Hey, Church. It's time.

10/8/2018

Hey, Church.

It’s time.

It’s time to wake up. It’s time to listen to your women. It’s time to take a good, hard look at how you treat your women. It’s time to truly dig into God’s words, and specifically the actions of Jesus, and see, earnestly see how God sees women, how Jesus honored women.

It’s time.

It’s time to hear the cries of our women. It’s time to listen to her voice. It’s time to give them a seat at the table.

Your women were made in the image of God. Yes, really. Think about that. They were made as a reflection of who God is. Yes, God is reflected in women, too.

They were made to sit next to the men, not in another room, not behind, not at the feet of men. BUT BESIDE. Right next to, as co-heirs.

Women were not made to be silent. And, frankly, we are tired at the constant reminder to be quiet.

We were made to proclaim the good news of Jesus. (See the woman at the well).

We were made to share the amazing freedom of the resurrection. (See the women at the tomb).

So, Church, now is the time. You must decide.

How will you honor the voice of your women?

How will you empower them to be all that God has created them to be?

How will you change your customs to align with your Holy Scripture?

It’s time.

I have seen too many good women, strong women who think for themselves, be beat down by the church. I have seen too many women being told that their strength is in direct opposition of what God wants from them, when it is God who has strengthened them. I have heard, more times than I care to in this lifetime, that women should ‘Be Quiet”, when it is God who has given me this voice to proclaim to the captives their freedom.

It’s time.

History will decide how we, as the Church, have stood in this time. Will our children look back and say, thank you for giving women their voice? Or will they still be fighting for their voice to be heard?

As the Church, we should be the first to amplify the woman’s voice. Because that is what Jesus did.

As for me, I will continue to encourage my daughters to proclaim their God given right to have voice. I will teach my daughters that they have every right as their brothers. AND I will teach my sons the same thing, that their sisters have a voice as well. I will tell my daughters to sit with confidence, and with God’s backing, at the table. I will point them to scripture, where Jesus, listened to the voice of the woman, and empowered her to stand in the face of the religious pharisees that said she was nothing.

Hey, Church. It’s time.

5 Comments

Christie OBrien

Christie is a writer, speaker, teacher and coach. Christie coaches leaders to find the blocks and barriers that are holding them back, so they can lead in healthy ways. She teaches about leadership, parenting, and her favorite subject: restoring the soul.
She loves to learn and explore this beautiful thing called life.

Suzie Reihl

10/8/2018 07:51:17 am

Absolutely Beautifully said & written! It's time. :)

Joanna

10/8/2018 10:26:40 am

This article comes as quite a surprise to me as I’m trying to relate it to a broken entity within the church. Very interesting Christie and yes thanks for sharing.
I have always felt empowered to speak up in church when given the authority from Christ. When He leads me I will not back down. I’m committed to letting my voice be heard when God instructs me to speak. 💕🙏🏻

Nina Tidwell link

10/8/2018 01:51:44 pm

Well done! Since many in the church use the famous verse that speaks of how women are to "keep silent" in the church, I'd like to address this context of verses. Recently my husband who is also a pastor, came home one morning after reading the novel "Eve" by WM. Paul Young,(also the author of the book, and movie, The Shack) and in his book he addresses this very issue. It's very interesting to learn of his findings, and the points he makes regarding this context of verses.

In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 we find Paul addressing both the men and women (brother's and sister's) in the church, and in verses 26-33, he is instructing them on how to properly use their "gifts" in the church, but then we come to verses 34 and 35 that says, 34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings. (NLT)

In his book "Eve" the author tells us that in the very next verse, V36, Paul was using sarcasm toward the Corinthian church, correcting them for using the law to try and keep women silent - Keep in mind that the law never said for women to keep silent.
36 KJV -" What? Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?" 36 (NLT) "Do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?" Paul is saying - Did the word of God on this matter come unto you only?! Because we've not heard of this (We're the pillars of the church and God has not said this to us). Paul knew the law never said that women were to keep silent.

When my husband shared this with me, I was extremely excited that someone was finally able to address this issue in a sound biblical manner.

Before I learned this information, there have been times when I struggled, because I had found many verses that support women speaking for God, and then I'd read that verse, and it never truly made sense to me, but now I have more confidence than ever before to stand up and preach the word of God with the boldness God has given me, and I encourage other women of God to do the same.

Thank you again for your article.

Patty Baughman

10/9/2018 08:55:29 am

Many churches have been ordaining woman for quite a long time. I was just accepted to the call process through our church and Philadelphia Seminary.

The Lutheran Church (ELCA) has a female Bishop as their top leader and this year elected the first two black female regional bishops.

10/9/2018 09:06:16 am

Patty, that is wonderful news! I grew up attending Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Warren, Michigan - and just recently they have appointed a woman pastor.

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