Weekly Roundup: Complementarianism

Roundup

Jan 24

If you’ve been anywhere near the Christian media/blogosphere in the past couple of months, you would know that there’s a complementarian crisis. So, for this week’s roundup, I read through 9Marks’ Journal —Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning. You can peruse all of the articles of the journal here, but I picked out my favorites and put them below. Either way, enjoy!

General Complementarianism

Complementarianism: A Moment of Reckoning | Jonathan Leeman

This is a five-part series that seeks to explain the context, distinguish the lines, and identify the underlying issues that make up the modern complementarian controversy. I liked parts 2 and 3 the most, but I encourage you to read all five parts.

Complementarianism & Theological Triage | Michael Lawrence

Lawrence sheds some reasoned light on a very emotional issue.

Everywhere we turn, there’s controversy. Is there room for Beth Moore in the SBC? Should we be telling women teachers to “Go home”?

…And then, with courage and charity, as pastors we should speak to our congregations. Courage is needed because some issues will mean we must divide. In my own case, while we can associate we cannot cooperate in the planting of churches that are confessionally complementarian but functionally egalitarian. But charity must not be forgotten either, for even when we disagree, we are disagreeing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. In the controversy with fellow complementarians, there are many important issues, but there are no 1st tier issues.

Women’s Ministry and Women Teachers

Charles Spurgeon, Women’s Ministry, and Female Preachers | Alex DiPrima

This article has some unexpectedly beautiful stories of great female teachers in Spurgeon’s church. No, they were not preachers, because Spurgeon taught only men could teach men; yet these women were fantastic teachers of women and children, and Spurgeon held them in high esteem.

Should Women Teach? Thoughts on Function, Office, and 1 Timothy 2:12 | Thomas R. Schreiner

We shouldn’t only be known for where we draw lines for women in ministry but also for encouraging women to minister, learn, and teach in appropriate contexts. We can lose the battle by being too lax and by being too strict, and thus we need the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures in every season of our lives. We have not arrived at a perfect understanding, and we need to be open to reshaping our thinking and practice in accord with the Scriptures.

Welcome Women Who Can Teach—Don’t Fear Them | Adrienne Lawrence

Yep.