LRC

“Is it possible that some who restrict women from preaching the gospel to men are so in love with their own unlimited freedom in the body of Christ that they are unwilling to even think through this issue to release God’s women for service? Is it possible that some are more than willing to portray God as One who tempts women to sin by gifting them with gifts that they dare not use for the common good?”

This is the very question I ask my dh daily. We are now going over this in our congregation – interesting that you should mention this Cheryl! The more we get into this, it would seem (as had been mentioned via Mark & Mabel earlier) that many (okay, 5 out of the 5 congregations I have been a part of, all SBC & NGLBC) churches would gender-coat the spiritual giftings. I wrestled with this heavily, and nearly lost my life over the ‘torment’ of the gift that I know Christ has placed within me. I would have rather died than live with the gift He placed inside of me that was “not true” or “not allowed” to be lived out & used. It would seem to me that there’s only one being who would be more than happy to see nearly 70% of God’s workforce put “out of comission” by pushing them into temporal roles & limit their calling — and it ain’t Jesus! Last time I checked, the hands & feet of Christ needed one another, and the hands were not designated male, nor the feet female… the only part that was designated “Head” was Christ! Amen for that!

Also, in response to Mark — ALL who speak the Word of God are accountable to Him in the end. The charge on my heart is when it states in Luke: “Luk 17:2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. ” Little ones meaning the spiritually younger in Christ — that is a charge to any & all shepherds, teachers, pastors & preachers. I have long pondered how many of the female gender have turned away from their faith because they were, at the core of their giftings & God given talents, told they were “false” gifts, not from God, and “out of line”. I had contemplated turning from my faith if indeed there was a tortuous God who enjoyed giving gifts to His daughters which were never meant to be used for His Kingdom – why would He do that?