I’m getting somewhat armored against the insidious attacks. The insecure whether male or female, often feel they must protect certain doctrines that privilege them. And there is a questionable privilege that women feel they have by giving up primary responsibilities to a husband.

Plus, there is always the dicotomy of those who speak the language of hierarchy but live the lives of mutual honor.

I’ve been having a great weekend researching the doctrines and counters to the eternal subordination of Christ to the Father.

blessings …

Good points. The cultural issue and tradition is a really big issue too. It can take a person a lot of work to get their head around the tradition to see things another way. I think that is why Paul said that the Lord’s bond-servant must gently correct those who are in opposition. 2 Timothy 2:24, 25. Tradition is very difficult to overcome without gentleness, kindness and God’s help to remove the blinders.

Oopsmartin,
Yes I can get something together but it might take a few days as I have several things that have been waiting first. The topic got closed by the moderators because of the condescending attitude of the complementarians so I wasn’t sure where to post the information where it would be seen. I will work on that this week. It is a very important point and something that complementarians are more open to agree with the reasoning if it is posed outside of the women’s issue. Problem is that they don’t want to reason through the women’s issue because it seems they have too much invested in keeping the status quo. I will see how I can word it later this week.

Blessings and I hope you didn’t get ripped apart too much. The comps were extremely unkind on that board.

Cheryl

Right now I’m very concerned about a well laid out study of the concept of two witnesses for the establishment of Truth and Law.

Any chance you could post any already laid out studies of that on the Worthy Boards. I’d like to get that one down for myself as well. I think that is a foundational point that would help the whole body of Christ study Scriptures more effectively.

Oh and don’t forget to copyright the post.

i am constantly struck in Paul’s writings about how much emphasis he places on not offending ubelievers ‘unnecessarily’. Of course there are the clear ‘non-negotiables’ that are central to the gospel … eg: the cross is offensive and foolishness to those that are perishing (1 Cor 1:18)… but time and time again on things he implores believers to live lives of peace (1 Tim 2:2-4) and not cause unbelievers to disdain the gospel because believers live out their ‘freedoms’ without considering the consequences. (1 Peter 1: 13 - 17; 3:1 echoes this too - asking believers to have a similar attitude of putting their ‘rights’ below their desire to reach the unreached.) Perhaps the most amazing example for me is Paul pushing for circumcision to not be demanded of Gentiles at the Council in Acts 15, then he turns round and asks poor Greek Timothy to get the ‘chop’ in the very next chapter - because it would help them ‘not offend’ the Jews in the area they were going to… incredible, hey!? (I have always felt particularly sorry for Timothy!!!)

What would Paul’s advice be to us in western culture today in regards to how we apply the gospel to our culture? Of course sin is sin and must not be considered as a ‘cultural’ issue…but how much of what we ‘do’ in church is actually tradition based, rather than ’sin’ or ‘not sin’?
As paul says… we need to ask ourselves what is BENEFICIAL (but not contrary) to the gospel?

Looking forwards to getting into vv 3-16!
(-:
k

Blessings on your journey,
Cheryl

Blessings.