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Men of faith rise up and sing
Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak
In your brokeness complete

I went to a roundtable discussion today called "Agonies and Ecstasies: Evangelical Women in Academy, church and home". Essentially it was 4 well educated and prominent women who came to share their experiences growing up in evangelical backgrounds and what struggles they still confront today as women who want to serve in the church.

Many evangelical traditions draw on Paul's teaching on women and therefore have a limited role for women in the church. This is not always explicit but usually manifests itself in women being placed in children's ministry or care or food preparation but never in prominent roles such as preaching or leading church in important decisions. I'm not going to bother putting verses that support this tradition because you can look them up yourself in the Pauline letters but what is troubling is the society that we have created by adhering to these passages perhaps in a way that is misunderstood. Many denominations do not allow women to teach or interpret (exposit) the scriptures in a public context. Most bible colleges will have something like a 9-1 ratio of men faculty. You may think this is all fine and good because of the teachings of Paul but be reminded that these numbers only reflect our evangelical tradition. Liberal churches have had women pastors for years now. What troubles me is not the ratios and numbers we have but how our mothers, daughters, female friends and wives are being marginalized and sidelined in the Jesus movement.

My main argument against interpreting the Pauline passages in the way that we have done is to say that we need to read scripture in the bigger prophetic context of creation. I am not saying that Paul is wrong but rather it was culturally dependent in the era of the early church. As christians, we are quite comfortable to say that laws in Leviticus and much of the old testament is culturally dependent. However, we have a much greater difficulty saying that about the teachings in the new testament because we think they've 'got it'. However, one example of them not 'getting it' (in their time) is slavery. You will read the new testament and see many instances where Paul encourages slaves to submit to their masters. We know, however, that it was Christians who later abolished slavery. Why? Doesn't this claim that Paul was wrong and that scripture is fallible?

I cannot stress this enough

No.

Scriptural fallibility does not rest on the fact that people in scriptures can do wrong things or say wrong things. It is an incorrect idea that has crept in through the idea that scripture is infallibly inspired by God and has a mysterious power about it. We see that the bible is laced with examples we should not follow as much as it contains examples we should follow.

The reason Christians abolished slavery was because they saw the greater prophetic vision of scripture.

They saw the restoration of creation and one thing that entitles is that we don't own human beings. In the old testament and the new, slaves were a compromise or allowance of the law. The way Paul and the old testament writers write was not barbaric or backwards. Rather it was forward and progressive for it's time. The idea in the old testament that you should let a slave go after 7 years was revolutionary. Similarly, the way Paul calls masters to treat their slaves was completely countercultural.

But it doesn't make it right.

So when the Christians grasped this, they moved to abolish this temporary institution that the scriptures had allowed for the greater prophetic vision that was seen throughout all scripture.

In the same way, females are the new slavery

And slaves can't set themselves free.

Throughout the whole talk, only women asked questions and I deeply regret not saying it. That men are the ones who need to take the front-lines of this battle. We have been given a position of blessing and authority. Women cannot fight for their own freedom to lead and preach. This will only come off as bias or feminism. The fight must be fought by men who see the greater vision. Only we can destroy this stifling institution of ideology that we have set up.

Now I know how you men feel. I too share a skepticism and fear of the "emotional woman" who will take over and lord her feminism and new found power over men. But I also realize the greater loss if we do not empower women. They too are image-bearers of God and without them, we lose that difference that they bring. We lose the feminine characteristics of God because God didn't make one image-bearer, he made a set.

So I encourage all men. Protect and empower the women around you to fulfill their vocations in whatever God calls them to and fulfill your calling as men, to be to women as the crucified Christ is to the church.

And to you beautiful women everywhere of every age who have so patiently endured the abuse, neglect and perhaps the holding back of men.

Wait for us.

*comment added to clear up some things