SOUNDING OUT:
There Is Neither Male Nor Female
This newsletter I want to get into our absolute need to encourage our women in ministry. We know intellectually there is no difference between men and women in Christian ministry, but there is a bias that haunts many men and even women in our culture. That bias still wants to keep women in ministry suppressed. I think most of us (men and women alike) are affected to some degree, and we will continue to be until we address the issue head on. We need to be on the cutting edge of women’s ministry, and CFFM wants to do our best to champion this cause to let our women be all God has called them to be.
Galatians 3:25-4:1:
But after that faith is come, [When did that happen?] we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [What was the school master?]
26 For ye are all [Who does that include?] the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [Figures of speech include anaphora, like sentence beginnings, and paradiastole, repeating neither & nors.]
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The point is that there is a reality that is bigger and greater than Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female. The reality to which he is alluding is so big, so vast, so all encompassing that all these other obvious facts that distinguish, divide, and separate us are nothing when compared to the presence of the power of the holy spirit that unites and enables and qualifies us as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Are there differences between men and women? You bet! Genesis 1:27 says God created them male and female. We would be unwise to not recognize the differences. We are different physically. We are different psychologically. However, we are not different spiritually. Neither should we consider that our physical and psychological differences override, trump, or are more important than our spiritual abilities. Women are not less able than men. Women have the right to choose to lead and participate as fully as men do. We as a functioning Body of Christ must encourage and facilitate everyone, male and female, who desires to serve and lead to get the opportunity.
Women are not second rate. They are not less able. They are not—to only be given opportunities when there are no men around to do the job. As far as I can tell there are no gender specific leadership roles. The phrase “husband of one wife” doesn’t exclude women anymore than the term “man” does.
Genesis 1:27:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Man was created male and female. The term man is often was to include both genders.
Romans 3:4:
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
Here is another one of those all-inclusive occurrences of “man.” Women are included here, too.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Of course we know that this also refers to women. Women are born-again just as men are. It is available to everyone.
There is so much written on women in ministry that it may be bewildering. Numerous books have been written on the subject from all angles. The reason for the debate is simple: isolated scriptures can provide a strong basis of interpretation on either side of the issue and personal agendas are not always easy to recognize. Different passages, taken by themselves, may seem to point in different directions. However, all of God’s Word must fit together. God cannot contradict Himself and act contrary to His Word.
Our challenge is to accept and understand all scripture regarding women in ministry and develop an entire Bible-based approach that allows all individuals, male and female, to become everything God has created them to be.
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