Paula

Cindy,

Excellent point about it not being a sin to question as applying to Eve. And from our perspective we tend to forget that Eve had absolutely no experience with temptation or dishonesty. Would we have done any better? We all know how gullible people can be today, so we can hardly sit in judgment of Eve for it, since there had been no precedent. And we should also note that Adam went down without a fight, but Eve was not so easily vanquished. 😉

On Eve’s quote, we should note that the scriptures never, ever call it inaccurate, mistaken, attributed to Adam, or anything else: it is simply reported. Those people like Ortlund who may call their assertions of why she said what she did the absolute truth, are stepping out of the bounds of scripture and claiming to speak for God. I would think such people will be charged as false prophets! Instead, as you have done, we should always be humble and know where the line is drawn between what God has actually written and what we might deduce from it.

However, I wouldn’t be so kind to the teachers of male supremacy. I think they do know better, and as self-proclaimed teachers, they MUST know better or they should step down. They have been shown the errors in their arguments but instead of acknowledging them, they attack and scatter the flock, hoping to neutralize half the Body just when we’re needed the most. And I think the reason is exactly what you said: they have too much to lose.

Good stuff, Cindy.