Women in Leadership and Why I am again Glad to be an Anabaptist

(I suggest you read the interview before you read my scattered thoughts) Here is a fascinating interview from CNN. I was reminded again of how delighted I am to be an Anabaptist, particularly one who believes in women literally having their heads covered, when Dr. Jones was put in a corner on the issue of the covering and also war and the government. I felt that Janet Parshall should have been a little more definite in stating that women and men are equal in value and importance, they simply have role differences. The example of women not being an afterthought of creation was good. I think that God made woman later than everything else to give Adam time to learn how handicapped and incapable he was without woman.

This interview does clearly highlight how flawed it is to believe that we can just read the Bible and know what is right. Everyone views Scripture through a lens. I believe that Jesus needs to be our lens for interpreting Scripture. He was the fulness of God revealed. It is through this complete revelation of God that we can understand all the rest of Scripture. I did like Dr. Jones’ point that the Scripture and the will not be inconsistent with each other because they are both of God. Jesus is the Logos, the source of all good and truth. He is the Word.

Larry King Live

Should Women Be Pastors?

Aired June 14, 2000 – 9:00 p.m. ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, a Baptist battle over whether women should be pastors. Joining us from Greenville, South Carolina, Dr. Bob Jones III, president of Bob Jones University; from Nashville, the Reverend Raye Nell Dyer, president of Baptist Women in Ministry; with me in New York, radio talk show short Janet Parshall of “Janet Parshall’s America,” and the Reverend Stan Hastey, executive director of the Alliance of Baptists. It’s all next on LARRY KING LIVE.

A Friend’s Wonderful Summary

A friend sent me a paper he read as a commencement address at a local Mennonite high school. He told me that it was very satisfying because it was the big picture view of all the things he has been referencing and trying to say to the graduates for the last four years. It is a masterful piece and it is available for reading here or for download as a pdf here.

Evangelicals Try to “Keep America Christian” When it Never Was

By Justin Webb

The current US presidential debates are almost certain to see the candidates asked to comment on spiritual issues, but some Americans are worried about the trend towards religiosity in public life.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will be challenged on their beliefs

At my twins’ annual school camp in West Virginia, you are meant to leave your troubles behind.

It is an idyllic couple of days – a communing with nature which my wife gallantly insists is simply too enjoyable for her to take part in – it has to be a dad’s experience.

Actually it is not that uncomfortable. The tents are sensible structures with plenty of room to stand up. There are rudimentary bunk beds you can bang your head on in the early morning.

The setting is a reminder too of the size of the United States – only two hours from the nation’s capital, these are woods and fields as empty and isolated as any in the Scottish Highlands.

Taleban Fighter’s Boat Sinks

BBC breaking news reported that a boat on an Afghan river sank, killing 60 people including Taleban fighters.

What is your gut reaction when you read that? Do you inwardly cheer?

What is your gut reaction when you hear of American soldiers dying in Iraq? Are you disappointed because of the American losses?

The American soldiers are fighting to preserve their god: America and what they consider to be a basic human right, freedom. The Taleban fighters are fighting for their god: Islam and the pious command to destroy heretics. As a members of the Kingdom of God, can we be consistent in cheering when Taleban fighters die? Are we not cheering because we have become idolaters? We have set up our way of life, our personal security, and our nation as our gods.

The Kingdom of God needs to cry every time death visits anyone, particularly those who have a God other than the King who conquered by surrendering all His own rights and dying.

All or Nothing

I have recently been looking at Jesus statements and parables in the last part of Luke 14. Verse 26 is the shocking “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” This verse sets the stage for the illustration Jesus gives a little later. Some people have done strange things with the “hate” verse. My Bible has a helpful note from the translators stating that the word “hate” is to be taken as a comparison to how much we love Jesus. We are to love Jesus so much that the love we have for our families and spouses looks like hate in comparison.

Jesus goes on to say that, just like you had better make sure that you have enough money to build a building before you start so that you don’t run out part way through, we need to consider the costs of discipleship. Just like people lose respect for an irresponsible contractor who does not arrange the funds necessary to complete a project, we need to make sure that we will not become a laughingstock because we began the journey of discipleship, but then are not willing to pay the price of complete surrender. Jesus tells us to count the costs. Are we willing spend what it costs to be his disciple? Are we willing to pay everything that we have. Are we willing to die.

A major problem with American Christianity is that people are not willing to pay the price to be true disciples. Because of this the church has become something to push aside. It is considered to be full of hypocrites with nothing of worth or substance to offer to the real world. It is a crutch for weaklings. It is like a sappy love song that touches the heart of an inebriated drunk. Christians have not shown that they are dedicated enough to pay the price of discipleship and because of this the world has assumes they are not strong enough to address real problems.

Because people like you and me were not willing to give all, Christianity is being scorned. If you and I pay the price of discipleship, we will begin to turn the poor conception of the church around, starting with those we know. The love of God that flows through us will feel stronger than any love they have ever felt, even if it looks like hate in comparison to our love for God.

