Several years ago, I attended a conference with D. A. Carson as the keynote speaker. As he taught on Isaiah 6, I began to pray, “Why not me, Lord? What is wrong with me? I want to serve you! Here I am. Send me!” Today, I am a pastor.
My heart breaks for the women who are trapped in denominations which do not allow women to fully express their gifts. We are threatened with the idea that men will stop serving in church if women lead. This is a falsehood. Within my denomination, I see men and women working joyfully alongside one another. We are told that women must be submissive to men because the Son was submissive to the Father. This is another falsehood. While Jesus did submit to the Father while he walked on the earth, there is no hierarchy within the Trinity. The persons of the Triune God lovingly submit to one another as they work together in everything from creation to resurrection.
Is it any wonder why we are living in a post-Christian culture when Christians do not use the gifts they are given for the work of ministry? Women are denied the use of their gifts and men are flung into positions in which they are not gifted, simply because a human interpretation of scripture determines what is considered biblical manhood and biblical womanhood.
The time has come when we should break the fetters of both women and men and allow them to serve as God has ordained.
Grace and peace,
Parson Larson, 2023
The Parson's Parlor 