Posted on 05/18/2006 9:12:48 AM PDT by NYer
My wife's church (not mine) left the SBC a few years ago, not because it disagreed with them about abortion or homosexuality, but over the role of women in the church. Her church has had female deacons for decades and as I understand it the SBC frowns on that (although I have no idea whether they "outlaw" it). My wife is a deacon right now.
"Unnngh!"
Thank you SO much for such a clear and concise history lesson! I just find is so disheartening that "Christians" make such a mockery of God's word by yielding to political or monetary pressures, and especially to their own personal "desires" regardless of the issues. The fact that God sees all sin as sin and doesn't judge "big" or "little" sins the way we do should tell us something. The only "unforgivable sin" according to the Bible is rejection of the Holy Spirit. And rejection of the Holy Spirit means rejection of God's offer of salvation. The only "catch" there is repentance. You have to turn away from your "pet" sin (i.e. the one you simply "can't" let go of because it feels so good!) in order to be saved. No, I'm not speaking of a "works" but rather of "heart". It seems that so many so-called Christians simply flip God's Word to suit themselves, and then go off to find enough people who agree with whatever interpretation suits their own purposes, and bingo! A new denomination.... or (huge) variation of an old one. When God made man and woman, he didn't make a mistake in anatomy and in "which parts fit where." It should be obvious enough to anyone who believes in God at ALL that he never intended for homosexuality to be an acceptable "marriage" or "partnership." Thank you again for the explanation of the various groups. I come from an independent, fundamental Baptist background and was really hoping the SBC hadn't flipped to accept any of this. You cleared it up for me!
Nothin' wrong with that. "deacon" means "servant."
Some churches try to play a shell game by calling women who serve or work on staff "directors" or some such nonsense.
They are deacons.
Let's be honest and just call 'em by the biblical name.
It comes from "women shall keep silent in the church" which is basically interpreted as women should not preach or teach Christian men (men being adults... not children's Sunday School). I believe this goes for "leadership roles" such as pastors. Obviously this verse leads to a great deal of controversy, but then lots of things that we don't "agree" with do. If you take the verse literally, then women should never speak in a church. So since no one believes that is the case, it is taken as "leadership". In an independent-fundamental Baptist church, a woman cannot even direct the choir (however, I did exactly that in the church's Christian school.) When there is a woman at the pulpit for 40 minutes, she is a "guest speaker" not a preacher. It's all in the way you word it, I guess.
True Baptists believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible. The Bible is clear about homosexuality, in both Old and New Testaments. Ergo... the "Baptist" faction which is pro-gay is not truly Baptist.
Well, there is nothing on the SBC website that says anything about women being Deacons, though they do say the pastor role should be for men only. It is a dicey issues for sure, but one that is really blown out of proportion. Our church has had a few women Deacons and has one serving right now. I was told once that because of this our church was essentially "blacklisted" from any leadership role in our association. Well, the new Brotherhood Director for our association is the man I trained under for Disaster Relief and whose church had a woman serving as Deacon at the time he was appointed, so I think it is just people who expect there to be trouble saying something before they know the facts.
Frankly, I don't know what to think on the women serving in leadership roles issue. I don't have a problem with women serving as Deacons because there seems to be more than enough evidence that women in the early church served in that capacity. As for pastors, I haven't seen evidence where there was a woman serving as pastor and Paul even talked about them not serving.
I don't know what God wants there. Frankly, the bigger issue is to me is why so many men refuse to serve in leadership roles when asked. If they were more willing to serve, I don't this would even be an issue. For some reason, men in the church have largely seen their role relegated to bench warmer and curmudgeon at business meetings. It is no wonder churches have become more female-centric. Men don't want to do anything. We have a very hard time finding men to serve each year as Deacons. It is really sad. I view my roles as one of God's choosing, not mine. If He places it on our membership's hearts to elect me to serve as a Deacon, I have no right to refuse. Unfortunately, many in my own church don't see it that way.
Hey, ABCPS! Maybe you should consider coming "home" to the SBC... We agreee with you.
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Jeremiah 9:24 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
From one life-long Southern Baptist to another, nicely stated. God Bless all the conservatives who "took over" the Convention.
Article a little foggy, much explanation down the thread.
Is she teaching from God's Word? This is in your church?
I think God will have far more mercy on those who take 20-30 years to break a sinful habit (gambling, drugs, porn, homosexuality, etc) than he will those who re-define what He has defined as sin.
I didn't know that he had bought it. Thanks for the info and the article that you posted.
Unnngh indeed!
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