in the news...

Conservative Christian leaders, including Al Mohler, are beginning to acknowledge that sexual orientation may be determined by DNA. Here is another interesting article that posits (among many, many other things) that part of why parents are so horrified to find out that their children are gay is because of a subconscious drive to pass on their own DNA to later generations.

A fun article about biblical and historical models of marriage. Are we sure we want to follow the biblical model?? This is the author's tongue-in-cheek response to Paige Patterson and the start of a course in "biblical homemaking" at Southwestern Seminary. But I think it emphasizes that we read and understand the Bible through the filter of our own understanding of how the world works, which is in turn informed by the culture in which we grow up and our own experiences. None of us thinks that, because the Bible discusses the appropriate way to treat slaves, it is an endorsement of slavery per se. In the same way I think it is important to realize that the descriptions of the relations between men and women grew out of a deeply patriarchal culture, in which women were possessed merely for the purpose of creating and raising offspring, and were never educated nor trained for any other purpose.

Our experience tells us that none of the "physical" restraints previously believed to make women less rational and educable (and thus worth less) than men hold true (i.e. we know that the uterus is not an animal that roams around in a woman's body and makes her crazy; we know that women are not generally colder and more damp than men; and we know that women's sexual organs are not simply an inverted version of male sexual organs that the woman's body wasn't "hot" enough to expel).

We also know that Jesus Christ (our model for behaviour) treated men and women equally, perhaps to the great chagrin of his followers. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well as an equal, and he allowed Mary to sit at his feet and be taught. If he'd believed a woman's place was in the kitchen, he would have sent her in to help Martha. But he felt that Mary had just as much a right to hear his teaching as the men, and that she was just as capable of understanding it. Never mind the fact that the women were the first to the tomb, the first to whom He appeared, and the first to realize and proclaim that He had risen from the dead.

So, in spite of biblical injunctions to the contrary, which I believe are remnants of an earlier and perhaps less-than-ideal understanding (from God's point-of-view; again, in my personal opinion), it is time to rejoice that we can finally accept the fact that God calls each person individually to ministry. He gifts us and endows us each with talents, He remains with us as we walk along our own personal path, teaching us along the way. And he gives us the knowledge and the desire to pass that knowledge and wisdom on to others, and thus continue making this world a better place. All this to say, it is my blessing to worship in the church pastored by Sarah Shelton, and I am saddened that Calvary Baptist in Waco will be losing the leadership of Julie Pennington-Russell, but pleased that First Baptist Decatur has chosen to call her.

Pastor Julie said it best: "I am a pastor, not in spite of what the Bible says, but because of what the Bible says."

I believe that a marriage should be based on mutual love, mutual respect, and the desire to come together to create a life and create a home, and create something bigger and better than either of the two people individually could have created. We do each have different gifts and talents that will mean we take on different roles within the marriage. But I think those gifts and talents and choices come about based on all of the myriad things that make us who we are; our gender and personal hormone levels are just one factor.

In a Christian marriage, the two partners should encourage one another in spiritual growth, and in their desire to obey God and follow Christ and His teachings. Each person should bring all of their strenghts and weaknesses to the table, and should support, encourage and ENJOY one another.

Blessings and peace to each of you and on your journey...