In a Christianity Today article some time ago, Dallas was labeled "The Buckle of the Bible Belt." A Google map search of "dallas church" yields more than 15,000 entries. We have seminaries, televangelists, ministries, and mission organizations. Dallas is home to megachurches like Prestonwood, Potter's House, Fellowship.com, and Watermark. In a city like this, any time a church makes a major change, it's big news.
Today, Irving Bible Church allowed a woman to preach from the pulpit for the first time in its 40-year history. I was unable to attend because of my youth leading duties, but Julie was able to go. Tonight while we were hanging out, she asked my opinion about it. Here's what I said:
I like to keep the main thing the main thing. Salvation is what I'm concerned about. When I look at a church, the first thing I look at is what they believe about salvation and all that goes with it (by grace through faith, eternal security, etc). That is not to say that women in the pulpit isn't an issue to deal with. IBC went to great lengths over the last year to study the Scriptures regarding this issue. Their conclusion is that it is permissable for women to preach from the pulpit, but not to hold the office of elder.
There are many in the evangelical community who are in strong disagreement with IBC's position. Tommy Nelson, DTS graduate and pastor at Denton Bible Church, did a three-part series in June about the subject in direct response to IBC. I have no problem with his view, a view that I've grown up with in my home church.
The answer I have is that I don't know. I've learned a lot from Christian women in my life. I understand the traditional view, but I believe there is some room for questions, as long as the Bible is the authority. I disagree with Tommy Nelson that a woman in the pulpit is a "virus." But I agree with him that opening this box can open up a number of other issues. Why shouldn't Christians be able to ask important questions and disagree? Why can't we disagree in love? Why does this issue spark such anger and controversy?
Let's all just chill out and talk about it in love.
