The CBE Scroll

It has come to our attention that there is to be a debate on the Trinity between two staunch proponents of hierarchy, namely Wayne Grudem and Bruce Ware and two theologians of apparent egalitarian persuasion, Tom McCall and Keith Yandell. The following announcement was made by the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

The Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological understanding of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is excited to announce that on October 9th, 2008 at 6.30 pm, it will host a Trinity Debate at the TEDS Chapel featuring Drs. Bruce Ware (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) and Wayne Grudem (Phoenix Seminary) versus Drs. Tom McCall (TEDS) and Keith Yandell (University of Wisconsin-Madison) on the question: “Do relations of authority and submission exist eternally among the Persons of the Godhead?”

This is a very significant event which happens to be scheduled just one month prior to the annual gathering of the Evangelical Theological Society and may very well provide impetus for a challenge to be presented to the ETS on their collective standing on the matter. Kevin Giles, our man on the ground in this ever widening debate says of those who will oppose the proposition “Tom McCall has his doctorate from Calvin and has published on the Trinity and Keith Yandell is a very competent and well published philosopher in his 60’s.”

This debate is of tremendous significance to egalitarians, as a further comment by Kevin Giles reveals, as quoted from his more recent work, Jesus and the Father, page 42. The chapter is titled, “Contemporary Evangelicals and the Doctrine of the Trinity.”  

“Virtually every evangelical theologian who has written in support of the eternal subordination of the Son in function and authority is committed to the permanent subordination of women in the church and home. Because the subordination of women and the subordination of the Son are inextricably united in the minds of those with whom I am debating, getting them to consider honestly and openly what they are saying on the Trinity is almost impossible. Too much for them is at stake. Some of them have said to me quite openly, “We will never give way on the Trinity, because this would be the first step in giving way on our case for the subordination of women.” Professor Wayne Grudem is firmly of this opinion. He says the “most decisive factor” in the case for the permanent subordination of women is “a proper understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity,” by which he means understanding the Trinity as hierarchically ordered so that the Son is bound to obey the Father. Nothing is more important “in the whole universe,” he says, than maintaining “the equality of being together with authority and submission” in the relationship between the Father and Son in the immanent Trinity.” (Grudem, Evangelical Feminism, 411 and n. 12; ibid., 429.)

We invite your comments and encourage you to follow the progress and outcome of this important event.

 In my last pastorate, I was invited to hold a monthly service at an assisted living center.  Each time I led this worship gathering and preached, one faithful attendee came armed with her Bible and a frown.  She would sit near the front and, as the service closed and I walked about to greet my white haired “congregants,” she always brought me the same admonishment.  “What do you do with the verse that says, ‘Women are to keep silent?’” she would ask with a stony face and cold condemnation. 

The first few times I spoke with her, I tried to explain about the verse, Greek, punctuation, the cultural context, the whole canon of scripture, (everything in my tool kit!), but I soon found she would have none of it.  So, I simply came to expect the frown, “the slap,” and the impossibility of having her understand.  I would love her to have known that I once questioned my own pastoral call as a woman, but the Lord was faithful and wouldn’t let up on the call or the reassurance that the strange, new gifts and urges that I was experiencing were from the Spirit.

Well, I have to say that God in God’s wonderful goodness continues to show me the wealth of that canon that I had put forth as my defense.  I was reading in Proverbs recently and was reminded of the support for the egalitarian perspective in so many passages of Scripture.

Proverbs 6:20-23 says:

My son, keep your father’s command (mitzvah) and do not forsake your mother’s teaching (torah).  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you.  For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

I am touched by the coupling of the father’s instruction or commands with the mother’s.  And this is no lightweight word that is used for her teaching, as we know.  The word “torah” is also used for the Mosaic or Deuteronomic law, for prophetic utterances.  Wow!  But that mom and dad are mentioned in the same sentence and then this thought reiterated again for emphasis by saying “the commands are a lamp” (father’s contribution) and the “teaching is a light,” (mother’s contribution) is refreshing.  The mother is declared an appropriate teacher and her guidance of the son to be essential.  Mother and father provide something for the son’s safe and wise walk, and neither one is dispensable or less trustworthy.

One could say, “Ah, but she is teaching a child” - that’s permitted.  However, the teaching that follows, for many verses, is pretty steamy stuff about adultery so the recipient would seem to be a young man.

