Day 7

The past two class sessions it has struck me that the early church, which seems to be idealized as a great way to "do church," did not emphasize formality of roles among believers, especially as related to women.

All that I see in the 1st Century Church is the Holy Spirit gifting all sorts of people, not just rich, high-status males. Why then, if the church during this time period is one we look to as a good example, is the Church today so fiercely focused on classifying people with titles and clinging to the "do's and don'ts" of women living out their God-given callings, and utilization of their spiritual gifts?

If the Church today dropped the rules regarding women and re-read the text (Paul's words) with the context of the day in mind, would believers wake up and realize that women's spiritual giftings have been ignored and uncultivated, to the detriment of the Church? What would the spiritual landscape look like if females grew up today believing they could "be anything they wanted to be," according to the Holy Spirit's leading?

Sadly, a spiritual glass-ceiling and spiritual sexism continues to pervade.

*(These thoughts have only come about largely due to this course's investigation of the early church, and not through strong previous convictions).