Partners in Christ By John G. Stackhouse, Jr. - EXCERPT

8202019 Partners in Christ By John G Stackhouse Jr - EXCERPT

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullpartners-in-christ-by-john-g-stackhouse-jr-excerpt 122

P A R T N E R S

I N C H R I S T

A Conservative

Case for

Egalitarianism

JOHN G STACKHOUSE JR





P A R T N E R S

I N C H R I S T A Conservative Case for Egalitarianism


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Tis edition copy983090983088983089983093 by John G Stackhouse Jr

All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from

InterVarsity Press

InterVarsity Pressreg is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian FellowshipUSAreg a movement of

students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities colleges and schools of nursing in the United

States of America and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students For

information about local and regional activities visit intervarsityorg

Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright

983089983097983096983097 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Used by

permission All rights reserved

While any stories in this book are true some names and identifying information may have been changed to protectthe privacy of individuals

Substantial material in this book is taken from John G Stackhouse Jr Finally Feminist A Pragmatic Christian

Understanding o Gender (Grand Rapids Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group 983090983088983088983093) Used by

permission

Cover design David Fassett

Interior design Beth McGill

Images copy dicus983094983091iStockphoto

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983089-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983096983097983092-983095 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

As a member of the Green Press Initiative InterVarsity Press is committed to protecting the environment

and to the responsible use of natural resources o learn more visit greenpressinitiativeorg

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stackhouse John G (John Gordon) 983089983097983094983088-

Partners in Christ a conservative case for egalitarianism John G Stackhouse Jr

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983089-983094 (pbk alk paper)

983089 Sex role--Religious aspects--Christianity I itleB983095983088983096S983094983095983092 983090983088983089983093

983090983095983088983088983096983090--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983090983095983091983090983088

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents

983089 Whose Side Are You On 983097

983090 How Not to Decide About Gender 983089983095

983091 How I Changed My Mind 983090983095

983092 wo More heological Clues 983091983095

983093 he Model 983092983091

983094 Equality 983092983095

983095 Gospel Priorities and Holy Pragmatism 983093983089

983096 Eschatology 983093983093

983097 Liberty 983094983089

983089983088 Git Calling Order and Ediication 983094983093

983089983089 he Pattern o Doubleness 983095983097983089983090 What hen 983096983097

983089983091 Counterarguments rom heology 983097983091

983089983092 Counterarguments rom Church History 983089983088983093

983089983093 Counterarguments rom Contemporary

Experience and Practice 983089983089983089

983089983094 What hen 983089983090983095

983089983095 Inclusive Language 983089983091983093

983089983096 Women and heology 983089983092983091

983089983097 Discarding the ldquoNew Machismordquo 983089983093983089

983090983088 Why hen Do Women Not Lead 983089983093983097

983090983089 How to Change a Mind 983089983095983091

Acknowledgments 983089983095983097

Notes 983089983096983089

Scripture Index 983090983089983091




1

Whose Side Are You On

L983141983156rsquo983155 983138983141983143983145983150 983151983157983154 983140983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 983151983142 983143983141983150983140983141983154 the way any

Christian discussion ought to begin with Jesus I love Jesus and I

expect you do too I you donrsquot (yet) yoursquore certainly welcome to keep

reading But in this book I am primarily addressing a reader who

already is committed to the Christian aith and thus is personally

committed to Jesuso begin this way is neither truistic nor trivial Far too many dis-

cussions o gender have disappeared almost instantly down one or

both o the ollowing slippery slopes into hellish excommunication

Herersquos the first one

ldquoYou say you believe that women should preachrdquo

ldquoYes I dordquo

ldquoWell the Bible clearly says that they shouldnrsquot You thereore donrsquotbelieve the Bible which is the Word o God and thereore you

donrsquot believe God and so you arenrsquot a Christian but instead are a

wol in sheeprsquos clothing that must be unmasked and denounced as suchrdquo

Whew

Herersquos the second slippery slope

ldquoYou say you believe that women should not preachrdquo

ldquoYes I dordquoldquoWell the Bible clearly says that they should You thereore donrsquot

believe the Bible which is the Word o God and thereore you





10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156


Instead then o immediately consigning our opponents to the

lake o fire letrsquos remember Jesus Letrsquos remember that we love JesusLetrsquos remember that wersquore trying to understand Jesus and worship

