Female theologian: ‘exorcize macho from the church’ June 29, 2007
Posted by Paul Edwards in Female Pastors, Feminist Theology, Male Headship, complementarianism.trackback
It would appear that at least one feminist theologian believes male headship to be a demon. Challenging the ‘gender imbalance’ in church leadership, Esther Mombo, academic dean at St. Paul’s Theological College in Limru, Kenya released a statement in which she said in part,
“The consultation on gender, power and leadership is timely because it reminds us that while more than half our nations and churches are women and while women contribute immensely to the socioeconomic development of any country, they are still largely decorations and tokens when it comes to leadership. This consultation is a challenge to the Church and to theological institutions that the macho approach should be exorcized from the Church, theology and theological institutions.”
Does Ms. Mombo also want the ‘macho approach’ exorcised from Scripture? (The question is rhetorical - of course she does). The character and calling of the church is not shaped by the fact that ‘more than half our nations and churches are women;’ nor is it shaped by the fact that women contribute in significant ways to the ministry of the church.
The character and calling of the church is shaped by what God’s word requires. Scripture is clear that God’s design for the leadership of His church is a plurality of Godly men who exhibit the call of God on their lives for the task of leadership. The fact that this truth is contrary to cultural norms is unfortunate but also irrelevant.
The issue is not the ability or the intelligence of women or the availability of women. The issue is the clear teaching of Scripture on role distinctions between the genders. Such distinctions do not make men better than women or women less than men. They merely honor God’s original design for the role of man as head and the role of woman as worthy of man’s protection through her wilful submission to man’s headship. These distinctions are not consequential to the Fall but were instituted prior to the Fall in the Garden. The fact that women desire to lead and men refuse to lead is the consequence of the Fall, producing divisive debates like this one.
“Even the fall of Adam and through him the fall of the race, was not by chance or accident, but was so ordained in the secret counsels of God.”
Boettner, Predestination pg. 234
“It is even Biblical to say that God has foreordained sin.”
Palmer, pg. 82
“Not only did His omniscient eye see Adam eating of the forbidden fruit, but He decreed it, beforehand, that he should do so.”
Aurthur Pink, Sovereignty pgs 147-148
Don,
Thank you for reinforcing the truth of the biblical doctrine of predestination with some great quotes by some highly respected theologians.
P
Your Welcome
Paul,
I recall on a Wednesday evening service at the Ambassador Church, little Danny Jones (a rider on Howard and Tina’s bus) requested prayer for his neighbor, Mrs Humoud. She was a Muslim and in intensive care at Oakwood Hospital. I went as requested by young Danny and talked with Mrs. Humoud about her soul, as to whether she was prepared to meet God should she pass from this life. She spoke broken English, but held my hand very securely as I told of of the Grace and forgiveness of sins in our Lord. I inquired of her if she would like to repent and be saved, to which she replied with an affirmative nod of the head. As we prayed together her grip on my hand got tighter and tighter. When we had finished I looked at her and say tears rolling down both sides of her cheeks. These are the words she spoke to me. As she patted her chest, her dieing body uttered “Feels good”. You know what? She was right, it did feel good.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls”, is still wise.
I regret I have not tried to win more in my life.
Don