I think you will also find, when you dig deeper into some of the posts and discussions, that there is quite a kaleidoscope of opinion being expressed. In particular there are not only typical comp/egal differences expressed but there can also be some gender divides and within the egal majority here, there is a wide variety of opinion on how different or similar men and women really are. There are also different egal “takes” on everything from Genesis 2 to 1 Timothy 2. All of that, of course, leads to a lively and colorful discussion.

So, be of good cheer. Not only will your insights from outside the “comp/egal framework” be welcomed and eagerly explored, but you may also find that that framework in and of itself is not so rigid and easily defined.

Welcome to my blog and this forum!

As far as talking outside of the comp/egal framework, I would hope that I am able to do that as an apologist and “normal” Christian. You will find me arguing against a particular egal position if I can see that it doesn’t fit. The reality is that the text should be what is key, not a parochial mindset that limits ones view to the establishment’s “truth”.

Thanks for your comments.

K Liebens,
Really??? So, then why are the Chinese aborting female fetuses in record numbers in order to have a male child instead????
Really??? So, then why are millions of little girls sold into sex slavery in places like Thailand??

That is the reality.

“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4
Curious that you quoted this verse. Isn’t a crown worn on top/over the “head”?

You said:
“All this debate comes down to one thing, either Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life, or we are. If we are not surrendered to His word and His will, we can always find a loophole to justify our rebellion.”

And I agree. Women have been rebelling against the call of God on their lives for hundreds of years because they prefer to serve men rather than God and avoid the persecution that comes with making the choice to serve God rather than men.
When God comes and asks these women why they have buried their talents, what are they going to say?
What judgement will be on them?
And what worse judgement will be on the teachers who taught women to bury their talents and said that God would be pleased with them if they buried what He gave them?

I agree the the Word of God needs to be our final authority. God alone is the One who gives the gifts and He commands that we use our gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ. If we refuse to obey His Word and refuse to use our gifts as He has commanded, then we are letting the foolishness of the tradition of men rule our lives and we set the Lord Jesus beneath the authority of men.

I pray that all of us will be brave enough to step out into whatever area that Jesus has called us and obey Him instead of men. What seems wise in the eyes of men is often in opposition to the wisdom of God from His Word.

17“ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

I’m not sure you’re being a pain. I’m with you. I get tired of certain men insisting on keeping women from fully expressing their Spirit-given gifts of leadership and wisdom in the name of “keeping them in their place”. I would say that’s quenching the Spirit, something that both men and women are explicitly told NOT to do (and props to whoever can find that Scripture, since my brain can’t think of where it is).

If it’s any encouragement, keep encouraging the women you are working with and ministering beside (and to). As they claim their God-given gifts, they will have a huge impact, especially on the fear-and ego-driven men who insist on keeping them down. This (hopefully) works something like a root driving itself into a wall: it keeps working its way down, expanding as it goes, and eventually it will bring the wall down, since it has weakened it all the way to its foundation. Once the wall (in this case being gender separation theologies) comes down, we’ll find that there was really nothing to be afraid of after all, whether we were on the side of the hierarchicalists afraid of women claiming their God-given gifts, or women too afraid to use them. We’ll find that the freedom we have is a beautiful thing, and one we’ll use to build up to the Body, not tear it down.

But often when I stop and say something, it is more for the benefit of the “mighty women of valor” in training than the men who want to oppose them. It’s for the timid ones who feel God tugging on their hearts and whispering in their ears, “Is it better to obey God or men?”

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. This is for men AND women.
But they that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Again, this is for men AND women.
And no Christian man need fear a Christian woman who is stong and does exploits for her God.
If a Christian man does fear such a woman, well, he needs to take it up with his God, not try to stop women from following the Bible.

My anti-spam word is pain. I hope I’m not being one to Cheryl, Dave, pinklight, or any of the other regulars.
I don’t really care if I am one to Liebens. If I need to care, then may God deal with my heart.

“Much of the text is confounded by the writer’s inability to recognise and address key paradigms or precepts of a gender liberalist nature which he has internalised through societal influences. This in turn has undermined an absolutist view of the relevant scripture and his creedal base.”

Are you sure?

I thought that perhaps you had failed to recognise your own confounding through your own inability to address and recognise key paradigms and precepts regarding gender equality that are both implicit and explicit within scripture which you have apparently not internalised, but rather attempted to undermine through an absolutely literal and non-contextual (to the point of being irrelevant and nonfactual) view of scripture.

I do not know enough about you to make comments on your credal base!