Jesus and obey Jesus and become like Jesus and share Jesus the

very best that we can I wersquore in a debate over a Christian view o

gender with someone who is not serious about Jesus o course then

we have to have a different kind o debate And we are all sinners so

we have to allow or the act that each o us Christians will inevitably

bring to this discussion our various memories and worries andagendasmdashnot all o which to put it extremely kindly conorm pre-

cisely to the will o God We can and we must however presume

goodwill and goodwill o the most basic Christian sort wersquore trying

to ollow Jesus You are I am

So letrsquos grant each other that identity and proceed as i we really

meant itmdashas brothers and sisters ellow disciples and coworkers in

the global enterprise o Godrsquos redemption o the world I hope I willsound throughout this book like Irsquom a Christian and like I believe

you are too And I hope you will respond to what I say in like spirit

Wersquore agreed on the Main Tings the undamental doctrines o the

aith (as particularly listed in the great creeds) the supreme authority

o the Bible as Godrsquos Word written the necessity o conversion the

teaching and sanctiying ministry o the Holy Spirit and the other

basics o orthodox traditional mainstream Christianity I happen to

identiy myselmdashalbeit gingerly depending on my audiencemdashwith

evangelical Protestantism But there is nothing in what ollows that

depends on any evangelical peculiarities (o which alas there are ar

too many) So i yoursquore a aithul Christian o whatever stripe you

ought to eel at home in this conversation1

I presume also that you are an intelligent person just as I assume

that my theological counterparts generally are intelligent people An-

other one o the chie ways in which Christian discussion o gender

goes sideways is or one side or the other (and ofen both) to start

condescending to the other as stupid children who do not understand




Whose Side Are You On 10486251048625

how to do theology properly they lack the requisite scholarly

knowledge to interpret the Bible aright or they ail to appreciate the

theological implications o their exegesis or they do not see the socialimplications o their views or they simply cannot reason validly

I have not ound it useul to presume that my counterparts in any

conversation were either wicked or witless Alas o course some have

proved to be one or the other or both But in this particular dis-

cussion I have ound things to be quite the other way vast amounts

o time have been spent in careul analysis o a wide range o texts

impressive arguments have been mounted that range across the wholeBible two thousand years o church history and theological tradition

have been surveyed and social political psychological and sexual

implications have been consideredmdashand on both sides o the issue It

seems evident to me that the way to best find our way through the

gender debate is not to presume that we will eventually discover that

one set o discussants or the other are immoral morons Instead I

much preer to think that we can find a way to do honor to bothgroups o our ellow Christians Shall we try

L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151

Letrsquos start with some basic identifications Usually this discussion is

conducted in terms o two polar opposites patriarchy (ldquorule by the

atherrdquo) on one side and eminism (ldquoadvocacy or womenrdquo) on the

other Letrsquos pause or just a moment to acknowledge that there have

been in act a number o intermediate positions in Christian history

emale missionaries church planters campus staff workers and the

like who were not allowed to exercise pastoral unctions at home but

were welcome to engage in them on this or that ldquomission fieldrdquo emale

preachers during boundary-blurring revivals who once the ex-

citement had cooled down were then shepherded out o the pulpit

and back into the pew and emale Bible teachers preachers and au-

thors who conducted extensive ministry officially ldquounderrdquo the au-

thority o a husband or pastor or church2

Coherent theologies have not generally been elaborated to deend




10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156

such practices however Instead the main attention has been given

to the two typical alternatives patriarchalism which has been re-

named in America and elsewhere ldquocomplementarianismrdquo and em-inism which has been similarly renamed ldquoegalitarianismrdquo Letrsquos take

a ew moments to be clear about what we mean by these terms as we

shall use them in the rest o this discussion

First consider the ldquo-wordrdquo that has become odious not only

among many Christians but also among many people in society at

largemdasheven and sometimes especially among young women who

might be presumed to be eminists Indeed substantively most othem are in act eminists as we shall see But the word evokes now

an ugly stereotype o lesbian misanthropes or perhaps wickedly al-

luring sexual predators who threaten the integrity o the amily sexual

purity masculinity and yes civilization itsel in the eyes o the most

rightened Many o my own university students could easily agree

with almost any standard set o eminist tenets but would horrifiedly

eschew the label ldquoI donrsquot hate menrdquo a ew have confided in me ldquoIrsquomno eministrdquo3

