Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: St Paul and Women Message-ID: Date: 17 May 91 06:20:56 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: State University of New York at Binghamton Lines: 45 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article smithjh@argus.CS.ORST.EDU (Jeremy Smith) writes: >... Let us lay down this bickering, >and concur in our will to God's authority to make the rules. Let's stop >treating women like second-class citizens and treat them as God >commands. Let's stop trying to second guess God's rules and have >faith(pistis). I of course agree with you that bickering gets us nowhere. It is most important that we get on with the work of the kingdom. I believe that acceptance is central to Paul's teaching, and to Christ's. The body of Christ has been divided, and it fights itself. How I long for unity in the church. I do not believe that in striving for unity of purpose, or unity of faith we need to have uniformity of faith, or of practice. I am willing to accept that you believe in following God's will. And I can understand how in faithfully reading your Bible you may conclude that women are not ordained by God. In Acts 11, some of the apostles lay into Peter for staying with uncircumcised Gentiles. But, Peter witnesses on behalf of the Gentiles, that they were given the same gift of the spirit that they were. They rejoice, and change their minds. Certainly their original stand was biblicaly based, but when faced with Peter's testimony, they decided that God felt differently. I will gladly testify that I know women who have been ordained by God, and that the gifts he has given to them are no less than the gifts he has given to men. Indeed in some cases the women I know seem to be more gifted than many men. I don't believe you'll afford me the same faith the early Christians afforded Peter, but I'm certain that many people will give similar testimony. How are we to find unity with a problem like this? I believe it is quite simple. I accept that your belief is different from my own. I believe that both of us work to serve the same Lord. You are my brother, and I am yours. Let us rejoice in our communion. Perhaps, as we work together, your beliefs may change, perhaps mine will, but I don't believe that this difference should prevent us from working for and worshipping our Lord together. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton