Questioning an Axiom

When Albert Einstein was asked what led him to a new approach that was different from the physics of Isaac Newton he said, “I challenged an axiom.” I’ve heard preachers and teachers elaborate to their listeners on what Paul said was true about women. Some of which when looked at together appear contradictory or illogical.

 

We’ve been taught that Paul said women are more prone to fall when tempted than are men. After all, look at Eve. On the other hand, we are taught that women are responsible for upholding sexual virtues. Boys will be boys, but girls are ladies and must tell the boys to behave. If females are less resistant to temptation, why is it they who must tell males when enough is enough?

 

We are told that Paul said women are to obey their husbands and to be subject to male leadership. On the other hand we are taught that women have the ultimate position of leadership. You know, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” If women are less fit to be leaders than men, how is it mothers can teach their sons to be good leaders?

 

This afternoon I heard President Carter on NPR pushing his new book. During the interview he mentioned he had left a section of the Baptist church when they took the position a female professor was not permitted to teach a college class if there was a male in the class.

 

A few years ago Dottie and I were in Abilene to attend the Singing School at ACU and attended the Highland Ave CofC, the congregation behind Herald of Truth and criticized at the time. The bulletin that week said the Elders had decided to undertake a five-year-study on women’s role in the church. A year or so ago I heard they had decided to permit women to do some things in the assembly.

 

Unless there is a conspiracy we have to give those elders the benefit of the doubt that they were operating with a good-faith-effort when they came to their conclusions. On the other hand congregations with long standing preachers do not question. Some authors I have read believe that Paul did not say what we are told he said. Considering the history of discrimination against women, I have to wonder, if those prejudices influence translators and teachers. Then I have to wonder about a God who will torture for eternity anyone who listens to a women preacher regardless of how staunch a follower of Jesus they may be.