How can one possibly thereore be a Christian eminist For many

people obviously ldquoChristian eministrdquo is a contradiction in terms

And it isnrsquot just the exaggerated specter o eminism that Christians

ear For many Christians today it is just axiomatic that true believers

believe in patriarchymdashin ldquomale leadershiprdquo in church and home i

not also in society at large And most Christians have in act so be-

lievedmdashregardless o age race class or gender across hundreds o

cultures and two thousand years It is a matter o simple act that most

Christians still do believe in patriarchy as one recalls that the ma-

jority o Christians live outside the so-called developed countries in

which eminism has made its inroads And it is obvious urthermore

that within those developed countriesmdashand perhaps conspicuously

in the largest and most influential o these the United States o

Americamdashmany Christians o almost every denominational stripe

continue to believe that the Bible and Christian tradition just obvi-

ously command the submission o women to the authority o men in





marriage and in the church i not again also in society

Feminism is thus a plague on the land related as it has been to a

wide range o social pathologies Feminism obviously has been impli-cated in the so-called sexual liberation o womenmdashboth in terms o

liberal mores (women are ree to be as promiscuous as men have

been) and o controversial reproductive technologies (the Pill and the

ready and legal availability o abortion) Feminism has been coupled

with radical changes in the public workplace that have brought many

women into jobs outside the home including jobs previously domi-

nated by men Tis availability o emale labor has been blamed orthe depression o wages and loss o benefits in many occupations that

previously paid a ldquoliving wagerdquo or a man and his amily Feminism

has been held responsible or children having to go to daycare or let

themselves in to their homes in the afernoon with their ldquolatchkeysrdquo

because both parents are working outside the homemdashor worse be-

cause the parents are divorced and the single parent is still at work

Feminism has been linked with lesbianism and the rise o homo-sexual activismmdashand the very arguments used to support emale

clergy are now used to support homosexuals in the pulpit as well

Finally eminism has given voice to hatred or the Christian church

and its Scriptures as eminists have traced the oppression o women

in our culture particularly to the patriarchy endorsed by Christian

teaching through the ages

So to suggest combining ldquoChristianrdquo with ldquoeministrdquo strikes many

o our contemporaries as both intellectually preposterous and morally

outrageousmdashrom both the traditional Christian and ironically

enough the radical eminist points o view

I have responded to this situation rom two apparently opposed

directions On the one hand I am a white middle-class heterosexual

evangelical Christian manmdashand thus departing rather markedly

rom the eminist stereotype Indeed one might think that I would

have a lot to lose in supporting the equal treatment o women in every

sphere o liemdashwhether one sees that loss as my ldquolegitimate authorityrdquo

or my ldquoscandalous privilegerdquo On the other hand I am also a career







and reflect the image o God but are sometimes called by God to

different and ldquocomplementaryrdquo roles on the basis o their sex Fur-

thermore when social power is in view (as opposed to say the powerto bear children) then men and women complement each other in

that men normally are to wield powermdashbeneficently to be suremdashand

women normally are to subordinate themselves to it as indeed an

ordinance o God

Many have observed that the terms complementarian and egali-

tarian in act can be applied to aspects o each sidersquos viewpoint Egal-

itarians do not deny gender differences that complement each othercomplementarians affirm the essential equality o women and men

and so on Acknowledging that ambiguity we nonetheless still need

labels and none better have yet emerged So we will use them in what

is still the common sense o each8




2

How Not to Decide About Gender

M983137983150983161 983137983157983156983144983151983154983155 983151983150 983156983144983141 983153983157983141983155983156983145983151983150 o Christianity and gender

begin with the broader context o hermeneuticsmdashthe discipline o

interpreting the Bible and applying it to contemporary issues1 Itrsquos

actually quite remarkable however that many do not but instead

immediately plunge into exegetical and historical issues as i we all

engage in theological reasoning the same way and there are no im-portant methodological questions to sort out first But as Pamela

Dickey Young reminds us ldquoOnersquos theological method in large part

determines onersquos theological outcomerdquo2 I one generally assumes or

example that Old estament law is to apply to Christians today di-

rectly and without adaptation then one will be led to certain conclu-

sions about gender I one assumes that the portraits o Jesus in the

Gospels are the final interpretative norm in Scripture then one willnecessarily entertain only a certain range o interpretative options

