Tag: gender

Intentional Design

Carl Pollard

Everyone on earth was intentionally designed by God. This fact should help us to remember that every person we meet is an opportunity to serve someone made in the image of God. 

God created us by making a deliberate choice to design us based on what He desired. Basically, who we are is no mistake. Who we are is intentional. Who we are is by design. 

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;  male and female he created them.” Both men and women are equally created in the image of God. Not just male, or just female; both are created in His image. 

Nothing else on earth can be what we are. God intentionally designed us this way, and that means we matter to God! Men and women were created to be a reflection of the community God has had from the beginning. Complementary in function and design, equal in value, and created to create. 

God could have made a fresh batch of humans each time one died.  God could have made us like self reproducing amoebas. Instead, God designed humans to multiply and fill the earth. He designed us for community. There would be a lot less division if we would remember this. 

Though he designed us perfectly, our decision to reject God’s path brought brokenness into this world–affecting bodies, gender relationships, and even the ability to have healthy families. But God loved the world. He desires for all people to know him because all are equally valuable in his sight. 

So God sent his son into the world. Jesus was the perfect image of the invisible God. As we saw Jesus’ perfect love, we learned of God’s perfect love and nature. He died to create a family, a spiritual family made up of every age, race, and culture and a family formed into a church who is like his bride (A bride he died to save so that we could be united with Him for all eternity). 

May we never forget that we are the product of intentional design. A design created by Almighty God! 

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XVI)

Unity And Gender Roles (11:1-16)

Neal Pollard

A church prone to division will suffer symptoms in just about every way such can be measured. Corinth seemed to take pride in all the wrong things–who baptized them, how much knowledge they had, what spiritual gifts they possessed, how much money they had, and, apparently, who, by gender, was in charge or had responsibility for church leadership. So, Paul has to take the time to share God’s will on the matter.

THE OVERARCHING PRINCIPLE OF HEADSHIP

This section of Scripture has proven difficult for many Bible students. While we will address the “head covering” below, often we miss the point of the paragraph. Paul leads out with it: “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God” (3). Everything that follows serves as an illustration of that truth. Paul will apply this truth to the assemblies in chapter 14. Paul gives some reasons why God has decided to order things as He has. Man was not made from woman, but woman from man (8). Man was not created for woman, but woman was made for man (9). One might not understand or like that principle, but that does not change the truth of it. By following this principle faithfully, a congregation can eliminate this as a divisive issue.

THE MUTUAL DEPENDENCE OF BOTH GENDERS

Before we get to the head covering, Paul clarifies an important point. Perhaps anticipating this as a reason for boasting or resentment, he reminds men and women in Christ of how equally they depend upon each other (11). He says, “for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God” (12). As other passages demonstrate, this is not a matter of superiority and inferiority. God assigns different roles and responsibilities within the body. An elder is not inherently smarter or more important because he is an elder. He just has a different role, one that carries oversight and superintendence. So it is with man’s role in home and church leadership. 

THE CULTURAL EXAMPLE OF SUBMISSION 

A couple of points should be made about Paul’s illustration of headship and submission. When Paul refers to a woman artificially covering her head, the word “cover” means ” To cover with a veil or something which hangs down” (Zodhiates, np). Arndt and the others, in the BDAG lexicon, appeals to contemporary secular writing for what this veil was like, saying, “The covering of the clothes on the head is of such a kind that the whole face seems to be covered as with a mask (517). So, this would more resemble a burka than a doily. Second, Paul makes clear that such a covering is not commanded nor should it be divisive. He summarizes the discussion, saying, “If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God” (16). We know this is true because the hair of the women in the congregation at Ephesus was visible (1 Tim. 2:9), as was the hair of the women of the congregations in the five regions Peter wrote to (1 Pet. 3:3). Significantly, the context of 1 Timothy 2 deals with a worship and assembly context, as does 1 Corinthians 11. 

My friend, Denny Petrillo, is a formidable Greek scholar and he helps clarify a lot of the confusion this has caused some in understanding this section of Scripture. In answering whether or not this passage requires women to wear head coverings in the assemblies today, he says “no” for the following reasons:

1) It is not commanded here or elsewhere in Scripture.
2) The practice of wearing veils was not found in other locations
3) Proponents of the veil have had difficulty explaining verse 15
4) The impact of the teaching is no longer relevant for today.
5) The practice was not universal in the New Testament
6) The practice was not found in the early church.
7) It might be successfully argued that the context of 1 Corinthians 11 is the misuse of spiritual gifts by these women.
8) Inconsistency in application (holy kiss, foot washing).
9) Is there any relevance for single women or widows?

(Each of these nine points is substantiated with lengthy, persuasive argument; Contact me if you would like his entire document on this)

The question is not whether it is acceptable for a woman to cover her head when she comes to worship today. It is a legitimate conviction and may be a matter of conscience for some today, and they should not be ostracized or judged for so doing. However, it is not something which should be made a test of fellowship, either, nor something which should divide God’s people today.

