Catching up

Catching up

Well part one of the relocation of our ministry and the move of our household has occurred and we have a two week break before we go into phase two of the move.

Our move

This week I am going to try to catch up on the comments and questions that I need to respond to on this blog and I will try to write a few new posts as time allows.

While I was away, I gave a great deal of thought to the importance of how we view the husband as head and wife as body (one flesh union) because I can see that our understanding of the husband and wife relationship greatly influences how we view the issue of women in ministry. I have been seriously considering doing a second DVD series on men and women in marriage and how it relates to women’s ministry in the church. I would like to incorporate both biblical teaching as well as interview clips of those who have struggled through this issue in their own marriage and in their church ministry and have made it work.

If anyone has questions that they would like to see a series like this answer or suggestions for the series, I welcome any feedback that you have.

4 thoughts on “Catching up

  1. Cheryl
    glad to see you are back on deck.
    I have listened to your DVDs (Women Silenced or Set Free) once so far – ordered and received them while you were away… very well presented. Much to consider and think through. I will watch them all through again before i ask you any particular questions. BUT YES! please do a series on marriage the headship issue. It is very needed.
    My husband has watched the first of the four DVDs and is ‘cautiously’ impressed… so we’ll see what he thinks of the next 3…
    many thanks
    Kerryn

  2. Hello Kerryn,

    Thank you so much for your comments! I am also glad that your husband is ‘cautiously’ impressed with my DVD series. I have come to understand that change takes time. Being ‘cautious’ is a good thing because we must test all things by scripture. If scripture agrees, then we can accept it. If scripture contradicts the material, then we must reject the teaching no matter how much we like the person or how much we would like to believe the teaching. Scripture is our ultimate authority and being cautious is biblical.

    I have also heard from many who said that they watched the series 3 times before they felt that it had all sunk in. Pretty much everyone has told me that the series has so much information and documentation in it, that it was hard to take it all in on the first viewing.

    One Pastor had agreed last year to review WIM and point out any errors or scriptural discrepancies that he found. He thought it would be easy to disprove, but after watching the first DVD, he wrote back saying that he could clearly see that I had put much more work put into the DVD set than he had anticipated and it would take more time to review it. That was the spring of 2006 and although we have had some back and forth conversation since then, he still has not been able to find anything to refute. He ordered four more DVD sets to pass along to 3 of his pastor friends and one Christian apologist so that they could help him refute the material in the DVDs. That was late summer 2006 and to this date none of his friends have been able to help him in finding any scriptural error or any refutation of the material found in the DVD series.

    Yet even though there have been no attempts at a refutation against the position that God gifts and uses women wherever he wants to use them, I am very sympathetic to those who are having their tradition challenged. It takes great courage for people to allow their point of view to be challenged and changed. We humans as a whole do not reconsider our long-held tradition very easily. Change is hard and it takes time and effort and a strong desire for truth no matter how painful that truth is.

    Blessings to you and your husband!
    Cheryl

  3. Dear Cheryl,

    This subject has been close to my heart for many years, thank you for taking up the challenge to shed some light. It is the truth that sets you free.

    I think you will be delighted to read “Why Not Women” by Loren Cunningham and David Hamilton. If you are not familiar with the name, Loren and his wife Darlene have released hundreds of thousands into worldwide missions through Youth With A Mission.

    You will find a very valuable ally in this, especially in the area of the headship mentalities. You will not be disappointed if you take the time to read this. The headship issue is pivotal.

    Bless you,

    Corie Leahy

  4. Hi Corie,

    You are right in that the headship issue is pivotal. I have read the book “Why Not Women?” and I thought it a very good one. I especially appreciated the respect given towards the opposition. I have also found a loving and compassionate attitude coming from people like Rebecca Merrill Groothuis. These books brought out many thoughts that are very helpful to understanding the women’s issue. Each of these well-written books brought their own valid objections to the traditional hierarchal view. One of the weaknesses that CBMW has pointed out in their reviews of the egalitarian position, is that no egalitarian has successfully explained Paul’s reference to the creation account in 1 Timothy 2:13, 14. That has been true up until now. Most books with an egalitarian view have paid little attention to these important verses. However since the DVD “Women in Ministry Silenced or Set Free?” was produced in 2006, CBMW can no longer make this claim. These difficult verses have been exegeted in context using the original languages and grammar to make the link back to Genesis clear and understandable. It will now be in CBMW’s court to answer why they have inserted leadership into the text when the text itself is referencing deception and the fact that Adam was not deceived. There is no reference at all to leadership.

    Regarding headship, there is much more to be said and taught and it is my plan to do a DVD series on the issue. Thanks for your encouragement!

    Cheryl

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