And i one assumes that contemporary natural and social science do

or do not shed important light on the matters they discuss then one

will see questions o gender differently

Beore I offer what hermeneutical wisdom I possess pertinent to

our subject let me begin by discussing common ways people deal

badly with the question o gender3

Many people it seems are impatient with discussion o method-

ology when the issue o gender arises Maybe yoursquore eeling that way

now Indeed lots o sensible Christians donrsquot understand why it has




10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156

to arise at all Tey believe that the question o whether Christianity

is compatible with gender egalitarianism has already been resolvedmdash

and resolved easily Some o course believe it has been resolved inavor o compatibility as in ldquoO course Christians can be eministsrdquo

Others believe it has been resolved in avor o mutual exclusivity

ldquoYoursquore either a genuine Christian or a eministmdashyou canrsquot be bothrdquo

Te controversy however continues And my point here is that it

cannot be settled as some content themselves that it can merely by

recourse to one o three avorite interpretative shortcuts Biblicism

reerence to the common wisdom o contemporary society and per-sonal intuition

B983145983138983148983145983139983145983155983149 ldquoT983144983141 B983145983138983148983141 S983137983161983155 S983151rdquo

Tere is a longstanding orm o Christian piety commonly ound

especially among Protestants that congratulates itsel or its fidelity

to the Bible against all other voices ldquoNo creed but the Biblerdquo they will

proclaim or perhaps ldquoSola Scripturardquo i they like to add the gloss otradition and the aura o Latin Other plainspoken people merely de-

clare ldquoTe Bible says it I believe it that settles itrdquo Yet such Bible-

believing Christians are ooling themselves when they claim to

interpret and practice simply ldquowhat the Bible saysrdquo

For one thing they are ailing to realize that it is their own inter-

pretations that they are deending not the Bible itsel Indeed so

great is their confidence that they can simply read the Biblemdasha com-

pilation o dozens o ancient books composed originally in now-

dead languages that no one can even confidently pronounce rom

a variety o countries authors and contextsmdashthat such people are

surprised and even offended when one indicates that they merely

possess their own interpretation o this complicated literature not

its ull and final meaning

Folk piety among such Christians ofen affirms that the Bible is so

clear that a little child can read it (Occasionally one finds this idea

dressed up as affirmation o ldquothe perspicuity o Scripturerdquo) Like much

o olklore generally this assertion is partly true and also importantly




How Not to Decide About Gender 10486251048633

alse Yes someone o very limited intellectual ability can hear or read

the Bible and be blessed by its proound simplicities ldquoGod is loverdquo

ldquoYou shall have no other gods beore merdquo ldquoJesus is Lordrdquo and so onBut God gave his people teachers as the Bible itsel affirms precisely

because much o the Bible is not easily understood How is it that God

is love and yet my lie is plagued by suffering Tere arenrsquot any

other gods so why is this commandment still relevant i it is And

what does it meanmdashin politics yes but also in economics business

amily lie and so onmdashthat ldquoJesus is Lordrdquo Ah now we need some-

thing more than childlike aith we need adult reflectionSome people o this outlook occasionally claim sophisticated

company with champions such as ertullian (ldquoI believe because it is

absurdrdquo) and Soslashren ldquoLeap o Faithrdquo Kierkegaard But these notables are

among the ew eminent Christians who can be invoked in such a cause

And even then they are misunderstood For these were Christian

thinkers who valued reason so much that they employed quite a lot o

it in their several theological writings Like the apostle Paul himselwho is occasionally invoked in this regard (so 1048625 Cor 104862510486251048632-10486271048625) these great

Christian thinkers opposed intellectual vanity and dependence on

wisdom other than Godrsquos Tey had no quarrel with reason philosophy

and other intellectual disciplines when rightly deployed in Godrsquos service

Instead we should value all o Godrsquos intellectual gifs to us God

has given us experiencemdashspiritual experience yes but also all o the

wide experiences o the wide world God has given us traditionmdash

Christian tradition yes but also all o the traditions o the various

groups and communities and institutions that have shaped us God

has given us scholarshipmdashChristian scholarship yes but also the

ldquowealth o the Egyptiansrdquo (Augustine) and ldquothe best that has been

thought and saidrdquo (Matthew Arnold) God has given us artmdash

Christian art yes but also the insight and imagination o artists great

and small None o these resources o course are inalliblemdashas

Scripture is But all o them help us understand our world and

perorm our God-given tasks in it so we rightly consult them as we

decide about any matter o importance




10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156

o be sure Scripture is the privileged member o this set No

Christian can saely decide against what he or she understands Scripture

to say since God has specially blessed Scripture as his written reve-lation Still because we are human beings with limited intellectual ca-

pacities and worse we are still subject to the influence o sin we must

beware o our interpretations o anything including Scripture as at

least possibly mistaken and maybe even sel-serving God thus gives us

a variety o ldquochecks and balancesrdquo in these various resources It is not

then especially pious to reuse to use what God has given us in expe-

rience tradition scholarship and art in avor o an exclusive use oScripture o do so is instead both oolish and ungrateul

