genderist

I find it interesting. As much as i thought i was ok with this being an unresolved issue somehow amongst some circle and i sincerely thought even if it was within my own circle; that others might have the prevailing opinion that women should not be head or leaders in ministry or the church - that i was going to still be ok with it. 

One; gender has never been an issue personally for me when i interacted with a person or a situation. I thought character was. I thought it was never the gender but the person and his/her choices in life. Two; the men in my life has never told me i could not do something just because i'm a girl. Again, they were more concern on whether or not i was seeing the choices of my life holistically, objectively and in the light of my relationship with God.

So, although i thought i have adamantly resolved it in my head that i won't be bothered one bit by differing of opinions; when i got to actually read and understand the stands of some of my recent circle of people - i was actually disturbed. So, i wasn't really ok about it after all.

My initial respond was that i wanted to make a scene on how that Neanderthal stand was downright disrespectful (i was pretty surprised at how bothered i felt about it). Then clarity tugs unrelentingly at my strings. If i did that, i think my less than refined approach would have push some people away. And it was not what i need just yet.

I thought irregardless what some may stand on this issue, my path was pretty defined already. I know what i want in my life and i know why i am in the seminary. There's even a tighter grip on my heart of what i see myself doing once i'm done with this phase. All the years of figuring myself, the world and God out, all the experiences, achievements and non-achievements :) have brought me here today. And yes i do have my regrets and heaven knows i have not got all things figured out yet - i know for this season i am suppose to be doing this.

I still believe the church is suppose to be a gathering of people of various differing of opinions and from different ends of the social and intellect spectrum. Indebted to one another through the knowledge and worship of Jesus Christ and that debt is love. Love makes room and accommodate each other. Even if we don't get each other some times. 

Maybe that's why John 13:35 ("By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.") rings so true. 

Love paints a painful and messy picture, but that's why it's powerful i think. So powerful that people will acknowledge that this paradox of loving each other despite it all could only be done by Jesus' disciples. That's the branding. The thing that sets us apart from everyone else and every other cultures and beliefs; is that we truly love one another.

And if we truly love one another; we will truly want the best for the other person. And the best many times is when a person truly live out their fullest potential in Christ. We are all structured by various influences; some inherited upon us; some through lifestyle and others through choices; but whatever it may be, we encourage and guide them on their path toward the realization of that full potential. And if it were to bring them somehow to some leadership position; the encouragement, guidance and correction should not cease, no? Irregardless, whether it's a man or a woman. Everyone need people around them, over them and with them.

And i guess, this too is true the other way around. Yes, there are some people that would see submission for a woman as exclusively different from a man and yes some may and will for the longest time hold to the opinion that it's not a woman's place to be at the pulpit; i think from the angle of how loving one another is a mark of being a real disciple - i can tolerate this opposite of opinions. In fact, i must but in that same breath, i still will pursue this to wherever the fullest potential of my calling brings me. And by that time, i hope that the same way my loved ones and the important people in my life recognize where God is leading me to; they too because of love for me as a person, will be able to lay down their less than similar opinions. But until then, i really do have more important things to attend to :)

and people can change their minds, no? I stumbled upon this and it still amazes me how God answers even those seemingly minute questions and i pray i will continue to remember that.   

was reading this

Go with God, people.