Anchored In

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." - Hebrews 6:19

Earlier this morning, my "smart" communication devices began beeping, chirping, and buzzing with the news that Lance Armstrong, seven time Tour de France winner, will be stripped of all seven of those titles by the UCI (International Cycling Union), and he will be banned for life from all sanctioned Olympic sports. This action comes as a result of accusations and evidence provided by the US Anti-Doping Agency involving Armstrong and a doping scandal. Obviously, this is hard news for us Americans to hear, as it not only diminishes the status of a revered American icon (especially because of his hard fought victory over cancer), but also because it diminishes America's position as a champion of the sporting world in the eyes of the rest of the world. It is also disheartening as it proves out the fact that the rewards of our efforts in this world are only guaranteed if we prove ourselves to be without fault.

Now, I'm not intending to take a side for or against Lance Armstrong or the UIC through this writing. I leave that to your personal convictions. But there is a good spiritual lesson to be learned here, and it is this: when God rewards us with our ultimate prize - the promise of eternity with Him - it is a reward that will never be rescinded, no matter what evidence is brought against to prove that it was not really earned. We can rest secure in this guarantee because it was never earned by us in the first place! Our reward was earned for us, by the death of Jesus, and awarded to us as a gift, from God. And gifts are never taken back by the giver. No one can ever come along later and present to God, anything, that will change His mind about our reward. Because when Satan tries to present evidence to God of our cheating, lying, and rebellion - and he has a ton of it - Jesus steps in and confirms our innocence! I do bad for Lance Armstrong, but those titles were a reward that was never going to be anything but temporary, anyway. So I pray that he, like me, has taken hold of the guarantee of the only eternal reward. And that one is anchored securely!

But, Does God Permit It? Pt. 4

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet." - I Timothy 2:11-12

Many people, both scholars and  lay students of the Bible, have read, divided, debated, and disagreed over, this passage of scripture for centuries, but probably no more so than in the last 50-60 years. When taken literally, and at face value, it seems to indicate that women are scripturally banned from this ministry in this particular situation. However, when read and kept strictly within its first century context, many  in our twenty-first century churches think this passage does not require the contemporary church to limit the ministry of women. So, who's right? Well, let's again examine some facts:

Paul teaches that everyone receives specific gifts from the Holy Spirit. He outlines many of those in I Corinthians and Ephesians. But he doesn't speak of any as being gender specific. We have already seen where Paul speaks of certain women and their help to him and his ministry, with high regard. (And let's be honest, Paul probably didn't spend a lot of time setting up, and training women for, nursery schools and quilting circles). But, at the same time, we cannot just toss aside the above verse as being invalid or irrelevant to our churches today. Paul is pretty clear about how women should act in worship, learning in quietness and full submission, and their positions of authority regarding teaching. And then there is that whole child-bearing thing...

Still confused? Yeah, me too. But let me offer this, as a possible explanation:

In these verses, we are reading Paul's words to a confused group of people who are new to the whole "freedom in Christ" idea. And, to add to that confusion, we have a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles worshipping together for the first time, like, ever! The Jewish women would be used to the whole silence in worship, and male authority rule from their worship practices in the temple. But the Gentile women were a bit more free in their style of learning and teaching. They did not have the same practices, nor the same restrictions. So when coming into this new organization called the "church", they all, of course, would carry their traditions and beliefs about this along with them. Is it possible that the more free worshipping Gentile women were influencing the "enslaved" Jewish women to express their new found freedom and cut loose a little (think 1960s and 70s feminist movement)? Obviously, this would create problems and questions. And obviously, those questions came to Paul, their source of scriptural authority. But, having no true scripture to defer to for guidance, as this was new to him as well,  Paul responded the best way he knew how- guided by the wisdom of the Spirit, he demanded that they first, and foremost, maintain order, and do what would be most beneficial and edifying for the Body. To cut to the chase, submit to the authority of the male leadership. Men have always been the authority chosen by God, so let's keep it that way!

But, does this then nullify a woman's ability to teach a class with men in it? My opinion? No. Because in authority over those women, and the other men as well, are the God chosen male leaders, who are charged with guarding the flock, maintaining unity, and protecting the integrity of both the scripture, and Christ's church.
So, who's right? Maybe everybody. Maybe nobody. Maybe the better question is, who knows for sure?