Paul is seeking to root out division wherever it reared its ugly head. When a congregation is prone to have strife, it can affect every area of life. We must maintain our view of Christ’s bigger picture and strive to be united by honoring our individual roles and responsibilities. 

Identifying As A Christian

Neal Pollard

There are so many “identifying” stories these days. A white woman, Rachel Dolezal, identifying as a black woman, was back in the news over the weekend. A biological female who identifies as male and has taken testosterone, Mack Beggs, won the Texas girls wrestling title. In a recent interview, Dr. Keith Ablow suggested that such delusional (he is using the term in a psychological, not pejorative, sense) reasoning opens the door for a young person who “identifies” as a 65-year-old to receive Medicare benefits (foxnews.com). Really, every new case of “identifying” reveals the absurdity behind the thinking. All the wishing, wanting, and hoping in the world cannot change ironclad facts. As we used to say discussing reality of any kind growing up, “It is what it is.”

If there is anything more harmful than delusion, it may be denial. For centuries, good, sincere people have claimed to be Christians who have not followed what the New Testament reveals is necessary to become one. They have followed some humanly-devised plan or idea (accept Jesus in your heart by faith, say a prayer, believe the Holy Spirit gives you an experience of grace, etc.). Leaders and teachers who have devised such ideas do not do so from a sustainable, biblical source.  Repeatedly, whether in the gospels (Mark 16:16), the book of history (Acts 2:38; 22:16), or the epistles (Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21), we find a simple, but essential, act that stands between one not being and being a Christian. But the idea that one can fail to do this and still be a Christian is pervasively taught, believed, and practiced.

Akin to this is the belief that one can claim to be a Christian, then live any way they wish. Their speech, conduct, and attitude can exactly mirror and mimic the world’s. Their aspirations, pursuits, and values can be completely worldly. But, when death visits a loved one or comes to them or at some similar time when it would be advantageous to claim so, they aver that they are a Christian. While they may have followed God’s plan to become one, they think of themselves as saved and safe even while walking in darkness (cf. 1 John 1:6-9).

It takes more than a claim. Facts are stubborn things. The ultimate source of what is factual is God’s Word. It educates us about gender (Gen. 1:27) and race (Acts 17:26). It educates us about who a Christian is (Acts 2). It educates us about faithful Christian living (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). If we wish to be accurate in the way we “identify” ourselves, we must let Scripture inform our view!

rachel_dolezal_speaking_at_spokane_rally_may_2015

“Is It Possible To Be Born With The Wrong Skin?”

Neal Pollard

Freedom of speech may be a constitutional right, but do you ever wish people did not feel so free to exercise that right?  It’s hard not to bemoan the cultural lunacy that appears to be another step down the slippery slope from rational to irrational thought.  Bruce Jenner claims to identify as a woman despite the biology of his birth.  Now, Rachel Dolezal, the president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP who is born to two white parents, identifies herself as African-American.  Her story has ignited yet another “identity crisis” conversation, complete with its own Twitter Hashtag (#WrongSkin).  Some who have posted there are engaging in some intelligent tongue in cheek and sarcasm, but many more seem to be seriously conflicted about their racial identity.  Our ancestors would be in utter disbelief of the lack of critical thought they would hear in such discussions.

But let’s carry this line of “thought” further:

  • I was born to middle class parents, but I identify as the son and heir of Bill Gates.
  • I barely passed High School, but I identify as a Rhodes Scholar.
  • I am a lazy couch potato, but I identify as an elite triathlete.
  • I cannot carry a tune in a bucket, but I identity as a musical virtuoso.
  • I scorch water and ruin Ramen noodles, but I identify as a world-class chef.

You know, you can claim anything, but that does not make it so.  Sometimes, the best way to expose an absurdity is to escort them further down that slope.  Then, they can get a better look at themselves.

Claiming to be a woman when you are a man or to be one race when you are another is head-scratching, but did you know that there are people making a much more serious claim whose incorrect conclusion is infinitely more grave?  A great many people, asked if they are a Christian, say “yes.”  However, though they identify as a Christian, they have not followed the plan God put in place whereby one becomes a Christian.  Jesus says that claiming does not equate to being (cf. Mat. 7:21-23).  He also says there is but one way (John 14:6).  We can strongly identify ourselves as a Christian, but have we actually been “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5)? Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16).  Peter said, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).  Ananias said, “Get up and be baptized, and washing away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). Paul wrote, “We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). He also said, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Peter wrote, “Baptism now saves you” (1 Pet. 3:21).  Now, Scripture sets other conditions in place one must meet in order to receive God’s grace and salvation, but the overwhelming majority do not reject faith and repentance.  They do, however, dismiss the role of baptism as a divine condition for salvation. In light of the above Scriptures (and there are others, too), how can one refuse to obey this and yet still claim to belong to Christ (cf. Luke 6:46)?