Deeply grateful to live in a moment in time when dialogues about sexual harassment, abuse & assault are taking place within churches. Was throwing away notes I'd jotted down for #SBC18 panel and glanced over them and saw some things I didn't get to share there. Will share a few:
Keep in mind as you read these that I dearly love the local church and can't imagine life apart from it. I'm for the church, not against it. These are just a few ways based on my own life experience and ministry involvement I think we might help create healthier church cultures.
Resist projecting such a mannerly & moralistic front in services that individuals or family members of individuals suffering from the ravages of sexual harassment, abuse or assault feel like they're the only ones & that leaders would be scandalized if they came forward for help.
God chose the time we would be witnesses, servants & carriers of His gospel on this globe. This is the world we were entrusted to serve. We bear the responsibility of ministering the Word of God and the ways of Christ to THIS culture. We can't preach and teach like this is 1950.
People are in crisis. Countless individuals in those chairs feel shamed, alone, trapped & hopeless. Some, suicidal. Women & children currently being abused are there & not seldom with their abuser beside them. Preach/teach/lead knowing that. Speak often & clearly to their crisis!
The more your church preaches, practices and prides itself on 1 Cor 14:34, the greater your responsibility to continually clarify where women must NOT be silent. "The women should keep silent in the churches" has LONG SINCE sent the shortened message "women should keep silent."
You may not support a woman teaching from the platform but you cannot use Scripture to claim women did not & cannot in any way lead. If women in crisis never see women in visible roles in church & never hear from them, what on earth would ever make them think they would be heard?
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