Second, it is misguided and unhelpful to try to deal with the issue of women in leadership in terms of rights and equality alone ... People simply are not equal when it comes to their talents, to their ministerial gifts, or to their experiences with God. To try to work out arrangements in those terms is to accept a secular model as the basis of a divine order, and to reduce leadership in the body of Christ to a level that omits the power of God ...
Third, the exclusion of women from 'official' ministry positions leaves women generally with the impression that there is something wrong with them. Perhaps that is a mistaken inference on their part, and some may manage to work around it without being deeply affected. But if God indeed excludes women from leadership of the church, there must be some reason why He does. What could it be? ...
The issue of women in leadership is not a minor or a marginal one. It profoundly affects the sense of identity and worth on both sides of the gender line; and, if wrongly grasped, it restricts the resources for blessing, through the church, upon an appallingly needy world."
- Dallas Willard in
How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership
Reflectively ~
Linda
Amen! I am so glad that you wrote this Linda! I agree 100% with everything you said. I really struggle with women being shut out of ministry roles simply because they are a woman. God uses each of us and we should encourage everyone to use their gifts to change the world for Him- not inhibit them simply because of gender. Loved this!
ReplyDeleteI love that God gives us gifts and callings on our lives that are based on His will and His purposes! Our gender, age, culture, health, social status ... there's no obstacle that will hold Him back when He has ordained a particular way for us to serve Him!
ReplyDelete"We make it our goal to please HIM ..."
{2 Corinthians 5:9}.
Thanks, Sarah, for sharing your thoughts.