A topic that generates at least as much excitement and heat as the debate over PSA is that of women’s roles in the church.
The problem starts with the ground on which we choose to take our various stands.
If you think about this issue for a moment and allow those various emotions to rise within you, you’ll begin to understand what I mean.
Imagine the issues you are now focused on as a field, in this field you are going to make your stand against opposing ideas and thoughts. The big question is whether this field, this chosen ground finds a happy home in Scripture.
One of the problems, which Alpha addresses, is with regards to the gospel. Often people don’t respond to the gospel because they are asking the wrong kind of question. If people approach Jesus with the idea that they have something pretty special to offer God and if that position doesn’t change then the bible doesn’t have much to say except in terms of condemnation. It has a huge amount to say to you when you learn to approach Jesus as Lord and King recognizing that without Jesus gracious help you are dead in the water, face down.
So where does this lead us?
What is happy ground for scripture and our thoughts to meet on?
Let’s start with the general feel of scripture with re-guards to women.
From Genesis on we see a glorious celebration of God’s final, spectacular act of creation namely woman. We can only speculate what Adam’s reaction was when God brought this fabulous creature to him to be named, indeed he mind boggles?! (Genesis 2 v 23)
Both Adam and Eve had direct and unhindered access to God himself as they walked in the garden together.
God’s plans have consistently drawn on the particular gifts of women for the story to continue. So whether it is Sara, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Deborah, Jael, Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Lydia, or myriads of others they all have a vital and honored role in God’s great plan.
I’ll continue again soon with more on God’s great plan for men and women.