In today’s #fridayfive, I touch on a couple of thorny issues; women’s role in ministry and hypocrisy in ministry. I also address a few other articles that have interested me this week.
First, to the use of gifts by women. Please take a look at this article. This gal was assessed by the SBC to have pastoral gifts and they even acknowledged that the assignment of gifts is only through the Holy Spirit. Yet, they told her that she would never use her gifts in the SBC. The SBC can and should do better.
Second, Julie Roys makes a good point about John MacAuthur in her analysis article. Sometimes, Julie goes too far in her attacks on others, but in this situation, I think she’s spot on. MacArthur should hold himself to the same standard that he holds others to. That’s not difficult to understand nor is it too much to ask of him.
Third, I started to watch Shiny Happy People. I grew up in a fundamental Baptist environment where harsh authority was the norm. I attended the Bill Gothard seminars twice. At the time, I enjoyed them. Now I look back at his seminars and am repulsed by what I see, though not in the way some might think. For Gothard and fundamental Baptists, women existed to make babies and obey their husbands. This series is dredging up some pain and unwanted feelings, but I sense I need to watch the entire series. Again, as I age, I’m less concerned about authority in the home and more concerned about husbands loving and serving their wives.
Fourth, the UK Vineyard is apologizing for a leader’s spiritual abuse. Christ never modelled an authoritarian way of leading. He leads by shepherding, not by ranching. Complementarians need to account for how Christ leads us today, if he is our model.
Last, The Faith and Work Project out of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary have a podcast on an empirically-informed investing strategy. I’ve not listened to it, but if you’re interested in picking your own stocks, it might be worth a listen.
Bill English, Publisher
Bible and Business
