My soul clings to you,Your right hand upholds me.
I have been reading and listening to arguments that are made to defend the allowing of women to have authority or over men. I did this to challenge myself. Is what I believe about the woman’s role in the church true? You see, I have no stake on either side; my heart’s desire is only to be submissive to the word of God. So, I want to know if there is any objective challenge to what I believe. If I am wrong, I want to be corrected. And I have no fear to proven wrong because I trust God at His word.
In reading the arguments for allowing women to lead and have authority over men, it has amazed me and shocked me to see how those who believe that women can lead and have authority argue and defend their position. As I see them present their arguments and lay out support for what they believe, it is the exact same arguments and scriptural presentation used by those who seek to prove that homosexuality is not a sin. (I am debating on whether to present this information; I want to make sure I present it well, so that it doesn’t cause people to stumble. It can sound good if you’re not being objective with the scripture. It scares me a little. If people are so quick to buy into these arguments when it comes to women in leadership, will they do the same with homosexuality?) I know most who make these arguments for women leadership don’t know that they are same arguments that people use to defend homosexuality. And I am not accusing them of going that direction with it at all here. And I know that this error is not intentional, but it is still dangerous.
I also have not read any arguments for women having leadership over men that candidly use the scriptures within the context or meaning within which they are presented. When I read or hear the arguments it’s like a circus act connecting points that aren’t there and disconnecting points that are connected. Basically, the scripture is interpreted to fit an already preconceived idea, instead coming to the scripture with no preconceived idea and allowing the scripture to define itself. Scholarly and objective presentation of scripture is not used. Because the scripture is God’s word, we ought not to be afraid to approach scripture objectively and candidly and allow it to present what it says.
Also, in reading a lot on this issue, on both sides, and after hearing the other side presented, I am amazed at how biased and unfair their arguments are. I can say that those who believe that women should not have leadership or authority over men, often present both sides of the issue, and after reading both sides I can tell that they honestly portray the opposing side of the argument, presenting the exact arguments of the opposing side and what they believe. They give a fair presentation of both sides of the issue, not being afraid that doing so will hinder their position. But when I read those who argue that women can lead and have authority over men (now, I am basing this on what I have seen), they will distort the opposing side and what they believe and even state that they believe something that they don’t, instead of objectively presenting both sides. They basically build a straw man and tear it down. This is not a fair presentation of the issue. I don’t think this is purposeful either, at least I hope it is not. I think they are hearing what the culture is telling them the opposing side is saying or they have heard people who talk who do oppress women, and they hear this instead of really listening to what the opposing side has to say. And so, their arguments get distorted. So, I do not mean to be harsh in saying this.
I know some might say, I am biased on this issue. What made me look at this issue more and to want to see what both sides said about this, is that I wanted to marry someone who at one time believed that women could lead. I was not about to ask her to do something that the scripture did not ask of her. I wouldn’t ask any women to do that. And I was ready to be proven wrong, why should I lose a great woman over this issue? I also hate the idea of oppressing women and would not support something that did that. Like I said before, I had no stake in believing either side.
Honestly, I am shocked by this. I didn’t expect to find this. Even though I might disagree with the opposing side, I did expect to find some objectivity. I am not writing this because I want to tear apart the opposing side. I’d rather not be the case. What I have written here is more of an emotional response. I am heart broken and hurt, to see the word of God used in this way, to see faith torn apart, to see such a lack of trust in God. And to see arguments that are so dangerous and that lead people away from scripture and toward things like homosexuality. I don’t think its intentional and my I want to be gentle… Emotionally, I am in a place where I am unsure how respond to it accept to say that it hurts, and my heart is broken.
