Thinkaloud | true equality

a disfiguring sore on the body of Christ

T

rue equality is not to be found in counting heads at a committee meeting to see that enough women are on the committee. Nor is it to be found in quibbling over the language through which God is revealed in the Bible. True female-male equality is found at the Cross of Jesus Christ, where both male and female kneel as sinners and rise from their knees as “new creations in Christ Jesus” (2 Corinth 5: 17).

The logical and expected outcome of women and men each receiving God’s forgiveness, and therefore walking in newness of life, is that the enmity dividing people should disappear. Redeemed humans of both sexes should work harmoniously with God for the redemption of the race from its terrible bondage to Satan. Men and women should not view each other as the enemy simply because their gender differs.

True, there are Christian men who refuse to enter into partnership with their wives, who leave them to do what they term “women’s work”, while they get on with the so-called more important “men’s work”. Such deluded men are operating from cultural prejudice, which must never be mistaken for Christian conviction.

And there are women who hate men from deep within their personalities, and who secretly rejoice whenever a male is humiliated. Such a spirit does not come from the God who said, through His servant Paul, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Chris (Galatians 3: 28).

True equality comes about when women and men realize that there are two halves to the human race. Female and male are complementary; each has their own distinctive gifts and endowments that are uniquely theirs and not to be envied or despised. When gifts are placed on the altar of sacrifice they are given to God, for Him to use as He wills. Who are we to scrutinize God to see that He does things in the way we think best? Is God now accountable to us?

It is indeed a huge and disfiguring sore on the body of Christ that much of the institutional Church denies women opportunities of service that are freely open to men. Indeed, the battle for women’s ordination that is still being fought in some churches does disservice to the cause of Christ. From its earliest days The Salvation Army has given women and men equality of ministry, and in so doing is true to the spirit of Scripture.

This equality of ministry within the Army has not meant that there are equal numbers of women and men in ministry. It has meant that leadership positions are not gender-oriented, except where to ignore this would be foolish and limiting to opportunities for Christian service.

The Army recognizes that true equality is service in the name of Jesus. The person dying of thirst does not care whether the water is brought by a man or a women. It is the water that is life-giving, not the one who brought it. And so it is with the Water of Life. Jesus must be shared by women and men together, united in the service of the One whom they love.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of theRubicon series called Resurrected Writers.

9 Comments to Thinkaloud | true equality

1. Thanks Max for reminding us of this genuine truth.

   Here’s an interesting stat: Married couples serving ‘together’ in ministry – across denominations – experience more than averagely healthy marriages. The data is thorough and consistent. Their marital satisfaction rates are significantly higher than the general public, other dual career couples, Christian couples and even traditional clergy couples where the man is the pastor, and the woman is the ‘pastor’s wife.’

   Given the truths you remind us above, Salvation Army marriages can thus be a uniquely effective tool for mission effectiveness. Far from separating marital wholeness from vocation, the two can be deliberately juxtaposed together as a formidable force for the gospel in a gender strife-ridden world. It communicates that marital health is important to mission effectiveness and that married couples serving together are strategically positioned to communicate this to communities of faith, and the broader world.

   RJM
Richard Munn on September 14th, 2008

2. “Female and male are complementary; each has their own distinctive gifts and endowments that are uniquely theirs and not to be envied or despised.”

   And I think it prudent to remember as well that we’re never discussing two groups of programmed robots, but individuals who differ and whose skills/interests etc. may or may always align with the commonly associated sets for their gender. Often it’s just our incorrect assumptions that color our views of one another (and keep us from seeing past “gender roles”, whatever that means).
Jonathan Taube on September 15th, 2008

3. I must admit I’m a little confused as to what is really being said, especially with the following:

   “It has meant that leadership positions are not gender-oriented, except where to ignore this would be foolish and limiting to opportunities for Christian service.”

   Does this mean that the fact married women are not being given leadership roles in their own right, ie DC level and above, means that is because to do so would be foolish or limiting to opportunities for Christian service? If this is the case then maybe someone could explain why this is so?

   Whilst gender equality should not become an all-consuming mantra, where true equality in Jesus is not upheld then it is our responsibility to speak out against this injustice!
Graeme Smith on September 16th, 2008

4. Richard: Thanks for the survey results about the marriage benefits of shared ministry. But shared ministry take work, it is never easy though it is beneficial personally and for the Kingdom of Jesus.
   Graeme: When Christians where gender equality is accepted minister in cultures where functional equality is not accepted it would be unwise as well as detrimental to the ministry to refuse to live within cultural constraints, provided the heart of the gospel is not compromised.
Maxwell Ryan on September 16th, 2008

5. That’s interesting that you would say that in reply to Graeme, Colonel. I’m sure that Salvationist women preaching and leading defied cultural conventions in Victorian England. I’m not sure that Jesus particularly modelled livng within cultural constraints either.
Grant on September 16th, 2008

6. I can’t disagree on the ’spirit’ of unity - that’s a basic promise/gospel truth.. mutual submission/honouring each other.. the real rub seems to be not in the spirit of equality but the reality of it… I mean what good is it if someone feels equal but isn’t? As long as women lack equal opportunities it won’t matter how many men are nice to them - they will not be equal… so, it’s not men that are hated - it’s systems that give rhetoric to equality but no real outworking of it… true unity would be men working for true equality - out of love.
   Grace
   Danielle
Danielle Strickland on September 18th, 2008

7. Thanks Danielle for your comment but is equal opportunity the same as equality of opportunity? The first seems to speak of sameness whilst the later of parity and fairness. I am also mindful that in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 20, the Greek word for equal, isos, is used in the parable. This can mean equal in quality or quantity. The parable also seems to infer that equality is a gift of God measured against a different standard. ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day .’ (v 21)

   Trying to arrive at a theological understanding of equality without a theological understanding of difference and diversity could be difficult. Isolating the male/female debate from a conversation with disability, age, ethnic or the many other discriminatory agendas may not be helpful to arriving at a clearer understanding equality. My research has shown that discrimination against any one sector of our society has similar characteristics. Dealing with just one element of discrimination, can in turn, further marginalise another.
Paul Collings on September 21st, 2008

8. Isn’t the gospel supposed to be counter-cultural? Didn’t the likes of Peter & Paul write in their versions of household literature in their letters in a way that shook to the core the unequal cultural assumptions of their day? Let’s not fall into the trap of putting the things of men, in this case a deeply ingrained attitude that men are better and must subjugate women, ahead of the things of God who sees all people as equal. If that makes the gospel a stumbling block then so be it!
Graeme Smith on September 28th, 2008

9. Colleagues may be interested in the British Methodist Church’s “Equally Different” resources. http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=2255
Paul Collings on September 28th, 2008

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