A Woman’s Place

Now that I’ve gotten your attention with the title, I will proceed. 😉

In my ongoing desire to see churches function biblically and to see Christians think clearly, one area that we must think about, especially as African Americans or as black people, is the role of women
in the church and to some degree in civil society.

Let’s consider these questions:

1. Is a woman biblically permitted to serve in the church? If so, how? (Please provide Scripture references to justify your answer.)

2. Is a woman biblically permitted to serve as a pastor or co-pastor of a local church? (Please provide Scripture references to justify your answer.)

3. Is there a difference between preaching and pastoring?

4. Is it okay for a male pastor to give bible teaching opportunities to a woman to a congregation of men and women at a Sunday gathering or in a bible study setting?

5. Are there any consequences for allowing women to serve as pastors, co-pastors or teach a mixed crowd at a Sunday gathering or bible study?

These types of questions are issues that we should be thinking about when we consider how we think about the local church and what the Bible prescribes. Really, at the heart of this discussion is the glory of God displayed in the worth and in the roles of men and women (yes, genders are distinct and created by God) as God intended them in general, but specifically in the church for the purpose of this discussion. I readily affirm women are gifted to serve. This is not an issue of competence, but of design and purpose.

Concerning gender roles circulating in the church, the two opposing ideas are:

1. Egalitarianism
2. Complementarianism

As brief descriptions:

Egalitarianism states that men and women are ontologically (the essence of being) equal and therefore should function (roles) as equals. (i.e. Since women are equal to men, then a woman can do what a man can. If a man can pastor, a woman can too.)

Complementarianism states that men and women are ontologically equal, but have differing roles as men and women according to God’s design. (i.e. Even though men and women possess dignity as image bearers of God and are equal in essence, God has ordained that men lead and women serve in assisting roles in the life of the church.)

Complementarians root their argument in Genesis 2:18-25 and this is very crucial to understand the order in the church.

Whether or not you’re in a church that has an egalitarian philosophy of ministry, it’s important to understand these things so we can think more clearly and live as God intended in these areas.

I would love to engage with you on this topic!

Grace & Peace,

d.

Lyrical Ecclesiology

If you’ve followed hip-hop to some degree, you will remember “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. This single, released in 1982, was the first rap song to go platinum and it did so in about a month. Remember the hook,“Don’t push me ‘cuz I’m close to the edge. I’m tryin’ not to lose my head. It’s like a jungle; sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under”?

What was unique about this song is that, though in its infancy, hip-hop was being used to call awareness to depravity and its pervasive effect on social structures.  Quickly, America saw that hip-hop was not only about  juvenile rebellion, but a platform to voice concerns about serious issues.

It is still being used that way, only this time it’s being used to address some all too important truths concerning the Christian faith, particularly the ecclesiological aspects or the study of the church. For some, church is nothing more than a chance to leverage business opportunities. For others, it is a place to widen social circles without any true desire to function as God’s redeemed community. Still others really don’t have a biblical understanding of what church or other essential truths of Christianity are.  Scripture tells us in Ephesians 3:10 that through the church, God makes His wisdom known!!! Selah !  Enter Lampmode Recordings and their latest release, The Church: Called & Collected to remind us of this unchanging truth.

Taking its cue from Mark Dever’s book, “What Is A Healthy Church?”, Lampmode and other artists address topics such as biblical theology, evangelism, church discipline, conversion and expositional preaching.

I highly encourage you to pick this album up at Lampmode Recordings or iTunes.

You never thought that hip hop would take it this far!

Grace & Peace,

d.

Reforming our Ecclesiological Understanding

How many of you have heard people say, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian” as an attempt to justify their lack of church attendance?  If you’re like me, you’ve heard that too many times that you care to remember. In a very limited sense, however, it’s true. Obviously we know regeneration and justification don’t require church attendance.  But church identification, attendance and participation is one tangible and visible fruit of genuine conversion.

“You’re right. We don’t have to go to church to be Christians. We, Christians, are the church! We are the called out ones; the body of Christ. The church building (lifeless infrastructure) only exists as a result of the true church, God’s redeemed (a living organism), who are called to collectively demonstrate His glory in a very unique way.”

