Paula

Good points, Don. But I’d like to add a few more.

It is one thing to have separate fellowships based upon personal convictions, but quite another to hound, harass, condemn, slander, and even physically abuse those who disagree with those convictions. That is what many followers of comp. teachings do to egals.

While human pride and sin account for this, it cannot be denied that the theology itself, male supremacism, is the justification used for it. So it is more than a personal conviction, but an aggressive attack upon half the Body of Christ. It is this theology, this teaching, that we must strongly oppose and not “dialog” with. It is to be strongly opposed as per the example of Paul against legalism.

I too have no delusions about winning over people who subscribe to these supremacist teachings. That is why I try to focus my efforts on simply making my personal convictions known (which in itself is seen as a crime by many).

There are many issues in Christianity based upon those “gaps”, and you’re absolutely right, what we put into those gaps is very telling, as is how we treat those who disagree with us. And sometimes how we treat them is out of self-defense, to be fair. But as long as we only attack the teachings and not get dragged into a personality war, we have nothing to be ashamed of.

(Disclaimer: I’m not talking about Cheryl meeting Slick. She’s sticking to scripture and making it all about attitude and faithfulness. At the same time, however, most Christians should not attempt what she’s doing, myself included. I’d fight. And that’s why I don’t debate them anymore, I just write in my blog.)