Saving Our Nation’s Moral Foundation-Is it our job?

If Jesus had wanted to cause moral reform, He would have got on the boat with the Pharisees. If any one was moral they were. Instead He rejected their moral actions which were not backed by an inner change. He rejected using their methods and organization for the purpose of coercing people to do right. Instead He called people to an inner change out of which would flow truly good action. It is not our business to try to cause people to do right or to deter moral decline in our nation. We are not to get on the bandwagon with the moral reformers of our day and attempt to use the government’s laws to cause right living and stop immorality and the breakdown of society and the family. We are to call people to love God and their fellow men with all their heart and they will begin to do right as an automatic response.

Questions About Government

How should Christians feel about government? Should we be willing to express opinions on which type is best? Is one kind superior to the others according to God? Does the fact that God established monarchy mean anything or was that only because the people demanded it? Does democracy fit better with Scriptural teachings better than other forms? Is political and moral freedom a right that Scripture supports as being undeniable? What does God want us to believe about justice and its maintenance by the government? Should we feel differently about the person killing in a crime and the person killing a criminal? (If one takes a very literal view of Scripture, someone killing as a government agent of justice or someone killing as a soldier or someone killing in a crime all face the same consequences of taking a life when killing is bad.) How should the Christian support the governments role to “execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Rom. 13:4) and still be against killing, coercion of people, and the weapons of this world?

This is a list of questions off the top of my head. I am beginning to study the subject of the Church’s prophetic ministry to the government and society. These questions are related and questions similar to this have been bouncing around in my head for a while. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

“Be not conformed….”: Mennonite Traditions

In a recent conversation with a friend I came to some conclusions about Mennonite traditions that have to do with separation from the world. The key verse which Mennonites base most of their nonconformity on is of course Rom. 12:2. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” There is some grounds on which to argue that the “conformed” is not talking about, or at least not primarily about physical things. My goal here is not to address the depths of this verse, so I will go on.

Mennonites have tended to say that since we should not be conformed, we should look different, act different, and speak different. I agree that we should not look, act, or speak in a sinful way, but let us be careful that we do not say things are wrong that are not wrong. I agree that we should not dress in a way that looks like a satanist, but does the Bible condemn certain kinds of clothes other than those that are immodest, that demonstrate pride, or that identify us with sin? I agree that we should not dwell on music that is evil and that glorifies sin, but does the Bible condemn instruments? These are just a few examples, but I think they demonstrate the point I am trying to make. Conservative Mennonites have tended to define what is evil and what is not simply because the rest of the world does it. They have tended to define many things that the rest of the world does as evil simply because it is “like them”. We need to be careful what we label sin and what conservative Mennonite tradition has said is good. It may be good for some, but is it necessary for all?

Some have argued that it does not matter that our traditions make it difficult for others to join our churches. They say we should not patronize sinners. If they are serious they will come. I agree that we should not remove Scriptural commands to make it easy for others to join our church, but there is a New Testament precedent for removing unnecessary traditions to make it easier for others to join. The whole point of Paul’s presentation to the Jerusalem Council was that the Mosaic law was not part of the Gospel and that it should not be required of converts. Acts 15:10 “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” If it is helpful for you to continue in the Conservative Mennonite traditions, continue practicing them with my blessing, I hold to quite a few myself. Let’s avoid preaching a gospel that is not Christ’s and requiring heavy yokes that are not a necessary part of His Kingdom.

Culture and Scriptural Commands

P.(pre)S.-I spend the 22-26 traveling to, at, and from Atlanta Georgia for the International Woodworking and Furnituremaking Show. I had a good time, an amazing hotel (indoor/outdoor swimming pool, suana, dry suana, 48 floors, glass elevators), and no internet. I am back and at lunch today I struck upon this cognition.

Most problems between Mennonites could be solved if we could come to an agreement on what is culture, what is Scriptural commands, and what is culture that is so good that it should be kept even if it is not a command. Much of the disagreements between Mennonites which cause church splits, build relational walls, and cause an inability to cooperate in Kingdom work are caused by the struggle between culture and Scriptural commands and where the two start, stop, and overlap. I do have opinions about where these lines are. I will not state them here. I will ask some questions and would appreciate your responses. If you respond I will answer anything you ask me. I do not wish to spout opinions outside of dialog because they may be misunderstood and only be a catalyst for distracting argumentation.

What are the commands of Scripture?

What are the statements in Scripture which only apply to New Testament civilizations?

What are the areas of conservative Mennonite culture that are not Scriptural commands?

What are the areas of conservative Mennonite culture that are not Scriptural commands, but should be practiced by all Christians?

How much should the good things of Mennonite culture be an issue in hindering fellowship and cooperation with others?

How do we handle other Mennonites who value Mennonite culture to a greater or lesser degree than we do?

What parts of Mennonite culture are very good for Mennonites, but are not necessarily helpful for most potential converts?

What important questions have I missed and who has all the answers?