Scrolling through social media I noticed many of my clergy friends had put a “frame” on their pic with the words, “Not going home.” Underneath the caption were the words, “I support women clergy.”
Below is an article regarding the controversy (source “religion news”)
(RNS) — Evangelical pastor John MacArthur, speaking at a celebration of his 50th year in pulpit ministry this week, weighed in on an ongoing debate in the Southern Baptist Convention over women preachers, claiming the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has lost faith in the authority of the Bible.
He claimed the SBC had taken a “headlong plunge” toward allowing women preachers at its annual meeting this summer.
That, he said, was a sign the denomination no longer believed in biblical authority.
“When you literally overturn the teaching of Scripture to empower people who want power, you have given up biblical authority,” said MacArthur.
During the “Truth Matters Conference,” at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, where he is pastor, MacArthur and other panelists were asked to give their gut reactions to one- or two-word phrases.
Asked to respond to the phrase “Beth Moore,” the name of a well-known Southern Baptist Bible teacher, MacArthur replied, “Go home.”
Sounds of laughter and applause could be heard in response during a recording of the session, which was posted online.
MacArthur states he finds these women preachers troubling because, “I think the church is caving in to women preachers.”
The pastor went on to say that the #MeToo movement was a sign the culture was taking over the church and accused feminists of wanting power rather than equality. He also seemed to compare women preachers to salespeople who hawk jewelry on TV.
When asked if the Southern Baptists were now moving toward “soft complementarianism,” MacArthur replied, “I don’t know about terms. I just know women are not allowed to preach.”
Isn’t it interesting that we will veer from the commandments of Christ to try to enforce the law of scripture?
The same thing happened in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees and religious leaders actually broke Hebrew law TRYING to trip Jesus up so he would break the law.
Boundaries . . . guarding our hearts. What resides in our hearts is certain to come out.
It’s one thing to disagree with someone theologically . . . but to mock them, eh, well . . .
I’m probably not going to be going home.
Grace and Peace,
Andrea