ORDINATION OF WOMEN IN THE CRC
PERSONAL VIEWS & COMMENTS
Readers are encouraged to submit views to be posted in this section. Simply click on the following to email Dialogos:1. Not a matter of salvation: we need to move on.
2. Right Doctrine vs. How we treat fellow Christians
3. Is present dialogue a regression to the '80's?
1. Not a matter of salvation: we need to move on. The discussions and debates concerning the ordination of women in the Christian church have been taking place for at least several decades. In an effort to find some kind of a resolution to this pre- dicament, some have urged the church to accept the fact that since this is not a matter of salvation, therefore we need to permit both view- points and move on. Response It is true that one's salvation does not depend on how one believes on this issue. There are born again Christians on both sides of this fence. Should the church then plan that each Christian will decide for themselves what is right and that each one should be able to act according to their beliefs? That may sound like a viable alternative on such a difficult issue as this one. However, it will probably not be as easily resolved by treading that path as some other issues. For example, if a Christian who does not believe in the doctrine of election belongs to a congrega- tion that subscribes to it, this person might still be able to function in that body of believers. If the doctrine is not over-emphasized from the pulpit and not forced upon the membership, it might still fly. (The best, of course, would be to come to agreement on the issue.) With this particular topic, the ordination of women, it might not be so easy to achieve a fellowship where both views exist side-by-side. If a Christian is convinced that it is not biblical to ordain women, this person would constantly be confronted with the reality of these different understandings of God's Word. Clearly, the opposite situation would also be difficult. In Matthew 23 we learn an interesting insight from Christ. In that passage we find Him opposing the Pharisees and other leaders in Israel. They are so meticulous as to tithe their spices - mint, dill and cummin. Yet they neglect the important matters of the law such as justice, mercy and faithfulness. We understand why Christ comes down hard on this and we probably expect it to end there. But He doesn't leave it at that. Concerning the tithing of spices as compared to justice Christ says, "You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former" (verse 23). Therefore, from this we can conclude that concerning salva- tion issues and other less significant matters, we too should be sure to cover the latter without neglecting the former. Would the church then be faithful to Christ if it would "move on" by no longer examining this issue in order to resolve it based upon divine revelation? ~
2. Right Doctrine vs. How we treat fellow Christians. Dialogos invites you to respond to the following statement: God will probably hold us more accountable for how we treat fellow Christians with respect to the issue of the ordination of women than He will with respect to whether our beliefs are correct and Scriptural.
3. Is present dialogue a regression to the '80's? STATEMENT OF CONCERN: A number of people have stated that the Christian Reformed Church has tried without success in the 1980's to resolve the differing interpretations of the relevant Biblical passages. By examining Scripture we are pursuing a course of action that cannot yield the desired results. They conclude the we can do is to find a way to co-exist in spite of these differences. ONE RESPONSE: It should probably not surprise us that Christians differ with respect to a matter like this. This type of thing has been happening for centuries in the body of Christ. There is also a lot of truth in the position that as fellow Christians we need to maintain a foundational unity. For the sake of maintaining a proper balance we must also acknowledge the fact that this is a significant matter. What one ultimately concludes concerning whether women should be allowed too become elders and ministers will have significant implications for the role of half of the members of the Christian church. Surely, at no time will all women become ministers of the Word, but the conclusions one draws concerning this issue will have implications for the roles of all Christian women. These conclusions will affect how Christian women relate to their husbands (and vice versa) and to other Christian men in general. For these reasons we should value the best, the right understanding of God's Word as it speaks to the role of women in the church. As Reformed Christians we are committed to the understanding that the Scriptures are our only standard for faith and practice. Therefore these dialogues are attempts to add to a better understanding of the Word of God. As various members of one body, others will contribute to the total health of the body by specifically building bonds of unity between the members of that body. Although, if it is done correctly, it is probably Christ's intent that a genuine pursuit of the truth of His Word would also build unity among His followers. ~