Finding a Voice
Saturday, December 31, 2005
men and women in the church
I am certain that the overwhelming majority of faithful Christians agree with me that we would rather hear good teaching from a gifted woman than inferior teaching from a less gifted man, and I am confident that Paul himself would approve of our preference, however much difficulty we may have sorting out all the intricacies of specific statements the great apostle made.
... providing opportunities for anyone in the church, women included, is not an end in itself but always in furtherance of taking the whole gospel truth to men, women and families. We should never accept some hybrid such as feminist theology on the mistaken assumption that we are thereby pleasing women. We will never truly satisfy women that way, and even if we did, it would not be worth the cost. Our objective must always be to please Christ, and not to please men (yes, that generic term includes both sexes).
... How should men and women regard and treat each other if they are both truly faithful to the gospel of Christ and value truth more than personal power?
If you do not find that question important and fascinating, you ought to. So please move on and start reading Sarah [Sumner]’s book, where you will find that question very thoroughly and faithfully answered.
- Philip E. Johnson, "Foreward," Men & Women in the Church by Sarah Sumner. InterVarsity Press, 2003.
... providing opportunities for anyone in the church, women included, is not an end in itself but always in furtherance of taking the whole gospel truth to men, women and families. We should never accept some hybrid such as feminist theology on the mistaken assumption that we are thereby pleasing women. We will never truly satisfy women that way, and even if we did, it would not be worth the cost. Our objective must always be to please Christ, and not to please men (yes, that generic term includes both sexes).
... How should men and women regard and treat each other if they are both truly faithful to the gospel of Christ and value truth more than personal power?
If you do not find that question important and fascinating, you ought to. So please move on and start reading Sarah [Sumner]’s book, where you will find that question very thoroughly and faithfully answered.
- Philip E. Johnson, "Foreward," Men & Women in the Church by Sarah Sumner. InterVarsity Press, 2003.
posted by Colleen McCubbin at 2:30 PM
2 Comments:
"I am confident that the overwhelming majority of faithful Christians agree with me that we would rather hear good teaching from a gifted woman than inferior teaching from a less gifted man"
hm, I don't share his confidence.
I think the comment is a fair one if we consider the world-wide "faithful Christians". I loose my confidence a bit when we focus on North American or English "faithful Christians". Still, I am hopeful that things are changing and that for the sake of Gospel we will each minister in our giftedness to see Christ's kingdom strongly established and furthered.
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