In last week’s post entitled Sister Pastor I shared with you how unfair it was for Lifeway Bookstores to refuse to put this month’s issue of Gospel Today magazine on their shelves. Their refusal is said to be based on the revised Baptist Faith & Message which they adopted in 2000. The Southern Baptist Convention has made its convictions on this issue clear:
“A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.“
I find it really puzzling that many southern evangelicals, many of whom are members of the Southern Baptist Convention, support Senator John McCain. This then means that they support VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. What is wrong with this picture? They are comfortable the possibility of a woman being second to the commander-in-chief, but she dare not hold a leadership position and title in the body of Christ. Let’s consider the following, according to scripture leaders are appointed by God.
Psalm 75:7 “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”
Daniel 4:35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
Daniel 2:21 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:…”
So, if we are to believe that a sovereign God sets up world leaders, why wouldn’t he allow women to hold positions of leadership in the church? The prophetess Deborah was a judge over Israel (Judges 4:4)! Unfortunately, the Southern Baptist Convention conveys that they are identical to the Pharisees exemplifying religiosity and manipulating Scripture for their WORLDLY gain. “…your sons AND daughters shall prophesy” Is that not the WORD of God?
Please share your thoughts.
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