Alison

At the risk of sounding overly simplistic, I think that a lot of guys who would bar women from speaking in church are suffering from overweening pride. It’s the kind of pride that says, “If a man says it, it’s true; if a woman says it, check her sources. (But she shouldn’t be saying it in public)”. These kinds of men are simply NOT willing to learn from Godly women, since they are at risk of being called out for their prideful ways.

You are right; it’s telling that CBMW says “we THINK it’s God’s will…”. To me, that exposes that they’re standing on a very weak foundation, one of worldly pride, not humble willingness to let God work where He will. I believe that men who hold those positions will be held accountable for their pride, and how that pride quenched the Spirit, who poured out gifts without regard to gender. I don’t believe He had a list of “pink” gifts for girls (stereotypically helps, mercy, etc.), and “blue” gifts for boys (“teaching, leadership, etc.), but rather gave (and still ives) the gifts to the willing, regardless of gender. To insist that He operate by the world’s codes (and insist that the church, the ekklesia, the “called-out”, do the same) is shameful, and needs to be repented of.