Living to Empower and Inspire
I, like many, have been intrigued to read both the comments of John McArthur this week regarding Beth Moore and other women in ministry and to see Beth Moore’s kind and gracious response. Personally, I was beyond impressed with her honest, transparent and kind response to a pastor who seemingly sought to degrade and belittle her and all women in ministry. If you have not read it, her response is below. I think you will agree, she is to be commended for responding with grace.
I did not surrender to a calling of man when I was 18 years old, I surrendered to a calling of God. It never occurs to me for a second to not fulfill it. I will follow Jesus—and Jesus alone—all the way home. And I will see His beautiful face and proclaim, Worthy is the Lamb!
Here’s the beautiful thing about it & I mean this with absolute respect. You don’t have to let me serve you. That gets to be your choice. Whether or not I serve Jesus is not up to you. Whether I serve you certainly is. One way or the other, I esteem you as my sibling in Christ.
As one who grew up in a Wesleyan theology and Nazarene church, I have always been grateful for the churches willingness to believe that God could and would use all of us. That our ability to be used or called was not dependent on our race, education, or gender.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees it this way. There are those who use scripture as a tool to oppress and demean others. Their theological beliefs often hold to narrow views of faith that are guided by a biblical stance that is historically based on God being first and foremost just. This perspective, too often, seeks to hold others into strict narrow views that demonstrate little in the way of grace and mercy.
Part of what I have always appreciated about Wesleyan theology is that it begins with the simple statement that “God is love” (I John 4:8). This is the basis for God’s character and actions. All of life is initiated and built in love. That love is expansive and all encompassing. It sees and believes the best in each of us. It seeks and can use each of us. There are no limits to God’s love. Thus, it could be argued that those who seek to limit, diminish, degrade, demean and oppress others are acting outside of God’s love. God’s desire is to use you and me as agents of love and change in the world no matter our race, education, or gender.
It is for this reason that I have chosen to live into a theology that believes and celebrates women of faith and ministry. I believe I am a better person and man because of these ordained women who have spoken into my faith and life. I am grateful for these ladies and their faith. Their voices in and out of the pulpit are powerful and effective.
Rev. Beverly Cook
Rev. Julie Stevens
Rev. Michaele LaVigne
Rev. Chipo Makwakwa
Rev. Dixie Neal
Rev. Brit Bolerjack
Rev. Kendra Lambert
Rev. Stephanie Rowinski
Rev. Jenn Ballenger
These ladies have lived their calling both by Christ and the church in beautiful ways. Their work is to be commended and celebrated, not degraded.
Here is the greatest challenge for those who choose to live into a theology that demeans and diminishes the roles of women. Once you can diminish or demean women in your faith you can easily do it in your day to day life. If they are unable to speak into the lives of men regarding the work of Christ then they are easily ignored when you step outside the church as well. You see, husbands were called to “love their wives like Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25). Love celebrates the life, value, and the voice of others in our lives. Love makes space for others to speak, recognizing that God can use them as well.
Thus, I appreciate, celebrate, and rejoice in the other Godly women who have shaped and formed my life, views, and faith over the years.
My mom (Sandy) – she’s a saint
My sister (Tina) – she is a true servant
My wife (Katie) – she loves, cares, and speaks into the lives of all three men in our family daily.
Finally, I would be remiss not to encourage the young ladies in my family (Morgan, Joy, Gloria, Lily, and Kennedy) and in my life to live fully into what God has for you. Do not let a misogynist male spiritual figure or his theology define what God will do with you. You are more than capable of living into God’s calling. You are a child of God and you are deeply and dearly loved. Go, make a difference, serve, and speak grace and truth to everyone, both women and men. Clearly, the men in this world need to hear from Godly women.