Tere are sophisticated orms o this ungrateul oolishness apparent

in the Christian gender debate ime and again deenders o patriarchy

will campaign on the grounds that ldquothe Bible says sordquo as i that should

suffice But i what we think the Bible says (that is our interpretation)

seems contrary to one or more o the other intellectual resources God

has given us should we not pause to consider whether we have made amistake somewheremdashperhaps in our interpretation o secular reason or

spiritual experience yes but also perhaps in our interpretation o the

Bible Te Bible might well contradict secular reason or onersquos spiritual

experience Indeed it ofen has done so But it ofen also has not and

the God o all truth expects us to weigh interpretation against interpre-

tation in the light o all we think we know as adults domdashwith humble

recognition especially o the human penchant or gloriying a preerred

way o seeing things by dressing it up in religious legitimations

Particularly as we are deciding about the emotionally and politi-

cally charged issue o gender distinctions we should pause to con-

sider a general characteristic o Godrsquos Word God speaks not only

what is ldquorightrdquo but also what is ldquogoodrdquo Letrsquos hear again the amiliar

words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633

Te law o the L983151983154983140 is perect

reviving the soul

the decrees o the L983151983154983140 are sure

making wise the simple





the precepts o the L983151983154983140 are right

rejoicing the heart

the commandment o the L983151983154983140 is clearenlightening the eyes

the ear o the L983151983154983140 is pure

enduring orever

the ordinances o the L983151983154983140 are true

and righteous altogether

Te Psalmist commends Godrsquos Word not as merely ldquodivine

commandrdquomdashto be obeyed whether or not it appears to be goodmdashbutas transparently commendable wisdom on grounds appreciable by all

Godrsquos law appeals to us as healthy strong inormative joyul cor-

rective holy and so on Normally then when God commands some-

thing we can see why it makes sense or him to do so His written

Word normally does not contradict but rather illuminates and harmo-

nizes with his sel-expression in other media whether our experience

our tradition and so on o be sure sometimes Godrsquos Word comes tous as a rebuke to sinul errors or as a corrective to our hapless mis-

takes But even then we are equipped by the Spirit to recognize it as

Godrsquos Word and as true and good

So when it comes to the question o gender we can properly ask

ourselves Why is this commandment o the Lord good as well as

right For i our interpretation o Godrsquos Word seems to result in some-

thing bad it may be that it is our own badness that is being con-ronted and needs reorientation but it may also be that we have in-

terpreted Godrsquos good Word literally badly

As a sort o ldquodiagnostic testrdquo then perhaps we can consider these

ldquosentence stemsrdquo to see whether they illuminate one or another inter-

pretation o gender as good or bad

ldquoIt is better or church government to have only men and no

women because rdquo

ldquoIt is better to listen only to male preachers and never to emale

preachers because rdquo

ldquoIt is better or all church meetings or men always to lead in prayer




10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156

the liturgy music and so on and no women ever to lead in any o

those zones because rdquo

ldquoIt is important always to make sure a woman who does partici- pate in public worship to have a man lsquoover herrsquo in some authoritative

role because rdquo

Can these stems be completed patriarchally in any way that makes

sense besides ldquobecause the Bible [as we interpret it] says sordquo

Again I want to affirm that in any given case Godrsquos Word may be

calling us to change our minds to revise our expectations to rerame

issues that we have sinully or at least conusedly misunderstood Butit also may be that as we use our God-given reason drawing on the

experiences God has given us we will not dey Godrsquos Word but in-

stead come to understand it better and thus purge ourselves o erro-

neous interpretations

In this regard then it seems to me that the burden o proo alls

on the complementarians Tey are obliged to show how it is really

better or subordination to continue to characterize the relationshipo Christian men and women rather than just banging on about ldquothe

