I have no doubt about this statement. I've wanted to write, speak, live that sentence out for a while now.
How do I know this?
1. 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
God is not looking for anatomy. He's looking for willing hearts. Pinholing who should or should not is not our business, it's His. Not every man is called to be a pastor, nor every woman. God does the calling and annointing.
2. In the Garden of Eden, there was a curse laid on humanity. Simply, when Jesus came, died and was resurrected, the curse was gone. We are under a new covenant. The Holy Spirit changed us on the inside and took care of the inequities.
3. The letters that discuss what should or should not be done inside the church are inadequate evidence. These are letters, which means, to judge what was being addressed requires the corresponding letters. To base theology on this alone is to not safe, or good, for anyone.
4. Jesus is not limited to the body God gave Him here on Earth. He is more than a man.
Jesus could have come to Earth as anything, a donkey, a cat, a camel. The fact he came clothe in a man's body means very little. Except he did experience humanity as a human, not solely as a man, but as a person.
Jesus could have come to Earth as anything, a donkey, a cat, a camel. The fact he came clothe in a man's body means very little. Except he did experience humanity as a human, not solely as a man, but as a person.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8
He is a person but it's not the anatomy that defines Him. He's more, bigger, greater than we can imagine. He's more than we saw here on Earth. He is the Word.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Romans 10:12
5. The body of Christ is about unity and partnership. It's about all the parts doing their part. If someone is called to something and they are not allowed to contribute then the body is broken.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16
The church will never function healthily if some of the body is not allowed to serve in how they're called.
If women that are called to be pastors are not allowed to serve, they will fill that void in the world somehow. New age, false religions, witch craft will prevail. The corporate ladder and overemphasis on taking care of the family, which are both good, is not a substitute for how God calls someone.
Why does this matter? It does and doesn't. Most of the time I'm content with what's going on in churches and I say very little. My residence is in heaven. That is what matters.
But today, today it's important.
I only do what my Father does and say what my Father says. Today He says it's important. And I say, OK.
Are there subjects greater than this. Yes. Believing He is for us, trusting in Him, going deeper in my relationship with God, getting refueled with the Holy Spirit, assisting God in getting souls to heaven. All of these things trump who is in what position on Earth.
But for 10 minutes, this is important. For someone, somewhere who is discouraged.
And the message will get to them so they can pick their heads up and keep moving. They are not alone.
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