Jan 11, 2012
My New E-Book Releases on Friday: Divided We Unite
When we kick off the Women in Ministry Series this Friday, I’m going to take the opportunity to release my latest E-book. It’s titled Divided We Unite: Practical Christian Unity, and I think it’s an appropriate book while we’re discussing a topic like women in ministry since it has been so divisive in the church. In this book I’ll aim to answer the question: How can Christians remain united if we’re already so divided?
The E-book will be a free download for my readers, though I’ll also include an option if you want to pay $.99 for it and support my writing a little—or at least buy me 1/3 a cup of coffee. Stay tuned for a fantastic day on Friday with a great story and a free E-book!
Want to get a sneak peek? You can read the first half of my book here.
About Divided We Unite…
When Jesus prayed that his followers would be one, he wasn’t setting up his future disciples for failure. In fact, the prayer of Jesus may be closer to fulfillment than many Christians in thousands of denominations suspect.
Christian unity isn’t created by signing off on a list of bullet point beliefs. The Holy Spirit unites disciples of Jesus together with bonds that are stronger than any divisions. Though Christians are divided into different denominations, it is possible to practice charitable Christian unity in the midst of very real divisions. Christians are divided, but through God’s Spirit, they can remain united.
Practical Christian unity is the art of living in the unity of the Spirit without letting divisions cut Christians off from one another. Practical, everyday unity is tough and costly, but Divided We Unite shows a way forward that rests fully in the power of God without neglecting the role of each Christian.
Looks cool, Ed! Adding it to my read list. Thanks for taking the time to write and create, and for sharing.
[Reply]
I really appreciated what you had to say in your book. Thank you for writing it with a desire to find grace, redemption and deeper understanding between theological views and racial differences.
I am in a situation at my church in which I am trying to understand their definition of “unity.” In light of your timing on this book and Women in Ministry series, I am having a hard time with what my church is hoping to accomplish.
The elders have adopted the “soft complementarian” view of women in ministry (argued for by Craig Blomberg in the book, “Two Views on Women in Ministry”) – women can do anything (including preach) except be an elder. Their vision of unity is that with this position, both complementarians and egalitarians should be able to worship and serve alongside each other because this issue is a “debatable issue,” meaning, the evangelical church has debated and come to more than one reasonable biblical conclusion on this. The elders do not require the members to agree with their position but preserve unity among diversity of views on the women’s issue.
What do you think about this vision of unity within this one community on this issue? Is it possible?
Again, thank you for your book and for your suport of women!
[Reply]
ed Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Harriet,
This is a tough issue. Thanks for sharing it here. I think women in ministry is one of those issues where we are going to be divided, even if we can still acknowledge that we are united by the Spirit.
I can’t tell you what to do here, but I’ll just share where I’m at. My position is that denying women their equal place in the church creates more problems with the Bible than it solves and is an act of injustice and denies that God can use women in ways that he clearly has used them.
So while a complementarian can take Blomberg’s view and say, “Look, we’re almost the same! This is a great compromise!” my view is that reducing women in any way from the way God created them to be is an act of injustice. I’ve written bunches more on this on this blog, so I won’t get into the arguments here. In addition, if anyone else reading this has any doubts, click on the Women in Ministry icon in the center column for a link to an article about NT Wright.
As for your own case, you need to weigh the relationships and other factors at this church. In our family, we’ve put our foot down on this one since the church should be a place for healing and restoring creation, not upholding the wrongs of patriarchy.
Grace and peace to you! These are tough issues to sort out.
[Reply]
Harriet Congdon Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Thanks, Ed, for your thoughts.
I wish I could say the complementarians in our church did say, “This is a great compromise!” For the most part women are participating in leadership and teaching (I teach OT classes). I don’t know if the complementarians accept this compromise. But when it comes to the preaching, they complain loudly and let the elders know how difficult it is to sit through a woman’s preaching (the egalitarians enjoyed her preaching three times this past year). I asked the elders what they say to the complaining complementarians. All that is offered is a restatement of the church’s position, an understanding ear that they have to either endure it or leave the sanctuary on those Sundays, and a request that they respect the diversity of views.
I was hoping they might offer some teaching or exhortation to value the women’s place and voice in the life of the church (they might actually be transformed by God through her preaching) and to consider the Spirit’s gifting and anointing on a woman to preach. In other words, I had hoped it was more about conviction than compromise so that the elders also viewed unity as one that the body needs to grow into, become more mature in. Eph. 4 describes a unity that is a present reality through the Spirit and a unity that is yet to be attained through the equipping of the body.
When I asked about this kind of answer to the complementarians, they did not agree because they do not feel it is important to make official (church endorsed or initiated) space for theological discussion on this issue.
So unity in this case feels like “just submit and get along.” I’m having a hard time with this.
I have considered the point you make about women’s issues being a justice issue. If I don’t believe the church is taking this seriously as a justice issue, can I remain? At this time, I don’t believe my journey with this community is quite complete yet. Maybe God is asking me to press into the elders and be a hopefully loving yet challenging voice. Maybe God will eventually move me from here with a greater understanding of this issue and greater conviction of where God is taking women. I used to be a complementarian. I appreciate any help in sorting my emotional and confusing thoughts.
So, how do I answer their “unity” card?
[Reply]
ed Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Oh golly! I applaud your willingness to explore what remains to be done in this community. I’m fortunate in that I’m in an egalitarian church, so I’ll just never become a member a church that is otherwise.
As to the unity card, I would say something like my line in the book. We don’t have to find common ground in order to be part of Christ’s body. I honestly believe complementarians are wrong and do women an injustice. I won’t say they’re in sin, but I will say they are wrong, so I cannot violate my conscience in order to make them feel more united. This is particularly tricky because they may feel like they’re really reaching out to be “unified.” However, I just don’t see how it can work on their terms.
I’m also not sure if discussion will really help. Women in ministry is one of those issues where I think it’s most helpful to just tell the stories and pray for greater justice and unity in the future, engaging in discussions when others bring them up.
Harriet Congdon Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
THANK YOU for your very helpful comments. I understand unity in Christ’s larger body, the Church, but I agree that unity within one particular body, specifically my local church, is a bit tricky on this issue. My gut feeling is that their vision won’t work and you are confirming this. And I think any form of hierarchy leaves room for bias, both intentional and unintentional, and injustice.
But the elders have made some promises to me, declaring their intention to overcome any bias or injustice. I think I’ll hang in there a little longer and see how this plays out. Perhaps God will use my story and presence and prayers.
Thank you again, Ed.