Bible says rdquomdashagain not to subordinate the Bible to human reason

(let alone human preerence) but as a check on their interpretation

o Godrsquos authoritative Word

C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161

S983137983161983155 S983151 983137983150983140 T983144983141983154983141983142983151983154983141 W983141 S983144983151983157983148983140mdashrdquo

Our societyrsquos values cannot be assumed to be ully right Does anyone

doubt that Our society has previously taught us lots o things that

we now think are wrong that women are not entitled to legal or po-

litical recognition that people o other ethnic groups are eligible or

exploitation that the poor are not entitled to assistance and so on

Our society has said that governmental sponsorship o religion is

good then sometimes good then bad And so on

Nor however can our societyrsquos values be assumed to be wrong as

many alienated conservative Christians seem to eel since many o

our societyrsquos values have in act emerged rom a Christian cultural





matrix Furthermore many other religions and philosophies share at

least some values with the Bible so there is ofen common ground

upon which to make common causeWe thereore cannot simply use ethical reasoning in the orm o

ldquoSociety currently says x and thereore x is rightrdquo Nor can we say the

opposite ldquo and thereore x is wrongrdquo Te world is a place o ideo-

logical contest in which orces o good and evil contend and in which

as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said the dividing line o good and evil is

drawn right through our own heartsmdashboth individually and corpo-

rately Tere is no entirely bad society on record and there is no en-tirely good one either We must exercise discernment ad hoc taking

each case on its own terms and seeking Godrsquos enlightenment as to

what is his will in this instance4

Tus when it comes to the matter o gender we must not unreflec-

tively assume that what society says about women and men is right

Society might be wrong And or another thing letrsquos recognize that

ldquosocietyrdquo is not speaking with a single voice about gender nowadaysWomen are executives yes but also regularly portrayed as bimbos

(and worse) in popular culture Women are leaders yes but when

they want to be mothers also North American society has yet to ac-

commodate them well Women and men are ldquojust the samerdquo and also

prooundly and universally different Itrsquos not actually clear just what

contemporary society is in act saying about gender

Furthermore society says a number o other things in this sphere

and related ones that most Christians believe are highly questionable

i not downright alse that homosexuality is natural and normal that

sexual intercourse can be merely recreational that cohabiting is a

good preparation or marriage that amicable divorces are better or

children than unhappy marriages and so on

Yet it is good or us to recognize also that modern society has in

many respects come to speak more ldquoChristianlyrdquomdashor more accu-

rately more in line with the Bible as a wholemdashthan it did in ostensibly

more Christian days Compare today with a hundred years ago and

ask yoursel whether we have improved how we treat handicapped




10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156

people people o other ethnicities and religions and the unemployed

Godly values are indeed still evident and even growing in some

sectors o contemporary liemdashthe worldwide spread o the languageo ldquouniversal human rightsrdquo is a great trend orwardmdashat the same

time as other biblical values seem to be eroding

When it comes then to reflecting on any issue we cannot take our

cues automaticallymdashwhether positively or negativelymdashrom what our

society happens to be doing or saying today We have to do our own

homework and see what Christ is saying to the church in our place

and time

I983150983156983157983145983156983145983151983150 ldquoT983144983141 S983152983145983154983145983156 S983137983161983155 S983151rdquo

Because church tradition societal practice and the heritage o bib-

lical interpretation all seemed against them many women seeking

greater reedom in Christian service have relied on their inner sense

o Godrsquos leading Tese women were not always radicals in the heat

o evangelical revivals or in the institutions o medieval monasticismor in the netherworld o the cults (what we more politely reer to

nowadays as ldquonew religious movementsrdquo) Tese women show up as

respectable nuns missionaries Bible teachers evangelists and au-

thors throughout church history And when they have been called on

to account or their ministry as they rarely have been many o them

have responded ldquoTe Lord led me to itrdquo5

Tis reliance on spiritual discernment whatever its good ruit is

dangerous as many o these women recognized Onersquos personal intu-

itionsmdasheven or perhaps especially those that we think are rom Godmdash

must be tested against the alternative possibilities o sel-deception

demonic deception and just plain misunderstanding (eg excessive

or misguided application o a genuinely true Word o God) Te

history o mysticism is replete with cautions and saeguards offered by

spiritual masters who are well aware o the perils o misinterpreted

experience And mainstream Christian teaching affirms that onersquos in-

tuitive sense o Godrsquos voice should be matched up with Scripture tra-

dition and reasonmdashand in the company o other Christiansmdashso as to





minimize the danger o misunderstanding or misdirection and to

maximize the blessing o a genuine divine communication

In an extreme situation to be sure the Christian can be grateul ora compelling intuition there is no Scripture or church tradition that

