw me.
Anyway, before Greg (I love you Bro.) asks it I'll go ahead and pose the question to myself: "Would I have been as happy if Steven was still in his slump?" Of course not. Did God hear and answer those of you that prayed for my boy. Yes but as we know, sometimes the answer is a “no” or a long period of silence. I’m just glad we got a “yes” this time. Now to my title:
As I said in an earlier post, I’ve been reading Dr. Sarah Sumner’s book, “Men and Women in the Church.” She makes an interesting point on page (yes, I’m reading this book backwards but I promise to be a good boy Brady and read Yancy’s book the conventional way) 40:
“Most Christians don’t know it but complementarians and egalitarians have something else in common. Both are trying hard to bring reform to the church’s view of women. But they are doing it in two different ways. Whereas complementarians want Christians to believe that women’s worth is equal to men’s, egalitarians want Christians to believe that women’s rights are equal to men’s. Both are revising church tradition.”
I find Dr. Sumner’s point penetrating. We all know if you want to get a good fight started in a church, just mention “women’s role” and your opinion on same. I guess I’m also somewhat intrigued by this issue because of a statement made to me by a dear friend (who is still a dear friend) of mine.
His statement was made in the context of a decision I made concerning an issue that had occurred in our youth group. My good friend wasn’t very happy with me or my decision so he made this statement to me: “You don’t understand because you do not have any daughters.”
BTW – I’m always blown away by people who are suspicious of me or don’t like me. I think I’m a wonderful guy but hey, I’m just lowly middle school teacher. Any way, I digress –
The issue of “women’s role” or what they can or cannot do during worship hasn’t come up that often at our church. Or rather, it hasn’t come up that much to “my knowledge.” My good friend’s statement makes me wonder sometimes if I’m somewhat insulated from the concerns of women due to the fact that I have a son?
There hasn’t been any push for women to serve communion or do anything that is out of the ordinary for a predominately white, southern, Church of Christ. But I do think Dr. Sumner gets at the heart of the matter. When you boil this discussion down to it’s common denominator it does seem to center more around the “rights” or the “worth” of women, Christian women.
Now, here is where I’d like you to comment. In my experience, the trump card that has always been used to say that “our” view of scripture, our church tradition if you will concerning women must not change are the following verses:
I Timothy 2:12-14 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.2:13 For it was Adam who was first created, 21 and then Eve.2:14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.
My blog brothers and sisters, in light of what women can or cannot do in worship or as Dr. Sumner put it, in light of Christian women’s rights and, or worth, how do you deal with these verses?
Thanks for any insights you can gleam my way.
Thanks for the prayers on my son’s behalf. Here are his stats for the last 3 games including last night:
Game 1: 1 for 3
Game 2: 1 for 3 with a walk, double, RBI, and 2 runs scored.
And now (please insert Christmas Vacation drum roll please) last night’s game:
Can we say – 3 for 3! Yes! Steven had another double and 2 singles driving in 3 RBI’s. He was beaned in his last at bat which made for an interesting stare down session before the umpire warned him to “get down the line.” I was staring the pitcher down from the press box but I don’t think he saw me.
Anyway, before Greg (I love you Bro.) asks it I'll go ahead and pose the question to myself: "Would I have been as happy if Steven was still in his slump?" Of course not. Did God hear and answer those of you that prayed for my boy. Yes but as we know, sometimes the answer is a “no” or a long period of silence. I’m just glad we got a “yes” this time. Now to my title:
As I said in an earlier post, I’ve been reading Dr. Sarah Sumner’s book, “Men and Women in the Church.” She makes an interesting point on page (yes, I’m reading this book backwards but I promise to be a good boy Brady and read Yancy’s book the conventional way) 40:
“Most Christians don’t know it but complementarians and egalitarians have something else in common. Both are trying hard to bring reform to the church’s view of women. But they are doing it in two different ways. Whereas complementarians want Christians to believe that women’s worth is equal to men’s, egalitarians want Christians to believe that women’s rights are equal to men’s. Both are revising church tradition.”
I find Dr. Sumner’s point penetrating. We all know if you want to get a good fight started in a church, just mention “women’s role” and your opinion on same. I guess I’m also somewhat intrigued by this issue because of a statement made to me by a dear friend (who is still a dear friend) of mine.
His statement was made in the context of a decision I made concerning an issue that had occurred in our youth group. My good friend wasn’t very happy with me or my decision so he made this statement to me: “You don’t understand because you do not have any daughters.”
