11.12.2009


From the The Wesleyan Church Position Statement on Women in Ministry:
However, we believe that all pertinent Scriptures need to be interpreted in the light of their immediate contexts, as well as in the context of Scripture as a whole. We also believe that no passages of Scripture clearly prohibit women from holding positions of authority. The passages that on the surface appear to do so are often twisted by interpretations stemming from biased readings of the text. In some cases there are faulty or biased translations. And in others there is evidence of localized situations that required special treatment that was not intended for general application. We believe that God has progressively revealed in the Scriptures His purpose to call, equip and empower women for full opportunity of ministry in the church. Galatians 3:28 states that in the Christian era "There is neither . . . male, nor female." This is a general principle of Scripture. Any Scriptures that at first appear to contradict this general statement must be understood in light of the general principle of Galatians 3:28. Clearly the spiritual and heavenly identity proclaimed in Galatians 3:28 has precedence over the earthly, administrative identity.
http://www.wesleyan.org/em/women_ministry

The discussion regarding whether Scripture allows for women to be leaders in the church always centers around how we interpret Scripture. If one supports Women in Ministry, then he or she is accused of using Scripture to support their position. The assumption is that to not support Women in Ministry is the correct interpretation of Scripture. Those who oppose women in leadership assume they do not bring their own belief or pre-conceived idea with them as they search Scripture as well.
Often the assertion is made that women who respond to God's call interpret Scripture to their advantage. It would seem that men who oppose Women in Ministry might also interpret Scripture to their advantage and it could also appear that this interpretation might be self-serving as well.
Just a thought for discussion…

3 comments:

  1. Absolutely a distinct posibility.

    ReplyDelete
  2. If you died today, are you 100% sure you would go to Heaven ?

    The Bible says in I John 5:13, that we can KNOW we are saved eternally and going to Heaven.

    "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." I John 5:13

    1. First, you must realize that you are a sinner.

    The Bible says in Romans 3:23, that everyone is a sinner.

    "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

    2. You must realize what yours sins earn you.

    The Bible tells us the penalty for our sin in the first part of Romans 6:23

    "For the wages of sin is death;" Romans 6:23a

    Because we sin, we earn wages just like when we earn wages for working. Our wages for our sins is death. Because we sin, we deserve to die.

    But that's not all, because we sin, we deserve to die a second death as well ...

    "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14

    Because of our sins, we also deserve to die the second death: to be cast into the Lake of Fire ( Hell ).

    3. Jesus paid the price.

    God wants us to go to Heaven, so He sent His only begotten Son to die for us on the cross, so we can go to Heaven !

    "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

    4. What must I do to be saved ?

    God only asks one thing of us to be saved.

    "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31

    "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9

    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
    Romans 10:13

    If we believe that we Jesus died for us and rose again so that we can be saved, and we simply ask Jesus to save us, He will :)

    I just wanted to make sure you knew 100% sure :D

    God bless you and yours !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Ashley,
    I am wondering if you are concerned for my salvation due to my position on Women in Ministry and inclusiveness.
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete