Cheryl Schatz

Mark,

I like the way that pinklight said this:

“Roles/functions” (like guarding the garden and being a help) don’t matter unless it can be proven that they are prohibitons for one sex so as to be a matter of sin.

This is exactly what I am saying, but pinklight probably said it better than I did. An attempt to try to prove gender “functions” in anything other than physical sexual functions must be accompanied by prohibitions for to show that one gender can do something without also showing that the other gender is forbidden from doing something does not prove a unique function.

Also I think that it is wise to keep our discussions within the Christian context. The gifting that I am speaking of will be in the context of gifts given to the Christian.

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Since we are given the permission to use our gifts for service, to prohibit these gifts would require a prohibition from God as He is the one who made us all in the image of God and for His glory. After all we are told that we cannot say to one member of the body of Christ that we do not need them. If we can now set up a system that deems the gifts of some as necessary for men and others as unnecessary then we are saying that some members are not needed for some other members of the body of Christ. Yet we are told that we cannot say that. Neither Paul nor any other apostle set up prohibitions on the use of the gifts of the Spirit according to race, age, gender or social standing.

I have taught extensively on 1 Corinthians 11 including an entire section in my DVD set and there is nothing in this chapter that limits the gifts of the Spirit by gender. Just like Genesis where the there is no prohibition in “function” for either Adam or Eve, there is also no prohibition in “function” for gender in 1 Cor. 11. Neither is restricted from ministering in the congregation in prophesying and Paul gives full permission to all in 1 Cor. 14 to use their gifts for the benefit of all.

I am always fascinated at how a complementarian has to work so hard to try to find prohibitions that don’t exist. I am always willing to entertain the facts of God’s Word so if you can find such a prohibition, please do share it with us.