BTW – I’m always blown away by people who are suspicious of me or don’t like me. I think I’m a wonderful guy but hey, I’m just lowly middle school teacher. Any way, I digress –
The issue of “women’s role” or what they can or cannot do during worship hasn’t come up that often at our church. Or rather, it hasn’t come up that much to “my knowledge.” My good friend’s statement makes me wonder sometimes if I’m somewhat insulated from the concerns of women due to the fact that I have a son?
There hasn’t been any push for women to serve communion or do anything that is out of the ordinary for a predominately white, southern, Church of Christ. But I do think Dr. Sumner gets at the heart of the matter. When you boil this discussion down to it’s common denominator it does seem to center more around the “rights” or the “worth” of women, Christian women.
Now, here is where I’d like you to comment. In my experience, the trump card that has always been used to say that “our” view of scripture, our church tradition if you will concerning women must not change are the following verses:
I Timothy 2:12-14 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.2:13 For it was Adam who was first created, 21 and then Eve.2:14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.
My blog brothers and sisters, in light of what women can or cannot do in worship or as Dr. Sumner put it, in light of Christian women’s rights and, or worth, how do you deal with these verses?
Thanks for any insights you can gleam my way.
Comments:
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Greg - I hope I didn’t imply that I was offended? I wasn’t. I thought his point was well taken and it caused me to post what I did today.
You are right in the differences of raising boys and girls. Have a good trip and hugs and, you know, back to you as well.
You are right in the differences of raising boys and girls. Have a good trip and hugs and, you know, back to you as well.
Cecil:
Not that I don't want to go out on a limb, I'm just taking a break from deep thinking today. However, I'd like to share a resource with you that might be of value. It is:
http://www.gal328.org/
I would especially recommend that you click on the links button which will take you to published "opinion papers" of numerous churches of Christ that, in the view of the owners of this site, have "made significant progress in the matter of gender justice."
Let me know what you think.
-bill
Not that I don't want to go out on a limb, I'm just taking a break from deep thinking today. However, I'd like to share a resource with you that might be of value. It is:
http://www.gal328.org/
I would especially recommend that you click on the links button which will take you to published "opinion papers" of numerous churches of Christ that, in the view of the owners of this site, have "made significant progress in the matter of gender justice."
Let me know what you think.
-bill
I think we put too much stock in what goes on in the "worship service." You won't find anywhere in the scripture a "worship service" like what we have created through the years.
I think this question and others has everything to do with how we interpret scripture. If you take the view that all of scripture applies to all ages, you really take a stand that, as I have found out, you really can't defend.
We need to get to the heart of this issue and others, but not at the expense of love which is the heart of God. Jesus gave the main two rules. 1. Love God and 2. Love each other. Beyond that, all else is debatable and needs to be entered with the spirit of love.
That's what we've missed in the church of Christ.
I think this question and others has everything to do with how we interpret scripture. If you take the view that all of scripture applies to all ages, you really take a stand that, as I have found out, you really can't defend.
We need to get to the heart of this issue and others, but not at the expense of love which is the heart of God. Jesus gave the main two rules. 1. Love God and 2. Love each other. Beyond that, all else is debatable and needs to be entered with the spirit of love.
That's what we've missed in the church of Christ.
Bill - With the amount of in-depth posts you put out on an almost daily basis, you deserve a break today my Brother. I’ll check out the link and get back to you and by the way, Happy Birthday.
Dee - Great to have you comment for the first time. I've read and been blessed by your comments on my good friend Greg's blog so it is an honor to have you comment on my blog. I was looking for insight such as the one you bring from both your life experiences and Bible Study.
I think one reason I'm interested in this discussion is due to the multiplicity of terrible experiences women such as yourself had at the hands of "Christian" men. In my opinion too much harm has been done by Christian men towards Christian women in the past. These same men professed to have a high view of scripture while at the same time by their actions, appearing to have a very low view of Jesus by some of the evil they perpetrated on women such as you.
Thank you for weighing in Dee and perhaps through honest and open dialog between Christian men and women we can avoid some of the pain of the past.
Keith - Great points. We should filter every position and decision through the filters Jesus himself gave to us.
Dee - Great to have you comment for the first time. I've read and been blessed by your comments on my good friend Greg's blog so it is an honor to have you comment on my blog. I was looking for insight such as the one you bring from both your life experiences and Bible Study.
