Rev. Max Brennan is pastor of
St. Matthew United Methodist Church
2414 Hitson Lane -- Ft. Worth 76112 -- 817-451-6980
Meadowbrook east, 1 short block east of the blinking red light
at Sandy Lane turn right to 2414 Hitson,
WORSHIP TIMES -- Sunday 11:00 a.m. -- Saturday 6:00 p.m.
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I heard a Baptist preacher Joke, "Where two or more Baptists gather in the name of Jesus -- you've got the makings of an argument!"
Don't let that vote fool you. Baptists are not of one mind on women as pastors. Many Baptists know that God calls women, too. But how exactly do we handle that scripture where Paul tells women to be quiet In church? (I Cor. 14.34)
Paul was not, of course, the first man to tell women to shut up, nor the last. But Paul's words made it into the Bible, and some people take even this passage for Gospel truth. A few lines before that Paul said it is shameful for a man to pray with his hat on ("his head covered"). I've prayed with a hat on many times. God didn't care. So what do we do with passages like that? Answer -- we put the Regis Philbin on them. We ask: "Is this the final answer?" Listen, the Bible is a perfect book because it is self-correcting. The Old Testament says "an eye for eye and tooth for tooth." Jesus told us to forget that. Love the enemy, he said. So which passage are you going to follow? If you say "both" -- as some Christians do -- you have just deprived Jesus of his authority over the Scriptures. You have canceled his Lordship.
The blessed Paul (I love him!) tells women to be quiet In church. He was pushing the Corinthians to follow customs to avoid scaring off the converts -- but Paul knew the Gospel. In Galatians 3:28 he gets beyond the socially acceptable customs of his day to talk about the very nature of God: "There is no longer male and female; for all of you are one In Christ." Or in other words, the categories "male" and "female" don't even register with God. This is the Gospel truth, for it reflects the Spirit of our Lord. Everything else Paul said on the subject must be read in light of this.
The Bible is our "final authority for faith and practice." But there is an authority within the Bible, and that is Jesus Christ. In reading the Bible, Christ is our standard. He is the final answer. Let him have the final word.
Be in church somewhere this weekend. (Our worship times: Saturday at 6:00 -- Sunday at 11:00.) Church thrift store -- Saturday at 9:00 (Antiques, even!) It's fun. Proceeds go for mission and evangelism. Come!) |
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This file last modified October 8, 2000
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