I never really wanted to be the voice for women. But being a woman, I think it makes me somewhat qualified to speak on the heated subject. I do think its funny how so many men have written extensively on the subject of women in leadership based on their view of scripture. But their one vital flaw is; they are not a woman.
Most of us women, have never doubted who we are in Christ, what he has given and completed for us, the gifts, anointings and skills he has equipped us with. Most of us are not struggling to find our voice, or ‘get in the game’ or have a seat at the table. Some of us have been offered seats at the table, but we still don’t feel very welcome or valued there. More of a token.
But there seems to be a debate on only two ways of thinking. Complimentary or egalitarian in the role of women in the bible, church or leadership. I would like to suggest a third view in the debate field.
Systematic failure.
Since we know that three is a good number for the bible, (Father-Son-Holy Spirit), is it possible we are missing something. Again, I never wanted to be the voice for women, because I had such few examples of this. And the ones I had growing up with, I fought hard against not being like them.
Back to the third way. It actually starts in the third chapter of Genesis. After the beauty of the garden and complete relationship with God and each other, sin entered. Thus Genesis 3:16 (b) “Your desire and longing will be for your husband (man) and he (man) will rule with authority over you.”
The system was broken: the third way. Our desire as women to be seen, heard, appreciated and loved was lost. it them became our curse – our desire to be seen, heard and loved. Man’s ruling over us, was taking away what was in the garden, equal companions, friends, lovers and replaced it with ruling, harsh, distrust, pointing the finger type of domination.
Scholars have taken a curse from a sin and based a complete theology of women out of it. Which really defines the ‘rule’ over you (curse). They took a curse and made a theology out of it.
Grace was lifted and fear, anger and insecurity settled in both man and woman.
I write this not as a scholar or anyone with a graduate degree, but as a woman who loves her God, loves the word and believes what He tells me I am.
If 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 tells me that I am a new creation and an ambassador, that is a powerful truth. It doesn’t tell me that just my husband has that, but ‘we’ have that. If Jesus said in Ephesians 4 that he gave some ‘men’ gifts, no wait, it just says some, so some is both genders.
My prayer in writing this is that we stop arguing about it, and just let God be and do in each of us what He said in His Word. My gender as a woman doesn’t define me, my gifts and anointing from God does. If He made me with the gift of leadership, the gift of apostolic (trust me, I have taken all the tests), am I only to use those gifts outside of the church? A business leader, a non profit founder and director, president, all the other roles I can be?
Do you realize that as a woman, I have to obey the entire word of God plus what theology men have made. In using my voice, I have to be extra careful not to be too assertive or confident or it is considered “male” and then it takes on a basic male-centric boxing match? Basically a woman has to live for Jesus and …..
The body of Christ is missing half of the wisdom of God by not allowing women at the table of decision. Especially if our gifting is leadership, decision making, strategic thinking.
What if we worked to restore the system. What if instead of arguing if we are equals or complement each other, we just begin to work together by our giftings?
First published on Substack.
