Deborah 3 Series

Dakota Community Church

October 19, 2014

Deborah 3

The topic of Deborah’s leadership very obviously leads us to reflect on the topic of women and the roles they are allowed or not allowed to play in God’s kingdom.

Two weeks ago we looked at Complementarianism; today we will consider the opposing view.

1. What is Egalitarianism?

The term Egalitarian is derived from the French word égal, meaning "equal." Thus, it involves affirming, promoting, or believing in equal rights for all people. It is the hermeneutical hypothesis, based on interpretations of scripture, that men and women are designed by their Creator to have no gender-based limitations of what functions or roles each can fulfill in the home, the church, and the society. The egalitarian view is that there are no roles or responsibilities that uniquely fall to the male, no limitations of what functions the female can fulfill in the home, the church, and the society. According to this view, women as well as men can serve as pastors, elders, deacons, etc., in light of passages like Galatians 3:28.

Egalitarians' interpretation of Scripture brings them to the conclusion that the manner and teachings of Jesus, affirmed by the Apostle Paul, abolished gender-specific roles in both the church and in marriage. Accordingly, this view teaches that God calls believers to roles and ministries in the church without regard to class, gender, or race, and all have equal responsibility to use their gifts and obey their calling to the glory of God, with no limitations or privileges according to gender. (theopedia.com )

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

2. Clear passages dictate/Scripture interprets Scripture.

Clear passages dictate but when clear passages seem to conflict with the rest of scripture the weight of scripture overall takes precedence.

1 John 3:6-8

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

According to this clear passage I am not a Christian, and I do not know God, furthermore, I have never even had the privilege of meeting a Christian.

This passage can only be understood correctly in light of the rest of scripture. In the same letter John said this:

1 John 1:8

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Here’s a clear passage that trips up a lot of people:

James 2:24

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

If that is true; and it is the inspired word of God, how can these following verses be true?

Galatians 2:15-16

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified .

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works , so that no one may boast.

In light of all of scripture we conclude that faith alone saves but that saving faith is never alone.

So what about these clear passages we examined two weeks ago?

1 Timothy 2:11-14

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man ; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

1 Corinthians 14:33-35

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak , but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church .

Do they offer a view that is in conflict with other passages in scripture?