I recently read a review of The Organic God in which a reader made the comment that I was an "egalitarian" and though she didn't agree with that viewpoint, she really appreciated the book.
The comment made me wonder, "Hmph, what's an egalitarian?"
So I went to the grand oracle, www.dictionary.com, and typed in egalitarian. I found definitions like "one who adheres to egalitarian beliefs" particularly insightful and revealing. Don't the writers of dictionaries know better by now? I wondered. As I read through the definitions, the basic gist was, "One who believes in the equality of all people."
Sounded a lot like the Declaration of Independence. Under that definition, I guess I'm an egalitarian. I think we all are--or should be. Inalienable rights. One nation under God. Fireworks. Fourth of July.
But then, I picked up a book, "Two Views on Women and Ministry" and discovered that the grand oracle had led me astray. For some people, like the reviewer who called me an "ega" means oh-so-much-more.
Turns out there are two different viewpoints on women in ministry:
The Complementarian believes that women can serve in many ways in the church but not be a pastor, primary teacher or elder.
The Egalitarian believes that women can serve in any area of the church including a pastor, primary teacher or elder.
The truth is I wouldn't really subscribe to either one. They seem kind of boxy--like a Volvo.
I guess because these seems like such an eensy, teensy issue compared to what the church is facing today. More than 40,000 children die in third world nations each day, smog paints our major cities into a dingy haze, inner city neighborhoods are plagued by poverty, crime and fear, and people are worried about whether or not they're "comp" or "ega".
The truth is that extremes of both Complementarian and Egalitarian scare me. If I went to a church where only men or women were in leadership, I'd have to ask, Where's the balance?
Seems like a pretty minute issue to the bigger issue going on...Thoughts?
www.margaretfeinberg.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
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87 comments:
Margaret,
Balance is the key!
We can become too inwardly-focused, getting bogged down with women doing this-or-that.
A community of Christ would be open to all, utilizing their gifts, loving God and serving all.
Maragret - I think God can use anyone He wants to use...and I don't think He cares too much if the person is a guy or a girl. I can enjoy listening to Andy Stanley OR Anne Graham Lotz. As long as they have something on their heart that came from God, I'm not too worried about whether they wear a suit or a dress. As for your ministry, please don't let anyone discourage you. I doubt you would let that happen, but I just want to encourage you to keep doing what you're doing. God gave you something to say...so keep on saying it. :) David Richardson
I have never heard the word egalitarian used in that context; however, the belief that women should be barred from leadership positions is one I have encountered often. While I agree with you that it seems a petty issue compared to Darfur, children starving in the streets or the plight of the homeless, I think Jesus would care just as much that half the population is barred in his name from using the fullness of the gifts that he gave them.
Imagine if you were told by your church leaders that because of your chromosomes (X vs Y) you were unqualified to teach, preach the gospel or have a say in any of the financial or business actions of your church. Imagine the pain, the anger, the frustration that could result, the feeling of being unloved by God, the feeling that what you had to offer him was unwanted. All of that happens all the time in churches all over America. When he comes back, I think we are gonna have some 'splaining to do.
I think this is a super tough issue for women who are gifted in leadership and teaching and who want to be rooted in Scripture. It's tough for the women themselves and for those who lead them. On one hand, the Bible tells the amazing story of Deborah, who was the political, judicial, and spiritual leader of her day. On the other hand, Paul clearly tells us in 1 Timothy 2:12, "I do not permit a woman to teach or usurp authority over a man."
Both sides of the debate have to do something with those two accounts. It's not enough to just say "how unfair" and then let women into whatever role they want. That verse is there for a reason. On the other hand, those who take that verse at face value have to reconcile it with other places in Scripture where women are clearly leading and teaching.
I found these two books to be very fair, thought-full, and Biblical representations of their respective views: Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Piper and Grudem) on the Complementarity side and Discovering Biblical Equality (Pierce, Groothius, and Fee) on the Egalitarian side.
I'm still trying to sort a lot of it out. A lot of people would probably label me "egalitarian" because of the role I have at our church and the fact that I regularly preach in our services. Like you, I believe the extremes of both are dangerous.
David Richardson for President.
A really excellent treatment of this issue (and from what I've heard the best out there) is Men and Women in the Church by Sumner.
Yeah, sigh. I agree with you wholeheartedly and passionately.
It is, however, only a minute issue until you (or I) are the
one(s) being boxed in (hopefully not by alot of men in Volvos.)
To the extent that the church does not hear from both men and women is the extent to which it is limited in knowing the fullness of the image of God. And that, I think, is serious. And so very sad.
And sad for the many teachers that are young girls in Africa right now that God may want to use to teach our churches in the West in years to come.
~Misha T.
Just shooting from the lip here, but I think there's too much emphasis on titles and we tend to think in terms of pastor/CEOs.
I think the biblical model is more of a team approach to leading (ala Ephesians 4:11-13. And if that were the model, then women in ministry wouldn't be such a big deal since I think the "prohibition" against women in ministry has more to do with women having "authority," as in being a sole leader. In a team setting, however, a woman would be free to work because she would be part of a fellowship of other "leaders."
-- Dan
http://snortinghorses.blogspot.com
Hi Guys (and by that I mean Guys and Girls),
Over the years my husband and I have both been nominated to be elders of our church. When I went through the process, it turned out to be a huge debate whether women were "allowed" to be elders or not. Neither my husband nor I became elders of that church. The Lord has made it clear that we each have gifts and are responsible for using them. I don't think that when we meet Christ in heaven, He will be very impressed when we tell him, "I would have, but they wouldn't LET ME!" Know your gifts and be in places where you can best use them....this glorifies our Lord.
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640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates 81
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I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
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Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
All generalizations are false, including this one.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
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What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
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Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
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Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
C++ should have been called B
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates 81
Wonderful blog.
All generalizations are false, including this one.
Magnific!
When there's a will, I want to be in it.
C++ should have been called B
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
C++ should have been called B
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Good job!
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Wonderful blog.
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