A Weaker Ministry

26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galations 3: 26 - 28 NKJV

There has been many stories in the news lately about the mistreatment of women in our society.  Only this morning, hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to face charges on assault and other crimes against women.  Also this morning, Wayne Jacobsen waded into this controversy with a podcast in which he touched on the subject of women in the christian church feeling inferior to men.  Now, I would say that if there is but one place where ALL would have a safe haven it would be in the church.  However, as I would tell any critic of the institutional church, we are all human with human fleshly behaviors.  Not only that, the heirarchy of the modern church is led by those with the same human tendencies.  So, how is it that a organization led by those with fleshly thoughts and desires be expected to somehow show impartiality and Godliness to all?  Heck, if I know that I myself am prone to my own thoughts and desires, how is it that I could even claim to treat everyone with the love and respect of our Lord Jesus whose Spirit lives through us {Galations 2:20}?  Indeed, the church is but a man made institution subject to the rules and regulations of the men/women who lead it.  What kind of behaviors were you expecting from such a organization?  Ok, all of that aside, the underlying issue remains as to how we see the females around us.  I say females because this seems to be the news of the day, so deal with it.  However, bad behaviors are never reserved for one sex or another.

16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 17 NKJV

We recently discussed the possibility of a monthly gathering of our group to further the discussion of Christ in us.  However, the one exception this time was that we will be including our spouses in the conversation.  Now, as one of the single guys in our group this threw me for a loop...temporarily.  Indeed, it's not only me who needs to know the truth of Christ, but others in our group as well.  It would be pretty damn self centered of me to suggest that we exclude someone from this conversation simply because society might scream that a female should be below us and should only be taught and never teach.  Well, I've heard more than a few good female pastors in my time.  Our focus should not be on the messenger but on the message of the truth of Christ in us.  All that matters is that His message is delivered to all who will hear it.  Something tells me that this would avoid alot of bad feelings out there.  After all, in the end it is not our church, but Christs.

~Scott~