Thursday, May 10, 2012
Spiritual and/or functional equality...
I shared last post about spiritual equality in Christ. There has been quite a bit of conversation lately about whether spiritual equality means functional equality. That is, since we are spiritually equal in Christ ("niether male nor female) then we must be functionally equal. In other words, anything a woman can do in the kingdom, a man can do also. And whatever a man can do, so can a woman. This is especially used when talking about leadership roles in worship and in the church. Does spiritual equality mean that men and women should both be preachers, worship leaders, elders, etc? Or is there a difference in spiritual and functinal equality?
You have to make some assumptions to hold the position of functional equality.
One is that functional equality is a universal principle that God expects his people to follow. Just as spiritual equality is a principle that must be followed.
Second is that function is dependent on spirituality.
Another is that to not be equal in function is to imply some kind of "second class" spirituality.
By the way, I think it is possible to argue for functional equality based on other considerations. However, the one I hear most often is the Galatians 3 passage which I believe teaches spiritual, not functional, equality. And beleiving there are other ways to argue a point does not mean you have to agree.
So more to come on whether God expects functional equality in the Kingdom. But be thinking on whether there is a difference between spiritual and functional equality. And realize I am thinking these things thru myself.
You have to make some assumptions to hold the position of functional equality.
One is that functional equality is a universal principle that God expects his people to follow. Just as spiritual equality is a principle that must be followed.
Second is that function is dependent on spirituality.
Another is that to not be equal in function is to imply some kind of "second class" spirituality.
By the way, I think it is possible to argue for functional equality based on other considerations. However, the one I hear most often is the Galatians 3 passage which I believe teaches spiritual, not functional, equality. And beleiving there are other ways to argue a point does not mean you have to agree.
So more to come on whether God expects functional equality in the Kingdom. But be thinking on whether there is a difference between spiritual and functional equality. And realize I am thinking these things thru myself.