The church, God’s redeemed people, is a glorious entity!  Many theologians, I believe, have correctly assessed that America’s spirit of independence feeds the flesh and has warped the minds of many Christians producing a low, joyless and non-committal attitude toward the church.  It is imperative that we understand what the church truly is from God’s perspective, which I know by God’s grace will correct and transform negative thoughts about the church. Consider some of the biblical descriptives of the church. The church…

 

• was an eternal plan of God (Eph. 3:1-6)

• was purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28, Col. 1:20, Rev. 5:9)

• is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:14, 4:30)

• is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27, Eph. 4:12, Col. 1:18, 3:15)

• is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15)

• is a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9)

 

Perhaps, one of the most humbling realities of the church is that it is meant to display the wisdom of God to the angelic realm. How glorious is this?!?! Listen to the inspired words of the Apostle Paul.

6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,… (Ephesians 3:6-11)

The church is a living & eternal apologetic of the multifaceted redemptive grace of God!!  The visible church is the fruit of the gospel!  The angelic realm is being taught more about God through the redemption of rebels.  The heavenly angels, experientially, know nothing about redeeming grace. The fallen angels are reminded of their defeat.  Remember, the angels longed to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12)  When the church is functioning as it should, we are displaying the wisdom and glory of God and that Jesus didn’t die in vain.

May we consider our calling!

Coming June 8, 2010 – The Church: Called & Collected from Lampmode Recordings. Check out the promo video featuring Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church & IX Marks Ministries.

Confession & Discipline : A Demonstration of The Gospel

The more I attend my new church, the more I am encouraged about the church, the more I love the church. When I say the church I mean the catholic or universal true church, not my local assembly alone. This is a huge turning point for me because for the past few years, I have been very disappointed in the American church as it has generally succumbed to prosperity theology, liberal theology or outright heresy in doctrine and ecclesiological practice. It’s not out of bounds to even question the authenticity of many professing churches when I compare them to the church and pastoral epistles in the New Testament.

So the reason for my encouragement you ask?  In today’s service I witnessed two expressions of the gospel that seems foreign to the church. I witnessed an elder’s public confession of sin and church discipline. Without going into unnecessary detail, the former elder tearfully admitted his violation of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and how his sin affected his employment, his relationships including his marriage resulting in the heavy discipline of the Lord.

Some still may be wondering why this was encouraging for me. I was encouraged by: the conviction and discipline he experienced which validates his sonship (Hebrews 12:5-11), his humility to confess which testifies of his agreement with the truthfulness of God (1 John 1:8-10), and the mercy he received and will receive from God and from the body (Proverbs 28:13 & Psalm 32).

It is imperative that we understand the scope of the gospel. I think when we think of the term “the gospel” we relegate that to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ only. While that is the foundation of it, it is not the totality of it. The gospel is evidenced not only in justification, but in sanctification and ultimately our glorification. The Apostle Paul said in his introduction to the Romans:

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Working backwards in these two verses, it’s obvious the believer or the one who has been imputed righteousness by faith will live by that same faith.  The same faith that justified us is the same faith we’re called to live in.  This is what Paul meant when he said from faith to faith. Or it can be said this way: from initial faith (justification) to the consummation of faith (glorification).  Saying it this way implicitly includes our sanctification, which occurs as a result of being justified and is a precursor to being glorified.

The key issue is to notice from what and what is being revealed from faith to faith.  Paul says from the gospel, the righteousness of God is being revealed.  More specifically, the evidence of this gospel is the imputed righteousness of God progressively manifesting practically in our lives.  This progressive manifestation of God’s righteousness is evidenced in our continual growth not only through love, patience, kindness, etc., but also in humility, submission, confession, correction, and repentance. Confession and repentance are signs of a contrite heart, which please the Lord.

While I do not rejoice in the sin of the former elder, I do rejoice because of the faithfulness of God to glorify Himself and to continually conform him to the image of His Son and bring him to glory.

Soli Deo Gloria!

d.