The reminder that there are many pieces of evidence in God’s Word that support the godly teaching of women brings fresh blessing and peace.  I remember my white-haired antagonist with gentleness, knowing that I never saw the joy of the Lord in her.  I can’t imagine the teaching and church culture she must have been subjected to in her younger days!!  Yet, this teaching still exists.  I am glad for my freedom and my call.  Thank you, my sweet Lord.

According to the Australian Oxford dictionary, the word EVIDENCE is “anything that establishes a fact or gives reason for believing something.”

While there are many evidences to show that equality among God’s children is a fact, one which comes to mind is the many descriptions given to those who follow Jesus and are his children. All these descriptions are without any hint of gender distinction and are directed to those who are referred to as ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’ or ‘THE CHURCH’.

The references below are all from the NRSV – a gender inclusive version.

It is recorded in Matthew 5:13 that Jesus said to his followers, “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH” and in the following verse “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”

In John 15: 5 Jesus describes his disciples in this way: “I am the vine and YOU ARE THE BRANCHES”.

Later in the same chapter in verse 14, Jesus has this to say: “YOU ARE MY FRIENDS if you do what I command you”

Peter’s first letter is addressed to “Those who have been CHOSEN and DESTINED by God the Father and SANCTIFIED by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be SPRINKLED with his blood.”

In chapter 2, verse 5 these same people are named, “LIVING STONES which are being built into a spiritual house – a HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Verse 9 continues this theme with the addition of their being a “CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, GOD’S OWN PEOPLE, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

These and many other verses show the unqualified EQUALITY of all God’s children. Let us be encouraged by these truths and share them.

The other story of Mary and Martha – Martha an example of faith

We often hear the wonderful story of Mary, how she choose to listen to Jesus’ teaching rather than do housework like her sister Martha, and how Jesus commends her for her choice. (Luke 10:38-41).  We see Mary as the one who is more mature in the faith and Martha as the one who is less. 

But do we ever consider the other story of Mary and Martha?  In John 11, Mary and Martha’s dear brother Lazarus has just died.  Jesus goes to visit them.  In the midst of her grief, Martha greets Jesus with these words.

    21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Martha responds to Jesus’ arrival with faith.

    23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

    24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus tells her what seems impossible to many, that her brother will rise again.  Once again, Martha responds with faith.

    25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

    27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Jesus states that He is the resurrection and the life.  And for the third time, Martha responds with faith.

What do you think Martha’s expressions of faith meant to Jesus?

We hear about how God used Abraham to establish the nation of Israel through whom the Messiah would come, and we hear how Abraham’s faith helped accomplish this.  We also hear about Abraham’s faults, and how God accomplished His will through Abraham in spite of them.  But do you know that God used Sarah in the same way?  She also was used to establish the nation of Israel, and her faith was also instrumental in achieving this.  And like Abraham, God accomplished His will through Sarah in spite of her faults.

Here is a brief overview of her life.  To learn more about her read Genesis 16 and 21.

Today’s New International Version

Genesis 17:15-16 – Sarah is a woman who was unable to have children.  Yet God promises to give her a son and that she will become the mother of nations.  Notice how God says “I will bless her…”.

    15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

Genesis 21:1-3 – Sarah gives birth to Isaac through whom the nation of Israel will come, and through Israel the Messiah.  Notice how it says “and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised”.

 1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.

Genesis 21:8-12 – It was through Isaac, Sarah’s son that the nation of Israel would be established.  God uses Sarah to ensure that it is through her son, and not through Abraham’s other son that this happens.  Although Sarah’s attitude isn’t perfect, God still uses her to accomplish this purpose.

 8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 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.”

    11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your servant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.

Hebrews 11:11 –Sarah is used as an example of faith.  Notice how the author of Hebrews says “because she considered him faithful who had made the promise”.

11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

And even though Sarah had faults, such as abusing Hagar, we find God working to redeem the effects of her mistakes.  Because Sarah abuses her Hagar runs away, yet God meets Hagar while she is running away.  After Hagar’s experience with God she has this to say, something that continues to inspire people to this day that God sees them in their time of need.

Genesis 16:13 -     13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Through it all, whether through her faith or her faults, God uses Sarah’s life to accomplish His will in bringing about the nation of Israel, and through Israel, the Messiah.  And in the end, because she believed, she is used as an example of faith.

Sarah’s life is an example of what faith can accomplish, in spite of human faults.  It shows how God uses us to accomplish great things, in spite of the mistakes we make.