I think one reason I'm interested in this discussion is due to the multiplicity of terrible experiences women such as yourself had at the hands of "Christian" men. In my opinion too much harm has been done by Christian men towards Christian women in the past. These same men professed to have a high view of scripture while at the same time by their actions, appearing to have a very low view of Jesus by some of the evil they perpetrated on women such as you.
Thank you for weighing in Dee and perhaps through honest and open dialog between Christian men and women we can avoid some of the pain of the past.
Keith - Great points. We should filter every position and decision through the filters Jesus himself gave to us.
Being a "youngin" I don't think have enough experience or biblical understanding to say much, but I definitely agreed with you, Keith, that we're probably overemphasizing the "worship service" as it exists today when it comes to these matters.
I've heard it preached that perhaps the focus should be on authority. All members of a congregation, male or female, are under the authority of the shepherds, and everyone (including the shepherds) are together under the authority of Christ, who is himself under the authority of God. Then perhaps the issue is not so much what a woman can and cannot do, but rather whether or not the woman (or man!) is doing whatever under the authority of the elders and of Christ.
Finally, in my own opinion, which I readily admit could be wrong, I don't see Paul forbidding a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered when she's in the privacy of her own home or at a ladies retreat. I also notice that the issue there is not whether she's allowed to pray or prophesy in a gathering at all; that part's assumed.
I've heard it preached that perhaps the focus should be on authority. All members of a congregation, male or female, are under the authority of the shepherds, and everyone (including the shepherds) are together under the authority of Christ, who is himself under the authority of God. Then perhaps the issue is not so much what a woman can and cannot do, but rather whether or not the woman (or man!) is doing whatever under the authority of the elders and of Christ.
Finally, in my own opinion, which I readily admit could be wrong, I don't see Paul forbidding a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered when she's in the privacy of her own home or at a ladies retreat. I also notice that the issue there is not whether she's allowed to pray or prophesy in a gathering at all; that part's assumed.
Cecil, somehow this is touching my heart...perhaps like Dee's? I am usually a silent blog reader, who simply prays for you and your family and some of your other blog friends:):)
Yes, life experiences and responsibilities help shape our perspective regarding so many things. As the mother of two gifted sons and two gifted daughters and spiritually raising them alone, i.e. during my 25 yr. marriage my husband only attended church 4 times, I have felt the intensity of being sure I guided them as God instructs in Deutoronomy...every hour of every day.
Several things come to mind as I reflect over the incredible blessing God has granted me to have all of my children strong in the Lord and seeking to serve Him in all ways. I am especially in awe as I reflect over the horrible tragedy in our lives that resulted in so many others coming to the Lord because of how God reached down and carried me and my children through the multiple years into total spiritual victory.
1) Whether male or female, we give up our "rights" to gain our "privileges" in the Lord. His blessings are connected with our obedience and the intention of our hearts we act or react.
2) As a mother, God's word (Deut again) instructs that my son (and daughters) were to stay under my authority and teaching at all times and that I was accountable for "training up my child in the way he should go so that when he was old he would not depart from it"...and that as for me and my house we WOULD serve the Lord.
If I have "leftover" time beyond training up my own children, other scriptures lead me to believe that time is to be given to "training up" all the other young people that come into your life through your children.
These friends are definitely to be instructed under your roof by what you have on your walls, how you spend your time, what your child can/can't do, how you laugh or speak to one another, etc. . And you end up training/at least influencing some young people and their families when you discover unhealthy relationships start to develop where you must be a super hawk in supervising and sometimes finding a way to close/stop the relationship. And as you are so extra aware, you influence them and their parents through all the sports and organizations they participate in.
3) Scripture tells us that the older women are to be teaching the younger women...However, the churches seem to consistently hire only a male youth minister.
I love and have served along side and chaperoned with 8 different youth ministers (4 hired full time/ 4 summer interns between the full timeers). I have nothing but the hightest respect for their training and commitment to the Lord. But would we have stronger teens that stayed committed to their walk with the Lord if we actually followed the scriptures about the older women teaching the younger women? And would the women see themselves as having a place to minister/serve/use their gifts of teaching if they were assumed to be the best teachers of nearly 50% of the congregation, not just the preschool and elementary kids???
A side issue: We force kids of all abilities to sit through Math classes for 50 minutes per day, plus homework which would equal at least 5+ hours of math per week. Yet when parents bring their teens to God's house we think they must be entertained, not required to bring Bibles, not required to memorize scripture ("Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee") And what child is allowed to skip classes in the public school like they skip Bible class? Pulling a bad attitude and complaining you don't like anyone in your class, no one talks to you, and the class is boring...doesn't result in parents pulling their children out of public school, why in creation are the Christian parents letting their children "sleep in"/skip Bible class??
