Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles by Kathy Keller

Author:Kathy Keller [Kathy Keller]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Theology
ISBN: 9780310498193
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2012-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

One Last Wriggle

Of all the attempts to avoid submitting to these texts, the one I least respect is the one in widest currency today. I meet with this position on seminary campuses, from both students and professors, as well as pastors, laymen, and laywomen, and from people engaged in all forms of ministry.

The thought goes like this: There are experts on every side arguing their case. If they can’t agree, then who can tell which case is right and which is wrong? Since the issue is so complicated and confusing, in charity and justice we ought to do the loving thing and ordain gifted women who feel called to the office of ruling or teaching elder (or minister or priest or whatever).27

Who can be against charity and its fruits? However, two assumptions are lurking in this sentiment. The first is a popular postmodern despair that such a thing as truth exists. Argument has always been at the heart of philosophical inquiry, even theological formulation. The great creedal councils, the Westminster Confession, even the ratification of the canon were all products of vigorous debate. Having an open mind doesn’t mean having it open at both ends. When the best case has been made, it is recognized and adopted, although held with humility and a willingness to reconsider if new insights present themselves. But until such time as that has been shown to be wrong, or wrongly understood, coming to a conclusion and then acting on it is the work of a rational mind.28

The other assumption is that the Bible presents an unclear and muddled message on the subject of divinely ordained gender roles. Not only do I find that to be untrue (see above), but as I hope to show going forward, gender roles, as with all of God’s gifts to human beings, are to be rejoiced in and enjoyed, not endured and resented.

Earlier I raised the question, “Why did God arrange things this way, with a gender-based division of labor?” At the end of the day, I still don’t know. I could speculate, but speculation often leads to error. I will follow that ancient divine who said, “Where God has shut his Holy Mouth I will not venture to open mine.” I have found it fruitless, leading only to self-pity and anger in my own life, to question God’s disposition of things when I do not understand. Confidence in his goodness (more about which later) has been a better choice.

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