So I recently saw the title of a blog ‘Why We Don’t Need ‘Women’s’ Ministry and I said, “Yes!” in my heart and then read it.
It’s a funny thing what the mind can make the emotions do and the actions that follow…
It’s also ironic that I’m involved in a ladies’ Bible study in which we’re learning how to study the Bible. “Any text in the Bible has one meaning..,” I said, “and can be significant in different ways. However, we can’t make the text say what the author didn’t mean for it to say.” I do believe that is Bible study 101 – I respond almost adversarily when I hear someone say, “This is what it means to me…”
Back to Sarah Bessey’s article.
I read the article – not checking the author – which is totally not like me at all. What I read was, ‘Women need to keep Jesus at the center of their fellowship – not fluffy talk that is meaningless.’ I was encouraged at what I made this author say in my head. What I did next is one of the most foolish things I’ve done on Facebook – I commented (*ugh*). And there is more…it was a positive comment. I absolutely do not belong on Facebook. I really need to stick to just looking at family pictures…liking them and then RUNNING AWAY!!!
I was thankful that someone would say that women need more Christ-centered relationships. A friend commented – something like – ‘hmmm, not sure this women has been involved in a real women’s ministry.’ I defended Bessey once (still not even checking to see who she was or what she really was saying. My friend tried again…
I read the article a third time, read the quick bio on the author and explored who she was a bit….then I read the article again. I disregarded my own teaching and the teaching of every conference and seminary prof of whom I’ve sat gratefully under…
We cannot make the text say something it does not.
WE NEED HEALTHY VIBRANT WOMEN’S MINISTRY! We are equal but differentheirs in the kingdom! We need to live that way! Sarah Bessey is a feminist – my whole being crawls with the idea of feminism – It is a tool of the enemy to attack the family, the Trinity and our very nature of being created in the image of God! (Although I hate the idea of feminism, my heart breaks for the feminist…but that is for a different blog).
Lesson learned – humiliation felt. I want to be faithful.
Ephesians 1.1b says ‘…and are faithful in Christ Jesus:’
We talked Monday night among the ladies what ‘faithful’ is. James Montgomery Boice says it is ‘exercising your faith’. Our faith has 3 elements:
- intellectual – a faith proclaimed and understood
- emotional – a reality of the substitutionary death of Christ and how we are affected by it and
- volitional – what we do in response to what we know and feel – our will
I want to be faithful in all that I do, say, or read…my faith tells me that I need to be a Berean – be careful of all I read or hear – think before I act. I want to not respond emotionally to my own agenda but be moved by the grace of the cross and finally I want to respond with the utmost of care so as not to defame the name of Christ to anyone that would read my silly responses.
By the way…thank you Lisa…