My husband and I were talking about the things he sees on Twitter. America is clearly divided, both within and beyond the Church. The divisions seem even stronger on the Internet.He shared a comment from someone that neither of us know personally. Then he shared the troll comments from someone else we don't know either. We talked about Complementarianism and Gospel.
Here's what we disagree about: Division
I think division is natural and good for the Church. Division is part of Church history, with the clear examples being the Reformation, the schisms which produced Orthodoxy, and current subdivisions within our own familiar American denominations. The Church has been divided throughout history, beginning with the Garden and ending with the City.
The reality, however, is Christ. (Colossians 2:17)
So, as male leaders of churches in America say terrible things to and about female leaders of churches in America, I won't be surprised. This is the nature of sin. The Church is not exempt, constantly requiring the "washing of water through the word" as a Bride who always questions her value and needs reassurance She is lovely. As members of the "church" defend the indefensible words and actions of sinners trapped in sin, I won't be shocked, either. It's part of our birth story, blaming others and trying to justify away our poor behavior.
Gospel is what happens next. Our salvation isn't in our words, our actions, our attitudes towards one another. Salvation comes from Jesus' sacrifice alone. We can't look to a leader, ANY LEADER, to show us salvation. We can't trust a leader within the Church and we certainly can't look to a political leader.
In the controversy in question, I'd encourage those who disagree with me to dig in to your Bible and see what Jesus said to women. Jesus had very harsh words, but reserved them for male leaders of the church who were leading their congregations away from God's plans of restoration. Jesus sought out women who were leaders and women in the margins. Jesus reminded society of their value as individuals, able to be restored and rescued with grace. Don't take my word for it, but scour the Word to determine the Heart of Christ.
I'm not looking to join any debate. Instead, I want those who follow Jesus to lean deeply into the Bible. Talk to God in prayer and see how you are called to love your neighborhood.
Division sifts Truth from the pedestrian lies that we cling to instead for comfort. Truth is never comfortable. Truth empowers us to seek and provide forgiveness. Truth prevails.
I've left out most of the Bible references for these ideas because I want anyone interacting with this post to do the digging. I want you to see what the Bible says about following. I want you to see what the Bible says about loving. I want you to see what the Bible says about listening, and who to listen to. Examine the company that you keep. Examine the advisors that you respect. Repent and draw near to Jesus.
This is the beauty of the Gospel. We are sinners, broken and in need of life. We have damaged the relationship created by God and intended for us all along. We cannot become better or even good enough on our own, with our families, or with our churches. We need the blood of Jesus Christ to pay for our individual and collective sin. And Jesus loves us so completely that we can be restored, completely and perfectly, through faith. We can live in this new reality, imperfect still for now. We can love, imperfectly, as a shadow of Jesus.
I don't need to be 100% right. God's Truth is timeless. You don't need to agree with me, I'm probably wrong on some counts. God's Truth is timeless. There's grace for our weaknesses. There's love for our neighbor who wrongs us. There's love for our neighbor who is wrong. There's love for us when we are wrong.
Monday, October 21, 2019
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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