Cheryl Schatz

Stickler,
No doubt our biological differences have been distorted by the fall. However we do have biological differences. Who knows what “male pride” would have originally been like without the factor of sin. We should be able to conclude that God originally created the differences to be with outsin so whatever “male pride” looked like before sin entered the world has certainly been greatly distorted by sin now.

How can we know that what we see as typical today and in history, in people is not just “programming” and people defining themselves by culture?

Who is doing the “programming”? The world has many different cultures and we see differences between male and female in all of the cultures so there is not any one programmer.

I think that the issue here is not to deny that there are biological differences between men and women that cause them to think and act differently (generally speaking). The issue is whether these differences are cause to be prejudiced against one gender through males dictating what females may or may not do in their relationship with God and the church. I believe that the only one who can create the restrictions is God Himself. I also believe that according to God’s Word and His own practices, that God has not limited women in their usefulness nor has He given any less of His Spirit to indwell them. However it does seem like many men think that the Holy Spirit who dwells in women should be restricted from expressing Himself. I say, how dare anyone tell God what He can do?