The CBE Scroll

We hear a lot about God speaking to women through men. But, does God ever speak to men through women? Let’s look at the biblical record.

‘After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”’ (Matthew 28:1-10, NIV, emphasis added)

‘There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.’ (Luke 2:36-38, NIV, emphasis added)

‘Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”’ (John 4:28-29, NIV)

‘Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.’ (John 4:39-41, NIV, emphasis added)

‘But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”’ (Genesis 21:9-13, NIV, emphasis added)

‘Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”’ (Judges 4:4-7, NIV, emphasis added)

‘Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men. At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.’ (Judges 4:14-16, NIV, emphasis added)

I was recently listening to a popular Christian radio program. On that week’s edition, they were celebrating a recent book that encouraged fathers to interview any young man who wanted to date their daughter. The author was interviewed, and he discussed with the program host how any young man who wanted to take a girl out for a date should be questioned by the father, and made to promise that he (the young man) would respect the girl, knowing that some day she would be someone’s wife (possibly his own, possibly not), and that he should treat her the way he would want someone else to treat his future wife. He was also to promise not to touch the girl in any way, not kiss her, and always open the door for her. He should protect her, including her purity. It was his responsibility. The young man would need to promise all these things and more to the father before the father should permit his daughter to go out on a date with the boy.

This struck me as troublesome. First of all, it is certainly honorable and desirable for a father to show interest in caring for his daughter. Oh that more fathers would! But it seems to me that this particular message and method encourages a kind of demeaning treatment of the girl that does not foster full participation on her part, a good pattern of communication between the girl and boy, good decision-making skills for the girl, and good patterns of maturity for future adulthood for both of them. I kept thinking: where is the mother in all of this? And, why isn’t the parent talking to both the son and daughter, together, about the decisions they will make? Wouldn’t it have made a much better Christian impression and model for the young people if both mom and dad talked, together, to both young people together, showing a united desire for the young man and young woman to make wise decisions together? And how does this recognize the reality that girls, as well as boys, often initiate physical intimacy and need to understand God’s call upon their lives for purity and good decision making? And now that many young people wait to get married until well into adulthood, how will this pattern help young adults with good dating practices? (Daddy may not be around to interview your date when you are in college!)

Surely there is a better way to encourage purity and wise choices for young people, that encourages both girls and boys to take responsibility for their actions and to be able to communicate clearly with one another and encourages both mothers and fathers, when possible, to work together in providing good advice and examples for their kids, both daughters and sons.

Where can you find music, poetry, food, camping, tattoos, workshops, and venders all in one location? Hosted by Jesus People USA, the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois attracted thousands of people who were ready not only to hear their favorite bands, but also to engage in dialogue at the various workshops held during the festival.

Christians for Biblical Equality also hosted a tent at the festival. For three days (June 28-30) we offered lectures at our tent covering topics such as women leaders in church history, mutuality in marriages, eating disorders in the church, Christian dating, overcoming sexual violence, modesty, the Trinity, the image of God, why women in the church are drawn to Wicca, what psychology teaches us about gender, and what happens when men and women do not fit into ‘gender roles.’ We began each day with a Celtic worship service from the Iona community of Scotland.

We were very well-received at this event and the environment was encouraging, uplifting, and supportive. The lectures sparked a lot of dialogue. The people who came to our tent were passionate about their Christian faith and genuinely wanted to learn more about issues pertaining to biblical equality. Some approached our table and asked how they could get started. Some people continuously came back to our tent and we were able to develop relationships with them. We invited attendees to join us for meals so that we could dialogue and develop relationships further.

Many people approached us and expressed how grateful they were to see us at Cornerstone and how they were encouraged by our presence. Some needed to see that they were not alone in their egalitarian convictions. Some shared with us how they came from communities without other egalitarian support, and our presence was a reminder that they are not alone in this cause.

Our bookstore at the tent was flooded with people checking out our resources. We ended up taking many book orders because we sold out of many of the books we brought with us. Some of our books were sold out before the end of the first day! We also provided many people with free articles and information on CBE. Some of the attendees also signed up for CBE membership!

Overall, the experience at Cornerstone was very uplifting and encouraging, both for us at CBE and for those who visited our tent. The dialogue was engaging, relationships were formed, many left with CBE resources, some began their path to biblical equality, and others were strengthened and encouraged in their egalitarian beliefs. It is clear that CBE’s presence at Cornerstone is a ministry opportunity that must continue.

Sociologist Michael S. Kimmel discusses the role of ‘masculinity’ in violence. He finds that ‘in societies where masculine bravado - the posture of strength and the repression and denial of fear - was a defining feature of masculinity, violence was likely to be high. It turns out that those societies in which bravado is prescribed for men are also those in which the definitions of masculinity and femininity are very highly differentiated’ (Kimmel, 245). So, in cultures where gender roles are distinct, levels of violence by males towards females (and other males) are likely to be high. One of the most significant correlations with violence, then, is what we call gender polarization.

Does our culture polarize gender? Look at this short list of characteristics that are often applied to men and women. They are, in most cases, opposites.

Men: Protective, Strong, Leader, Initiative, Aggressive, Rational, Active

Women: Protected, Weak, Follower, Responsive, Passive, Emotional, At Rest

Instead of focusing on Christ-like attributes we should all have, we try and split this into ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ behavior. This takes us away from focusing on what is good and what we as brothers and sisters should all exemplify, and we move to trying to satisfy cultural norms.

The trajectory of biblical equality is not that we will all be the same, but that we will be free to encourage the unique gifting of each person. Androgyny is a much more likely outcome of polarizing gender roles, and placing a higher value on one role, as we currently do.

When we see humanity as polarized groups of ‘others,’ we place boundaries in the way of unity. Before we even meet someone we know it will be harder to relate to them because they are of the ‘opposite’ sex. And, we know that the less like ourselves we view someone (and the more ‘other’ they are) the easier it is for us to treat them as if they are not human at all.

Can’t we just agree to disagree?

Have you found yourself sharing the Bible’s support for women’s gospel-service when someone asserts emphatically, ‘Can’t we just agree to disagree? This isn’t a salvation issue, after all!’ And, being peace-loving Christians, we are at first inclined to agree, until we remember someone like Lottie Moon.

Considered one of the great missionaries of all time, Moon’s refusal to obey male authority led to the salvation of many. Lottie’s male supervisor opposed her desire to build a church in Northern China, where she not only made massive inroads for the gospel, but where she also inspired the next generation of Christian missionaries - and all the generations since then!

Today, Lottie is celebrated as one of the greatest Southern Baptist missionaries to ever live. Why? Because she answered the biblical call of missions and evangelism! She even placed the call of Scripture ahead of human authority, particularly when human authority opposed the Word of God.

Consider also the life and work of Phoebe Palmer, regarded as the mother of the Holiness Movement. After leading thousands to Christ, Palmer told her critics that even Satan did not deny that her ministry was from God!

Our time here on earth is short, and the harvest is abundant. Women have been bringing the good news of Jesus since the empty tomb. Let us open doors for women and give the greatest message of all a much larger hearing!