There is this movie from the early ’80s starring Barbra Streisand called Yentl in which a Jewish girl disguises herself as a boy to study to be a Rabbi.
Sometimes I feel like Yentl. I listen sermons and read books by great modern theologians like John Piper, Mark Driscoll and D.A. Carson and yet, I know I will never be accepted by them as someone in ministry because I am a woman. They are all complementarian and don’t believe women should lead or teach.
As a person called to leadership and ministry, I find their theology and teaching extremely refreshing and helpful. In a world where so much Christian teaching is shallow and superficial, I love that these men focus on JESUS being the center of teaching and preaching.
Unfortunately, we disagree on one issue – the role of women in life and ministry. Because of this disagreement, I wondered whether I should even expose myself to their teaching. They believe and teach others that me (as a woman, and single, gasp!) being a leader in ministry is not God’s will or plan. This is pretty alienating.
It would be easy for me to treat them the same way, but due to the lack of solid, Biblical teaching in Christendom, I find myself secretly downloading their podcasts and reading their articles online.
They won’t allow women to be pastors, so through the internet I can disguise myself (in a sense, like Yentil did) and study to be a pastor through their teachings.
heehee the title made me laugh. I agree that these dudes have some old-fashioned views on women in ministry.
“old fashioned views”, God is never changing. Read Gen 3:16, and Genesis 3:17 where God first rebukes Adam for listening to, letting lead, and following her, before he admonishes him for eating the fruit. Read 1 Corinthians 14 and 11, 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 2. The same spirit of rebellion urging you to ignore God, is the spirit of rebellion that Lucifer exalted when he tried to seat himself above God in Isaiah 14:12. Stop relying on Wolves dressed like sheep like Driscoll and Piper, and start letting the Spirit of Fod lead you through his Word.