4) I guess what I am saying is, my plate is full. For me personally, I see God having left scriptures about being quiet in church to protect me, not restrict me. If He puts something on my heart to share, then He must want me to share it at some other time, from some other venue than before communion, etc. The Holy Spirit definitely still uses us as women to bring many to the Lord but more on a one to one basis.
Most women inherantly have home responsibilities and many also work outside the home. My daughters have served intensely during their late teens and in their single 20's...one at CFBC as lifeguard all summer for 6 summers and another as a missionary in Uganda, Africa and in Puebla, Mexico. They have also led Bible Studies alone and with a male partner. My sons have had the opportunity to baptize some of those who they have helped lead to the Lord. And they also enjoy wives who are very strong in the Lord...one loves to talk in Bible Study, the other loves to listen. Both have gone overseas, one to Africa and one to China. The girls might argue they don't have as much "freedom" as the boys, but that certainly hasn't stopped the Holy Spirit from leading them to places of service equal, but different than the boys:)
Again, my personal guess is that God would prefer His worship with no one up front during worship except the one leading in the congregation in scriptures and in song. I think so many men in front of the congregation is distracting from worship. I have worshipped in congregations where there is simply prayer from someone seated with the microphone , the men serve/pass the trays from the back and praise teams have mics but stay seated. To me, It seems so much easier to stay in worship that way:)
5) I never my whole life have had the privilege of worshipping with a husband/male. That was a result of my own wilful sin of marrying a non-Christian (be not unequally yoked). But in some ways, my inability to ask a husband about spiritual things, forced me to search the scriptures myself and to talk with my Lord (who said in Isaiah I will be your husband). I have a paid minister and elders who are all readily accessible...it's not like we're in a foreign country where I can't find another Christian for multiple miles:):) Additionally, I am convinced one of the tools God used to strengthen my children and have grow them strong in the Lord was because they never received my opinion, without be being able to back up my decision in God's word. If they could show me scripturally where what I said or did was wrong, I was willing to change/reverse/apologize because I was just as subject to God's command as they were:)
6) Personally, I have been very blessed by Joyce Meyer's lessons. I am thankful that she and her husband are at peace that God gave her a gift for delivering His word to multitudes. Is she being quiet in church? I don't know. I just know that God often uses her lessons to convict me or minister to me over things that I am praying concerning. I have also learned tremendously from some husband / wife ministries... And sometimes he uses some secular infidel:) He's not limited in who He can use! I listen for truth and study the scriptures to affirm the same, whether it comes from a male or female voice. However, there are some females and males that I immediately change channels because I find them so "distracting"...probably a more cultural reaction than a spiritual reaction:) Same for some "old fashioned music" Christian radio station that sound to me like they are broadcasting from a funeral home:) Different strokes for different folks, a kingdom with many gifted Christians to reach many different personalities and learning styles with a singular message of our Lord!
7) I serve a living Lord that I commune with throughout each day to even be able to get through the days...how can anyone NOT pray all day when they teach in the public school system???!!!! When I come to worship, I come to corporately join others to celebrate the hope I have, the respect I have, the dependence I have on my Lord. I crawl to His throne to say thank you, Father, I can't possibly exist without the power of your Holy Spirit to transform me. I must have my Lord's directions for each task, or my flesh will make continuous decisions that will ultimately destroy me and/or those I love and am meant to bless!
I don't want to click the keyboard to progress the powerpoint. I don't want to prepare a lesson before communion, I don't want to pick the songs. I finally after 25 years of having my children crawl all over me and then as developmentally appropriate, teaching them how to "behave" in worship...no potty break, no water break, no talking, no sleeping, et cetera, I can self indulgently close my eyes during the worship songs and be alone with my Lord. Just thanking Him and praising Him.
8) By some accounts, I am a professionally and scholarly accomplished woman. Those are simply gifts God endowed me with. When I come to the house of God, I want to do nothing to distract Him from reaching others and touching their lives as deeply as He has mine and my children's lives. If that means being quiet when I believe I have something to say...then I can be wait for another time to speak. If that means listening to some guys that are full of themselves sometimes, then I'll pray for them to gain some humility and kindness. If that means turning the other cheek and forgiving some guys that have point blank been rude and wrong and harmful and embarrassing to me, then that's what I'll do.
