Today we are starting a 3-day series on living a satisfied life in ministry. The posts are reblogged from The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, written by Kim Pennington.
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NASB).
"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. . .Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you" (2 Peter 1:5-8, 10-11).
There they are for any who would receive them--instructions and promises from the Word of God as to how to have an effective ministry and receive a reward for that ministry someday in heaven. It is interesting that in both verses, according to Jesus and the Apostle Peter, that which will make a woman (or a man for that matter) effective in her service to the Lord in this life has everything to do with her heart and character and not much to do with gifts and talents alone.
Much in gender role discussions today focuses upon the "right" of women to use their gifts in ministry and the "right" of women to retain their own identity apart from their husbands in a marriage relationship. Neither of these issues are without merit in and of themselves. In fact, the ongoing discussions about the current application of passages such as Ephesians 5 and 1 Timothy 2 have caused us to more closely examine what really comes from Scripture, and what comes to us from tradition only (the issue of abuse of women, and the past neglect of women's gifts and skills). An honest examination of these issues can't be but beneficial for us as individuals and for the church.
However, recognizing before God the full equality of a woman's personhood with her talents, skills, and gifts does not give us carte blanche permission to disregard any guidelines and standards that God's Word shows us for the role of a woman in the church and home. [see Able to Teach and Complementarian]
Nevertheless, the question always arises that if a woman is submissive to her husband (Ephesians 5:22) and/or if a woman refrains from teaching and holding positions of authority over men in the church (1 Timothy 2:12), how can she possibly expect to have a fulfilled life or a ministry of any sort? Aren't her gifts, skills, talents, and personhood being displaced and thwarted by another?
My answer to that is no. It is true that sexism and neglect of women has existed in the past and still does exist in some places. But the answer to such problems does not lie in going to an opposite, unbiblical extreme. Rather, the answer lies in both men and women adopting and adhering to a biblical view of the roles for both sexes in the home and church. So, how is it possible for intelligent and gifted woman to live a satisfied life while adhering to the commands in Scripture to submit to male headship in the home and church and to refrain from some authoritative and teaching roles in the church?
Relationship First
First, we must realize that our reason for existing is not primarily to do ministry tasks but to live in fellowship with God and seek His glory first. In John 17:3 Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God, not merely going to heaven. Colossians 1:16 states that we were created by God and for God, and in Isaiah 43:7, God states that people were created for His glory. That is why we exist--for no other reason than to glorify God. The Westminster Confession says, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Once we get our minds refocused to think that we exist for God and to enjoy Him (emphasis on relationship), then our focus becomes Him and not ourselves. It is only that relationship and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ and not activity alone that will satisfy the heart and please God.Check back over the next few days for the remainder of the post.
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