Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uwm.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: math1h3@JANE.UH.EDU (David H. Wagner) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: ambitious women may approach the altar now ... Message-ID: Date: 2 Jun 91 06:12:59 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Houston Lines: 43 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , oracle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Brian T. Coughlin) writes: > > One of the main topic of debate is, in fact, whether the > Scripture quotations in question (i.e. the ones you cite about > woman submission to man) is proper to the 1st century or not. > Paul also exhorts slaves to obey their human masters with the > same reverence that they owe Christ, in the very next chapter > (Ephesians 6:5-9), but I doubt very much if you, sir, would > advocate the return of slavery for the sole purpose of fulfilling > this Scriptural command. No, there are obviously MANY instances of > where Paul was emphasizing SOCIAL law of the time... and NOT > Spiritual law (i.e. many of Paul's exhortations were directed > specifically at a 1st century society). The question is: is the > issue of "women submitting to men" one of those 1st century edicts > that is no longer applicable in our day and age? I say yes. One reason for believing that Paul's instructions. regarding the submission of women in marriage and in the church, apply to us today, is that he bases his reasoning on the circumstances of the creation and fall. In only one case that I know of, 1 Cor 11, he uses 'the order of creation' to uphold a local custom, the covering of women's heads. The slavery issue is a bit of a straw man. No, I don't advocate or like slavery. It is not clear to me, however, that if we had slavery, that it would be more God-pleasing for me to expend my energies trying to abolish it rather than spreading the gospel. Given a vote for or against slavery, I would certainly vote against it (I hope!) But Paul's choice in this matter is clear. He preached the gospel, and I think one of the beneficial side effects is that we don't practice slavery any more. Paul's (and Peter's) instruction that slaves should submit to their masters, however still has application to us today. Christians should submit to their employers. Being a good employee is a form of Christian witness, much as a good and faithful slave was a good witness for Christ in Paul's day. David H. Wagner a confessional Lutheran My opinions and beliefs on this matter are disclaimed by The University of Houston.