Cheryl Schatz

Kay,
Not only did Jesus cook for the men, but he encouraged Mary to stay away from the kitchen and sit at his feet as a disciple. How many women who are gifted and called by the Holy Spirit have been relegated to the kitchen making coffee and muffins for the men as they debate theological issues and set more and more restrictions on women?

Tom,
I believe that the defeat of this injustice in the church will be accomplished by the Holy Spirit. It has been promised that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh and both men and women will prophesy. Those who shut out the Holy Spirit from their churches and their seminaries will die in legalism. I also believe that those within these churches and seminaries who still have life will be awakened. I pray that God will call a Paul who will speak out boldly without fear. While I weep for those who have allowed this kind of nonsense to gain a foothold in some churches and some seminaries, I still hold onto the power of the Holy Spirit to raise up people who can make a change. Women will prophesy and who will stop them when they have been empowered by the Holy Spirit? The choice is clear – quench the Holy Spirit and have God’s blessing removed or embrace the work of the Holy Spirit and be filled with God’s blessing.

I believe that God has been merciful for a long time to those who have not feared Him but acted on their own initiative. But I believe that a time of accounting is coming and God will distinguish between those who fear Him and those who don’t.

That is my two cents worth.