BALAAM’S ASS: Why the LCMS Will Ordain Women in My Lifetime
What follows? I realize I’m sounding prehistoric–wait, that’s exactly what it is: pre-historic. This headship of man over woman was God’s will for His creation. That means it does not apply only in the Church, and it especially means it does apply only insofar as the pastoral office is concerned. It applies everywhere, because God is the creator and ruler of all things. You work out the implications.
Tim provides thoughtful insight to the mechanism to accomplish women’s ordination for ministry. I love the Jenga analogy. Of course the root of the issue is not whether women are qualified, capable, or better suited for ministry. I don’t doubt that there are women who would exceed my cognitive, verbal, and compassion abilities.
Rather this is precisely a discussion of the order of creation and who is to be pastor. Why are women to be in subservient role in the family and the church? I have hypotheses but ultimately its God’s will, expressed in scripture. (Tim cites many examples.) I leave it at that. Why question God’s expressed will? How often do we know the answer to the purpose of his will BEFORE rather than it being clear AFTER?
Regardless, enjoy the post.
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Very nicely, and concisely, stated my good Seminarian!
But are you sure you want to send the message that one of your peers at CSSL is that on the beam? ;^)
By the way, I agree with you completely — I could write a whole lot more in explanation, but it wouldn’t amount to anything more that this: I completely agree with you.
-ghp
If this happens, then we’ll be moving to a WELS or ELS congregation. Regrettably, the closet one to us is 52 miles away!
I have friends that are graduates or currently attending CSSL. I have no problem to state with that seminary or its attendees. One of my classmates from CURF was here at Symposia. He seemed okay, uncorrupted in a way. :) Tomorrow Dr. Dale Meyer will be preaching on campus. I understand he is a good preacher and if so that may give some confidence in their leadership on this campus.
I too have alluded to order of creation in other posts. It seems silly to rehash here when there is a nice and tasty archive feature on this blog. it bears mentioning that I have spoken on this subject before but in a different context.
Finally, UL I would suggest orthodoxy of the LC-MS has always been in question and will remain so. I don’t consider myself LC-MS Lutheran, rather Christian of the Lutheran understanding. LC-MS just rings of social or country-club atmosphere to me.
It actually seems a silly ecumenical organization which has divorced itself of its true purpose which is to join forces for the purpose of training pastors and teachers and sharing resources in missions. Today the Synod itself provides little financial support for the first and a pitiful amount to the latter.
I don’t locate my faith in this institution, the LC-MS. Rather I look for my congregations catholicity, adherence to Scriptures and the Confessions as the criteria. I know that the congregation will question its membership in the LC-MS if it is ceases to remain catholic. I hold no sentimentality to this broadly futile effort of unified denomination.
Yes, this is a pessimistic view and will probably get me in trouble. Regardless, according to the LC-MS lawyers, individuals aren’t members so I haven’t denied myself anything. :)
Chris
[...] Tim, over at Balaam’s Ass, and Christopher, over at Outer Rim Territories, have made some nice comments & observations on this topic (Tim having started it all, while Christopher used Tim’s posting as a nice reason for commenting…). The comments are really nothing new — rather, they shouldn’t be seen as anything new — but given the dearth of orthodox (i.e., Lutheran) catechesis & discipline in today’s Ablaze!-ing (pat. pending, all rights reserved, the Purple Palace) LCMS, it wouldn’t surprise me that a great many folks would be aghast — aghast, I tell you! — that there are actually curmudgeonly troglodytes who would twist — twist, I tell you! — the Bible to subjugate — subjugate, I tell you! — women. [...]