Comments on: Kicking against God’s will ? http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/ Blog voices from Christians for Biblical Equality Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:48:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mary http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87488 Mary Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:37:03 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87488 Yes, Liz. We're not given a spirit of fear -- at least not by God! Yes, Liz. We’re not given a spirit of fear — at least not by God!

]]> By: Liz http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87483 Liz Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:27:34 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87483 Yes, feelings play an important part for all of us (it's not just a female thing) A long time ago my husband was speaking at another church and we went along as a family (little kids) and they had women taking part in handing out the elements in a communion service. I distinctly remember the feeling that this was somehow 'not right' and yet I did ask myself whether it was just that it was unfamiliar or whether the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. I think we all have moments like that when we need to ask ourselves from where those 'feelings' come. Yes, feelings play an important part for all of us (it’s not just a female thing)

A long time ago my husband was speaking at another church and we went along as a family (little kids) and they had women taking part in handing out the elements in a communion service. I distinctly remember the feeling that this was somehow ‘not right’ and yet I did ask myself whether it was just that it was unfamiliar or whether the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.

I think we all have moments like that when we need to ask ourselves from where those ‘feelings’ come.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87481 Mary Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:46:53 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87481 So many, many people are in fear about this. They're relying on their own feelings of discomfort. I actually read recently where a women who in other ways accepts that the pro-patriarchy factions are anti-Scripture, is convinced female church leaders are wrong because "it just feels wrong," and she cited as proof that 1) "all" of church history supports her feeling and 2) it would be ridiculously wrong to refer to "my priestess" if the priest of her church were female. In other words, it's all about the leader's gender and one's comfort zone with that. Not in reality, it's not. It's about neither. Faith, I'm so glad you've provided your witness! Some years back, I experienced a little of that myself, serving as the second pastor who happened to be female, in a church's 100+ year history. One couple left over my being female. One. Over a period of four years, the church grew significantly, not despite or because of my gender, but because we were serious about seeking God's will and following it. It's time that Jesus Christ became the SOLE focus of our churches. When that happens, reliance on mere "feelings" and whether or not history "agrees" with us will fade into the unimportant place they deserve. So many, many people are in fear about this. They’re relying on their own feelings of discomfort. I actually read recently where a women who in other ways accepts that the pro-patriarchy factions are anti-Scripture, is convinced female church leaders are wrong because “it just feels wrong,” and she cited as proof that 1) “all” of church history supports her feeling and 2) it would be ridiculously wrong to refer to “my priestess” if the priest of her church were female. In other words, it’s all about the leader’s gender and one’s comfort zone with that.

Not in reality, it’s not. It’s about neither. Faith, I’m so glad you’ve provided your witness! Some years back, I experienced a little of that myself, serving as the second pastor who happened to be female, in a church’s 100+ year history. One couple left over my being female. One. Over a period of four years, the church grew significantly, not despite or because of my gender, but because we were serious about seeking God’s will and following it.

It’s time that Jesus Christ became the SOLE focus of our churches. When that happens, reliance on mere “feelings” and whether or not history “agrees” with us will fade into the unimportant place they deserve.

]]> By: Kathryn http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87476 Kathryn Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:54:45 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87476 The fact that such opposition is futile is what should give us courage. Great posting. The fact that such opposition is futile is what should give us courage. Great posting.

]]> By: Liz http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87468 Liz Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:41:35 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87468 That is beautiful, Faith - you have expressed it so well. That is beautiful, Faith – you have expressed it so well.

]]> By: faith http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87467 faith Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:36:58 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87467 what i was trying to say is this: it's about the Spirit's presence...not the male presence or the female presence. it's not about the human flesh... man's flesh or woman's flesh... it's about the Spirit. what i was trying to say is this: it’s about the Spirit’s presence…not the male presence or the female presence. it’s not about the human flesh… man’s flesh or woman’s flesh… it’s about the Spirit.

]]> By: faith http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87466 faith Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:34:59 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87466 story... when i responded to a call to a little church that was in decline, i was told that the church would not grow because of the female presence that i would bring. i was afraid. but God brought life, with life came people both men and women. it was not about the female presence or the male presence... it was about life, God's life. it is Christ who does the work through his people. i learned that. Christ through his people both men and women is at work establishing the kingdom. That is what Acts 2 is about... the Spirit poured out on all flesh, both men and women... (not an exact quote). story… when i responded to a call to a little church that was in decline, i was told that the church would not grow because of the female presence that i would bring.

i was afraid. but God brought life, with life came people both men and women. it was not about the female presence or the male presence… it was about life, God’s life. it is Christ who does the work through his people. i learned that. Christ through his people both men and women is at work establishing the kingdom.

That is what Acts 2 is about… the Spirit poured out on all flesh, both men and women… (not an exact quote).

]]> By: MikeF http://blog.cbeinternational.org/2008/10/kicking-against-gods-will/comment-page-1/#comment-87460 MikeF Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:43:20 +0000 http://blog.cbeinternational.org/?p=290#comment-87460 "Women have been called to gospel-leadership since the empty tomb and their God-given abilities have and will draw many to Christ." Why do folk sometimes find it so difficult to see this self-evident fact? “Women have been called to gospel-leadership since the empty tomb and their God-given abilities have and will draw many to Christ.”

Why do folk sometimes find it so difficult to see this self-evident fact?

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