A Primer on Men and Women—the Gender Issue

C Michael Patton @ www.reclaimingthemind.org provides a primer on the various positions in the gender debate. He outlines the various positions with adherents and responses:

Arguments for Complementarianism:

1. The Bible illustrates male leadership from the beginning of creation.

• Adam named the animals (Genesis 2:20).
• Adam named Eve (Genesis 2:23).
• God approached Adam first after the fall (Genesis 2:9).
• There were no women priests.
• The God-ordained rulers of Israel were male.
• Jesus’ apostles were all male.
• The bishops/presbyters/pastors were all male (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus. 1:6).

2. Eve was created as a completer. In order for one to be incomplete, he or she must lack something.

3. Paul constantly had to address women who were failing to understand the importance of their role as women or who were in outright rebellion against it.

4. The New Testament writers constantly had to address men who abused their role as leaders.

5. The curse involves women failing to appreciate their role (”you will want to control”) and men failing to dignify the role of women (”he will rule over you”—word “rule” speaks of rule by oppressive force).

Arguments for Egalitarianism

1. Patriarchalism (male domination) is a cultural phenomenon that God chose not to deal with, but to regulate as he also did with slavery.

2. Male leadership and domination is a result of the Fall that is reversed when we are restored in Christ.

3. The Bible has many examples of women who were leaders, teachers, and prophetesses who exercised authority over men. T

4. History has conclusively demonstrated that women have been very effective spiritual leaders and pastors.

5. Despite claims to the contrary, it is hard to see how stating that women are denied the opportunity of exercising spiritual headship over men does not demean the ontological value of women.