The marginalization of women in the Bible

{ May 10, 2008 @ 3:02 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I’m taking a course called Gender and Sex: Issues in the Ancient Church. It is interesting to look at how women in New Testament are portrayed. If you look at the gospels, women are faithful and determined to serve the Lord while he was ministering. It was Mary and Martha who set a great example more than one time in the text of how to serve and worship Jesus. It was Martha who declared, BEFORE her brother Lazarus was raised from the dead, that Jesus was the Messiah. It was Anna, a little old lady who had waited her whole life to see the promised Messiah, who identified first that Jesus was the Anointed One. It was the women who were faithful at the tomb after Jesus’ horrible crucifixion, yet, Evangelicals and the like have marginalized women’s roles in the Bible. 

One can even look at the epistles and see conflict. For we see faithful women also in the epistles. Women like Priscilla and Dorcas and Phoebe. Women who were called by Paul, ministers and disciples. Yet translations have marginalized women so that they wouldn’t have power in the Scriptures. Some would say that Paul told women to be silent in the church and that they should never teach men. Well, some Theologians believe that much of these texts were inserted into the epistles AFTER Paul’s death. An example lies in 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36, where liberal theologians believe an impostor inserted this between 14:33a and 14:37. If you remove these text, you will see that this flows and makes sense. Apparently, many scripture that marginalized women were written during the early days of the church in order to reflect the developing policies of the young church. Much of these scriptures contradicts other teachings in the bible that embrace equality in the church, such as in Acts 2 when Peter quotes Isaiah saying that sons and daughters shall prophesy and that God will pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh. John 1:12 says that all women will have the opportunity to become children of God. Not just the males, but everyone. 

Now, what does this all mean? Does it mean that the Bible has errors? I am struggling with this part and the semester is still young. What do you think?

Who do YOU say I am?

{ December 28, 2007 @ 2:16 pm } · { Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ }
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27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”28They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. -Mark 8:27-30

Daily Word

{ November 27, 2007 @ 1:02 pm } · { Holy Scripture }
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 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. — Ephesians 2:1-5

The sacredness of life…Sean Taylor RIP

{ November 27, 2007 @ 11:57 am } · { Christian Ethics, Christian Living, family, Jesus Christ, Life in general, Social Activism & Religious Matter }
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I live in the Washington DC area. Today Washington Redskin Safety Sean Taylor died an unnecessary death. He was only 24 years old. A promising, young, black male dead… for no reason. I know that this kind of violence happens everyday in America. Young black men, full of promise, dying at the hands of other people. It’s not just black men, but PEOPLE, humans, dying at the hands of others. No regard to the sacredness of life. God gave us life, and we take it for granted.

I work everyday trying to preserve life. Trying to do the best I can to care for people who are sick. Trying to use the gifts that God gave me to help humankind. I was thinking about this on the way home this morning. Then I thought about this ministry I have been given. I thought about how on the other hand I try to present a better life, the  good life, as Kanye might say, to those who don’t know Jesus, and to those who do know Him. For God so loved the world… we hear it all the time. Yet we do things to disregard life… 

What are we going to do, Black people? What are we going to do White people, or Hispanic, or Indian? What are we going to do? We are dying, disregarding the gift that has been given to us, whether by gunshot, like Sean Taylor, or eating ourselves to death, or sinning and separating ourselves from God…

We have to make a choice. Choose life or choose death…I am praying for Sean Taylor’s family. I am praying for families all over the US who are grieving just like the Taylor family. We have seen this time and time again. We have to do more than pray. We have to make a stand, in our neighborhoods, churches, and in our homes. We have to teach that life is sacred. We have to start early on in our children’s lives. We’ve got to stop glorifying these video games that depict death as just the end of the game. We have to stop allowing negative images take control of our children. We can’t allow our children to commit social, emotional and spiritual suicide. Not on our watch. We have a job to do, Black America… and America in general. We’ve got to parent our children. We have to be PARENTS so that this nonsense can end… 

Daily Word

{ November 25, 2007 @ 9:18 pm } · { Christian Ethics, Christian Living, Christianity, Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ, salvation, Social Activism & Religious Matter }
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Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.-Deuteronomy 4:9

Lest you forget. Let’s not forget where we have come from as a people. Black people, remember where our ancestors have come from. Remember the middle passage, remember the days of slavery that our people survived through. Remember the days of Jim Crow after reconstruction. Remember the Civil Rights movement and remember Black Power. Remember where the church has been and remember where we are going. Things are crazy, with nooses showing up everywhere, people being tazed and killed. People being harrassed, still, because of the color of their skin. Black people, remember that God hears your cries. Remember that Jesus died for you. Remember that he got up for YOU. Jesus suffered just as the poor and the oppressed suffer. God hears us all, black, white, Puerto Rican, African, Haitian,  European, whatever your combination is. REMEMBER!!! 

Been a real long time

{ November 25, 2007 @ 9:09 pm } · { Life in general }
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It’s been an eternity since I’ve been back here. Life has gotten away from me. Life is good, though. Family is good. I’m very thankful for life and health and happiness. School has been challenging, but good. Taking Liberation Theologies. I really am enjoying it. God is truly good. I’m doing an internship at another church. It’s been really eye opening. I’m learning what to do and what not to do if I do indeed end up pastoring a church. We’ll see. Lots of things have happened since I last posted. I’ve been ordained for several months now. I’m doing local travel assignments for work in Baltimore. Lots of great opportunities to learn and grow and spread God’s Word. Enough for now. Supposed to be finishing a paper. Take care!! 

Scripture of the day

{ March 7, 2007 @ 7:56 pm } · { Holy Scripture }
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Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139:23-24

Lots going on

{ March 7, 2007 @ 6:21 pm } · { Christian Living, Jesus Christ, Life in general, Ministry }
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I have been away for a while, not posting like I used to. My life is really busy right now, taking 15 credits and getting ready for ordination next month. I probably won’t be posting much… might just shut it down for awhile until I get things in order. Please keep me in prayer as I am about to move to a new level in ministry. Today I picked up my robes… very humbling. April 13th is the day. I look back over my life and see God’s hand at work in all of the drama, all the good things…everything. God is so good and is worthy to be praised! It is amazing to realize that I started this spiritual journey over 3 years ago. Time has really gone fast.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. -Phil 1:6

Lest we forget…

{ February 11, 2007 @ 9:22 pm } · { Social Activism & Religious Matter }
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336576540_b0ae807a601.jpgI don’t have time now to post, but I just came back from New Orleans. I was at the Samuel D. Proctor Pastor’s Conference. There is much that needs to be done…2/3 of the city is still uninhabited. Houses are empty, with destruction all around. It’s amazing how after 18 months New Orleans still looks like a war zone. It’s amazing that the President of the United States failed to mention the exiled people from New Orleans. The sights that I have seen will not be forgotten… More to come…

For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard… Acts 4:20 (NIV)

Scripture of the Day

{ January 21, 2007 @ 8:00 pm } · { Christianity, Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ }
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“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”
Luke 12:4-5 (New International Version)

AMEN!!!

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