Comments on: Hotseat Post #4

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:07:50 +0000

Oh Bobby – I knew Rachel and the other family members would start to rub off on ya… You make me so happy… and you should probably start looking for a new T-shirt!
(you knew I couldn’t resist commenting on that one huh?)

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:27:57 +0000

If pastor means elder, then I do not think a woman should serve in that manner. Elders are men, according to the scripture.
I believe women can be pastors if you define it as “deacon” or minister. Deacons were also women in the Bible. Deacons might even preach, but really ran ministries.
It is not a matter of equality of value or worth, but simply the role. Elder is not about being in “power” but representing God’s authority. Women are more empowered by God’s design and Jesus’ example than any other religion recorded in history.

By: Mark Warnock

Mark Warnock — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:47:23 +0000

The things that helped me most with the predestination thing was taking philosophy, specifically metaphysics.
Here’s the truth: NO ONE can explain how we can have free will and causation at the same time. It is a general philosophical problem, not a Christian problem. The atheists can’t figure it out either. So we all need to relax.

By: bobby

bobby — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:21:58 +0000

See…I managed to irritate rather quickly there.
By that rationale (and I know some readers would agree with both these statements):
Why should “whats dangling between your legs” define who you should sleep with and marry?
Why should where you put your faith effect what happens after you die?
The fact is, men and women are not “equal”, no matter how much we want to use the word. I can’t breast feed my child. I tried Rachel’s pump once…nothing came out. Our bodies are different in strength. Sports are still separated, there are differences in the records, and WNBA is on ESPN in the middle of the night usually.
To deny that there is a different emotional make up between men and women as a whole would be ignoring the reality, in my humble opinion. These difference don’t diminish value, but they do play a part in defining roles.
So the question is, how does this, or does this, effect how God desires those roles and gifts to be used in the church? And while I think I could be swayed, I have to be swayed by scripture, accompanied by some honest conversation, not my desire to be more progressive.
And if you compare me to Obama again, I just might have to ban your IP address from commenting.

By: Jamie Stavenger

Jamie Stavenger — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:20:21 +0000

Hi Bobby. I thought I’d help you out a bit and say that I feel exactly the same way about Female Lead Pastors…and I’m a woman. Though I don’t mind if other church communities choose that route, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with it. Probably my strong Baptist roots emerging there a bit, but there you have it.

By: Ryan Lipert

Ryan Lipert — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Such the Obama line… “its definitely not an ability issue, its a role issue”.
Why should whats dangling between your legs define your role in the church?