The Way We Treat Women

This has been something that I have been meaning to right on for some time. And now with the recent removal of the president of a major Southern Baptist Seminary for statements he made about females, and the advice he gave to one in an abusive relationship, I knew it was the right time to address this issue. For many of our traditions and beliefs stem from we learned from our ancestors, many of whom worshipped in the master's church and were taught the same. As I look at the "me-too" movement and how so many have been caught up in its web, I have to wonder, how many men of faith, or men who grew up in Christians families felt that they had the right to do things that were not of God to women because of the way women have been treated in the church. Many of the ways that men look at women come from our interpretation of scripture, starting with the two creation stories. Many men overlook the first creation story where God said, let us make humankind in our image. Or as a man told me one time, the second creation story is a continuation of the first story when God put Adam to sleep and created Eve from the man's rib. Many fail to acknowledge that man was only a contributor in the process, he didn't even have the opportunity to be a spectator in the process. God does say after "The Fall" that a wife would be subject to her husband. I will deal with that later. Another view stems from the fact that the culture of the Bible is patriarchal. We must then make the choice of whether that is prescriptive or descriptive. My view is that it is descriptive. Then there are the Epistles of the New Testament that clearly point out the limitations placed on women. However, between those positions and traditions is Jesus. God brought Jesus to earth and man had no involvement in the process. God used a woman. And then let's look at how Jesus embraced women. Also, women held leadership roles in the church. The patriarchial rules placed on women, centered around Christianity being accepted by the Roman government. We must stop treating women like second-class citizens in the church. Not only do they constitute a majority in many of the churches, they have gifts that the rural black church needs. Yes, I support women preachers. I have licensed two. I am very happy to see that some rural black churches have female pastors. I have also ordained women as deacons. Four of my five deacons are women. I encourage all to examine their thoughts on women in ministry. And if the women are to be silent. They should not sing, give announcements, read poetry, not to mentions so many others things they do in the church. It is a new day. As men in the rural black church, women in ministry does not make us any less a man. In fact, women in ministry makes us stronger men.