9) Bottom line, my worth and my rights as a female are NOT established by my elders, my minister, my deacons or my Christian brothers, they were established by my Father and my Lord who has known me since the womb. If He has me prompted to worship in a Church of Christ, with a particular body of Christians, then I am at peace that He has us all together at this particular time and place to promote the growth of His church through all our different personalities, and different gifts, and different interpretations/understanding of His word for the benefit of ALL of us, male and female, to grow closer to Him and to become stronger and stronger in spiritual warfare for ourselves, our loved ones, and those He places in our lives.
Cecil, if you mess up in a decision as an elder, He still is going to use that experience for His church to grow. No, you do not know what it is to raise daughters or to be a woman. But you do how to have empathy, and humility, and to put yourself on the line to try to evoke positive, spiritual action (spur one another to good works). With God's grace, you will lead your congregation in seeking His face and His word and having a personal relationship with the Lord...which will leave your corporate decisions a pale comparison:):) I am thankful you are in your new role:)
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Yes, life experiences and responsibilities help shape our perspective regarding so many things. As the mother of two gifted sons and two gifted daughters and spiritually raising them alone, i.e. during my 25 yr. marriage my husband only attended church 4 times, I have felt the intensity of being sure I guided them as God instructs in Deutoronomy...every hour of every day.
Several things come to mind as I reflect over the incredible blessing God has granted me to have all of my children strong in the Lord and seeking to serve Him in all ways. I am especially in awe as I reflect over the horrible tragedy in our lives that resulted in so many others coming to the Lord because of how God reached down and carried me and my children through the multiple years into total spiritual victory.
1) Whether male or female, we give up our "rights" to gain our "privileges" in the Lord. His blessings are connected with our obedience and the intention of our hearts we act or react.
2) As a mother, God's word (Deut again) instructs that my son (and daughters) were to stay under my authority and teaching at all times and that I was accountable for "training up my child in the way he should go so that when he was old he would not depart from it"...and that as for me and my house we WOULD serve the Lord.
If I have "leftover" time beyond training up my own children, other scriptures lead me to believe that time is to be given to "training up" all the other young people that come into your life through your children.
These friends are definitely to be instructed under your roof by what you have on your walls, how you spend your time, what your child can/can't do, how you laugh or speak to one another, etc. . And you end up training/at least influencing some young people and their families when you discover unhealthy relationships start to develop where you must be a super hawk in supervising and sometimes finding a way to close/stop the relationship. And as you are so extra aware, you influence them and their parents through all the sports and organizations they participate in.
3) Scripture tells us that the older women are to be teaching the younger women...However, the churches seem to consistently hire only a male youth minister.
I love and have served along side and chaperoned with 8 different youth ministers (4 hired full time/ 4 summer interns between the full timeers). I have nothing but the hightest respect for their training and commitment to the Lord. But would we have stronger teens that stayed committed to their walk with the Lord if we actually followed the scriptures about the older women teaching the younger women? And would the women see themselves as having a place to minister/serve/use their gifts of teaching if they were assumed to be the best teachers of nearly 50% of the congregation, not just the preschool and elementary kids???
A side issue: We force kids of all abilities to sit through Math classes for 50 minutes per day, plus homework which would equal at least 5+ hours of math per week. Yet when parents bring their teens to God's house we think they must be entertained, not required to bring Bibles, not required to memorize scripture ("Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee") And what child is allowed to skip classes in the public school like they skip Bible class? Pulling a bad attitude and complaining you don't like anyone in your class, no one talks to you, and the class is boring...doesn't result in parents pulling their children out of public school, why in creation are the Christian parents letting their children "sleep in"/skip Bible class??
4) I guess what I am saying is, my plate is full. For me personally, I see God having left scriptures about being quiet in church to protect me, not restrict me. If He puts something on my heart to share, then He must want me to share it at some other time, from some other venue than before communion, etc. The Holy Spirit definitely still uses us as women to bring many to the Lord but more on a one to one basis.
