Part 3: How to move forward? A better understanding of authority and equality.
So how can we move forward with the complementary conversation?
- A bad way to go is to be the kind of complementary person who doesn’t know how to criticize other complementary people.
- But never does so with a positive argument.
- But with something like “I’m not that kind of complementary person.
- “”.
An incorrect way to do this is to indicate the categories of differences, but never place the content in those categories, as this can lead to functional egalitarianism in our discipleship.
An incorrect way to do this is to affirm equality between men and women, but never to preach about the essential and indispensable work of women, which may lead to underestimating the role of women in the Great Commission.
A bad way to do this is to focus on male authority, but not male service or responsibility; or just talk about what women can do, not what they can’t. Al Mohler responds to this rhetoric: “The reality is that any consistent position includes both affirmation and denial, and we have to be honest about it. “Christians should always ask what we can do and what we cannot do.
Christian growth is not just about freeing ourselves from restrictions, this means the freedom to conform to God’s truth, this occurs when we are constrained by obedience, discipline, boundaries, like a small plant reinforced by a guardian, a rose healed by size. , or a child who acquires wisdom through study. To be a woman, as I said, is to be a kind of platform for the cultural mandate and the Great Commission, and to be a man is another. Praise God for your harmonious gifts.
I believe that a better way forward means waiting for the world, flesh and devil to attack gender equality and difference, at different times and in different ways, so Christians should continue to seek a better mutual understanding in the scriptures, always paying attention to new horizons and new threats More precisely?
There is a satanic version of authority and a pious version of authority; there is an authority as envisaged in creation and exercised in redemption, and there is such an authority that is exercised in the fall; divine authority creates life as the root of the word itself Build, team up, strengthen, serve. Satanic authority steals, takes, diminishes, destroys.
Divine authority, as set forth in the scriptures and as I have witnessed, is rarely an advantage for those who possess it. That means leading and making decisions, of course. Jesus drove. And what the pious leader feels every day is not the benefits, but the weight of responsibility, guilt and even the guilt of others, this is extremely costly and usually involves sacrificing everything, which requires an end to personal desires. In the meantime, those are: this authority generally has most of the advantages. Aren’t that exactly what we see in the use of Jesus’ authority?
In addition, we need to better understand the difference between the commanding authority and the authority of the board. Do both types of authority have the ability to command? Mandates binding to conscience, as in “should you?”However, only those with dominion Authority use the power to enforce the law. Those who have the authority of the board do not have it.
For example, God grants the state an application mechanism. He calls it “the sword. ” It gives parents of young children a control mechanism: “the stick”. It also gives the entire congregation this mechanism: “the keys”. The sword, stick, and keys allow the bearer to unilaterally impose his orders. criminal to jail. Parents discipline the child and the congregation excommunicats the member.
Now, stop and think: does the Bible give husbands this mechanism of application somewhere?In both cases, I think the answer is no, husbands and pastors have real authority, because Jesus will hold wives and church members accountable on the last day, but husbands and pastors do not have God’s moral right (authority) to impose their decisions.
This largely shapes the nature of complementary authority and protects against abuse. Husbands must live with their wives in an integral way. Pastors must preach with great patience. Either way, they must love, be kind, considerate. Lead with teaching and example, but they must also be the best and most understanding listeners. The goal is never to force decisions. Forced decisions by wives or church members are worth little; instead, the goal in both cases is to make decisions out of love and even attraction. The husband’s loving care must be attractive to the wife. The holiness of an old man must be attractive, attractive to a member.
Just as there is a satanic and pious version of authority, there is also a satanic and pious version of equality. The satanic version is a product of Genesis 3: “you will be like God”. You’re like God, you can define and create a universe for yourself. Everything in you is good.
This satanic version of equality operates through power and is defined in terms of oneself. She looks inward, lists her assets and virtues, and then affirms herself by comparing herself to others: “I am as intelligent as him. ” She has a keen sense of the law. He is still making requests. I deserve it, am I entitled to that? Finally, satanic equality generates a war of all against all, because everyone makes their claims.
Divine equality has little or no place to assign roles, responsibilities, differences and, above all, hierarchies, seeks to level all hierarchies because the sense of self is rooted in the self and can therefore tolerate few limitations imposed from the outside. praises the “difference,” but the next it suppresses it because the difference always seems to be a threat to equality. Thus, it tends to likeness, to androgynia, to conformism.
Divine equality follows a short-term reflection. Promise immediate gain: you will be like God. Therefore, do not consider any role in subduing or discussing restrictions. She lives in continuous self-affirmation.
It is individualistic and therefore insensitive to the concerns of others, because identity is rooted in the self. She is hypocritical and self-correcting, always convinced that her arguments are correct; ends up destroying relationships. It employs group groups and identities for pragmatic and selfish purposes. Groups serve to exalt and strengthen the self.
Divine equality, on the other hand, is shown in two previous chapters of Genesis: “God created man, in his image, in the image of God, created him; man and woman created them?This equality is not disturbed by the distinction between man and woman, nor, implicitly, by any other difference it might have made between the bearers of this image. Equality is rooted in the gift of your image. The bearers of this image are equal by virtue of the image of God. .
Divine equality depends on the Word of God, it is defined in terms of God, in the face of the inequalities of this world is discovered by faith, its standard path is not power, but humility, a humility that allows him to speak with everyone. the strength of those who have heard God speak, even when external comparisons fail. Start by listening, “Who does God say I am?” This equality raises questions and seeks his responsibilities: “God, what does the Lord want me to do??
Divine equality does not feel threatened by God-given roles, responsibilities, and even hierarchies. He rejoices in difference, confident that every distinction designed by God has a purpose and contributes to the countless refractions of his glory. This does not imply that God’s designations for different administrations and positions, responsibilities, and roles violate equality. Instead, he sees them as many parts of a body, each with the purpose of doing the whole body’s work. Follow long-term thinking.
Divine equality therefore maintains a space for sacrifices, restrictions, and the call to submission; After all, God gives everyone a role. And for each position, it establishes a set of rules, procedures and jurisdictional limits, we must all follow in our footsteps, whether leader or follower, we must all maintain the speed limit and drive in the direction he tells us. We must all submit to him and his law. As long as they submit to him. In this sense, there is no difference for a human being between directing and being guided. To lead according to God’s law is to be guided according to God’s law. They’re the same, because their law is unique.
Divine equality gives way to difference, defined hierarchically or not, because all and all serve God; all must submit to him or receive the fire of his judgment if they do not; However, living according to your law, says the Psalmist, is a blessing. . It creates a community of peace, harmony, shalom, where individuals bear fruit like trees planted by streams of water.
Finally, divine equality is more sensitive to the needs of others, recognizes the shared bond between all mankind by virtue of our common creation in the image of God, has a humble attitude towards others, recognizing that everything a person possesses comes from above. Indicate group groups and identities for theological purposes. If God has created something, it is good and must be celebrated, because he will teach us about it.