immediately pertains to the question at hand the believer has no

access to scholarship or to other Christians with relevant competence

to share and so on But in the current debate there is little excuse or

relying on sheer intuition when the theological resources are so ex-

tensive and the company o likeminded Christiansmdashwhatever view

you havemdashis available especially in the age o the Internet relativelycheap telephone services and so on I do not mean o course that it

is always and everywhere easy or people to think these things through

Tere are amilies churches and communities in which the consensus

is so strong that anyone holding a deviant viewmdashor even just consid-

ering an alternativemdashis under strong pressure whether theyrsquore in a

liberal situation in one place or a conservative situation in another

Still however most people can access resources to help them sortthings through beyond merely what happens to ldquoeel rightrdquo to them

And again because we finite and allen human beings are so easily

misled we must not settle or easily gained answers to important and

vexed questions when God puts other resources within our reach

I want to make clear however that I am sympathetic to those

women who through the ages have ollowed an inner voice into au-

thentic Christian service For again what else could Godrsquos Spirit in

such extreme situations do to lead them to that service i not give

them a direct intuition Realistically there wasnrsquot much to work with

given the overwhelming and reinorcing consensus in Scriptural in-

terpretation church teaching and practice and societal patterns re-

garding patriarchy So we do not have to condemn our sisters in the

past or substandard theological methods We can instead commend

good theological method to our sisters (and brothers) today who

want to make the best use o all o Godrsquos gifs in order to come to the

best conclusions possible

Letrsquos move on then to discuss how we ought to make up our minds








P A R T N E R S






InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press











permission




ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983089-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983096983097983092-983095 (digital)







pages cm




983090983095983088983088983096983090--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983090983095983091983090983088

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents





983093 he Model 983092983091

983094 Equality 983092983095


983096 Eschatology 983093983093

983097 Liberty 983094983089







983089983094 What hen 983089983090983095







Notes 983089983096983089





1












ldquoYes I dordquo




Whew









10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































P A R T N E R S






InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press











permission




ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983089-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983096983097983092-983095 (digital)







pages cm




983090983095983088983088983096983090--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983090983095983091983090983088

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents





983093 he Model 983092983091

983094 Equality 983092983095


983096 Eschatology 983093983093

983097 Liberty 983094983089







983089983094 What hen 983089983090983095







Notes 983089983096983089





1












ldquoYes I dordquo




Whew









10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press











permission




ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983096983089-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983096983097983092-983095 (digital)







pages cm




983090983095983088983088983096983090--dc983090983091

983090983088983089983093983088983090983095983091983090983088

P 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents





983093 he Model 983092983091

983094 Equality 983092983095


983096 Eschatology 983093983093

983097 Liberty 983094983089







983089983094 What hen 983089983090983095







Notes 983089983096983089





1












ldquoYes I dordquo




Whew









10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































Contents





983093 he Model 983092983091

983094 Equality 983092983095


983096 Eschatology 983093983093

983097 Liberty 983094983089







983089983094 What hen 983089983090983095







Notes 983089983096983089





1












ldquoYes I dordquo




Whew









10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































1












ldquoYes I dordquo




Whew









10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486251048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



















































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time















































































L983137983138983141983148983155 W983144983151rsquo983155 W983144983151


















10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486251048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156














































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time










































































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time







































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time





































































ordinance o God










2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































2


























10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486251048632 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156





































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time


































































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486261048624 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156



























words o Psalm 104862510486331048631-1048633


reviving the soul








rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time

































































rejoicing the heart



enduring orever






















women because rdquo







10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486261048626 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156




role because rdquo















C983157983148983156983157983154983137983148 C983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161mdash983151983154 N983151983150983139983151983150983142983151983154983149983145983156983161 ldquoS983151983139983145983141983156983161


















































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time


































































































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time































































10486261048628 P983137983154983156983150983141983154983155 983145983150 C983144983154983145983155983156









and time




































































































Documents

Partners in Christ By John G. Stackhouse, Jr. - EXCERPT