"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
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Unfortunately it is not only in the world that women feel devalued. Many times it is in the church, the body of Christ. Over one half of the members of our churches are women and a large proportion of them are hurting, because of abuse in their past or present lives or because the church itself does not affirm their calling or gifting. They are held back because they are women. There are some parts of the church that do affirm women but this is not the majority.
Shouldn't the Body of Christ be an example and a beacon of hope to women? Are we doing our job as Christ's servants in the world modelling God's plan for people?
Jesus said "Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature". Mark 16:15
Most Christian churches since the 3rd century have devalued the ministry and calling of women. The church is a patriarchal, hierarchical structure. But the church is not called to be an organization, it is called to be AN ORGANISM, with Christ as head. Each member has a function this is based on gifting and calling, IT IS NOT BASED ON GENDER.
There are many Biblical examples of women being called to leadership and ministry. Jesus' treatment of women was radically different from the cultural norms of the day and He demonstrated gender blindness.
WE ARE ALL IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD. Genesis 1:26-27 says,"Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (NRSV)
WE ARE ALL CALLED TO SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS"For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)(NRSV)
WE ARE ALL GIVEN SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND TALENTS AND IN RESPONSE WE ARE CALLED TO USE THESE GIFTS WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH, AND IN THE WORLD FOR THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed... Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone." (1 Cor 12: 1, 4-6)
There is no mention of special gifts being given to men only or to women only, the gifts of teaching, preaching, prophesy, healing, and faith. In fact there are examples of women's activity in the area of proclaiming the gospel in the New Testament times.
ANNA: the woman who prophesied over Jesus in the temple on the day of His dedication ( Luke 2:36 )
MARY, mother of Jesus and MARY MAGDELENE : were the first to find out about the resurrection of Jesus and they were the first to "carry the good news to his disciples" ( Mt 28: 1f)
In the book, Women and the Church, Mary Catherine Hilkert states, "All Christian preaching centers around the proclamation that the one who has been crucified has been raised and lives among us. Preaching is a matter of announcing the power of the resurrection, the power of the Spirit active here and now in human history. There is a unique way in which the reality of women preaching the Gospel shares in the very mystery of his resurrection." (pg 68)
In November 1997, I attended a conference sponsored by five different denominational churches called the Precious Oil of Unity. One of the most moving times in this conference was the night the speaker talked about reconciliation and healing of offenses between Christians. He talked about the Christian model of confession, asking forgiveness and reconciliation. At one point in the service one of the pastors felt led to ask the First Nations people who were present to come forward so the rest of us could ask for forgiveness for the racism and injustice we had done in the name of Christianity. Following this another pastor came forward and he said he felt that there was a need for confession and reconciliation by men for the abuse and non affirmation of women. He asked women to come forward if they had ever felt offended, put down or unaffirmed because they were women. Women came pouring forward from the crowd of 350 who attended the conference. Probably 90% of the women at the conference came forward. When the pastor began to ask forgiveness and pray with the women for healing of abuses it was like a collective groan echoed through the church. Many tears were shed as God allowed release and ministry.
I attend a fellowship where I am free and encouraged to develop and use my giftings. I am studying towards full time ministry, but I have been given a burden for women who are limited in their freedom and held back from their calling.
If you do not think this is a major issue facing the body of Christ please think again. In one class at the seminary, one male student commented, "this is not a problem in my church" to which a woman answered "you say that because women do not feel confident or empowered enough to share this pain". I think the response of the women at the conference is proof enough that we should be AFFIRMING WOMEN'S MINISTRIES IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
THIS CANDLE BURNS IN VIGIL AND PRAYER FOR WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
If you visit any site visit this one - It is great. Woman of the Last Hour
Spirit Led Women - by Charisma Magazine - many articles including 10 Lies told to Women
Religious Tolerance.Org - Articles and Links on the topic of Women in Pastoral Roles - both sides of the issue and worth a visit!
Catholic Women's Ordination - a page put together by Catholic women who feel called to ministry
An encouraging site called God's Word to Women
" Women in Ministry: An Exegetical Study of 1 Timothy 2:11-15" by Ann L. Bowman, International School of Theology Monograph Series
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