Most women inherantly have home responsibilities and many also work outside the home. My daughters have served intensely during their late teens and in their single 20's...one at CFBC as lifeguard all summer for 6 summers and another as a missionary in Uganda, Africa and in Puebla, Mexico. They have also led Bible Studies alone and with a male partner. My sons have had the opportunity to baptize some of those who they have helped lead to the Lord. And they also enjoy wives who are very strong in the Lord...one loves to talk in Bible Study, the other loves to listen. Both have gone overseas, one to Africa and one to China. The girls might argue they don't have as much "freedom" as the boys, but that certainly hasn't stopped the Holy Spirit from leading them to places of service equal, but different than the boys:)
Again, my personal guess is that God would prefer His worship with no one up front during worship except the one leading in the congregation in scriptures and in song. I think so many men in front of the congregation is distracting from worship. I have worshipped in congregations where there is simply prayer from someone seated with the microphone , the men serve/pass the trays from the back and praise teams have mics but stay seated. To me, It seems so much easier to stay in worship that way:)
5) I never my whole life have had the privilege of worshipping with a husband/male. That was a result of my own wilful sin of marrying a non-Christian (be not unequally yoked). But in some ways, my inability to ask a husband about spiritual things, forced me to search the scriptures myself and to talk with my Lord (who said in Isaiah I will be your husband). I have a paid minister and elders who are all readily accessible...it's not like we're in a foreign country where I can't find another Christian for multiple miles:):) Additionally, I am convinced one of the tools God used to strengthen my children and have grow them strong in the Lord was because they never received my opinion, without be being able to back up my decision in God's word. If they could show me scripturally where what I said or did was wrong, I was willing to change/reverse/apologize because I was just as subject to God's command as they were:)
6) Personally, I have been very blessed by Joyce Meyer's lessons. I am thankful that she and her husband are at peace that God gave her a gift for delivering His word to multitudes. Is she being quiet in church? I don't know. I just know that God often uses her lessons to convict me or minister to me over things that I am praying concerning. I have also learned tremendously from some husband / wife ministries... And sometimes he uses some secular infidel:) He's not limited in who He can use! I listen for truth and study the scriptures to affirm the same, whether it comes from a male or female voice. However, there are some females and males that I immediately change channels because I find them so "distracting"...probably a more cultural reaction than a spiritual reaction:) Same for some "old fashioned music" Christian radio station that sound to me like they are broadcasting from a funeral home:) Different strokes for different folks, a kingdom with many gifted Christians to reach many different personalities and learning styles with a singular message of our Lord!
7) I serve a living Lord that I commune with throughout each day to even be able to get through the days...how can anyone NOT pray all day when they teach in the public school system???!!!! When I come to worship, I come to corporately join others to celebrate the hope I have, the respect I have, the dependence I have on my Lord. I crawl to His throne to say thank you, Father, I can't possibly exist without the power of your Holy Spirit to transform me. I must have my Lord's directions for each task, or my flesh will make continuous decisions that will ultimately destroy me and/or those I love and am meant to bless!
I don't want to click the keyboard to progress the powerpoint. I don't want to prepare a lesson before communion, I don't want to pick the songs. I finally after 25 years of having my children crawl all over me and then as developmentally appropriate, teaching them how to "behave" in worship...no potty break, no water break, no talking, no sleeping, et cetera, I can self indulgently close my eyes during the worship songs and be alone with my Lord. Just thanking Him and praising Him.
8) By some accounts, I am a professionally and scholarly accomplished woman. Those are simply gifts God endowed me with. When I come to the house of God, I want to do nothing to distract Him from reaching others and touching their lives as deeply as He has mine and my children's lives. If that means being quiet when I believe I have something to say...then I can be wait for another time to speak. If that means listening to some guys that are full of themselves sometimes, then I'll pray for them to gain some humility and kindness. If that means turning the other cheek and forgiving some guys that have point blank been rude and wrong and harmful and embarrassing to me, then that's what I'll do.
9) Bottom line, my worth and my rights as a female are NOT established by my elders, my minister, my deacons or my Christian brothers, they were established by my Father and my Lord who has known me since the womb. If He has me prompted to worship in a Church of Christ, with a particular body of Christians, then I am at peace that He has us all together at this particular time and place to promote the growth of His church through all our different personalities, and different gifts, and different interpretations/understanding of His word for the benefit of ALL of us, male and female, to grow closer to Him and to become stronger and stronger in spiritual warfare for ourselves, our loved ones, and those He places in our lives.
Cecil, if you mess up in a decision as an elder, He still is going to use that experience for His church to grow. No, you do not know what it is to raise daughters or to be a woman. But you do how to have empathy, and humility, and to put yourself on the line to try to evoke positive, spiritual action (spur one another to good works). With God's grace, you will lead your congregation in seeking His face and His word and having a personal relationship with the Lord...which will leave your corporate decisions a pale comparison:):) I am thankful you are in your new role:)
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