I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. – 2 Timothy 1:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 15, 2012): 2 Timothy 1

One of the current debates in Christian leadership arenas is in respect to the role of women in the church. The debate rages between the complementarian stance, which says that the female role in leadership is in support of the male leader, and the egalitarian stance, which stresses that women have both the right and the ability to lead all by themselves. To many the complementarian stance seems to be straight out of a time that is long past – a time before we recognized the equality of all women in society – or one that is more suited in an area of the world where women still are not seen as equal with men . But those that hold that view are not trying to be condescending to women. They truly believe that the Bible leads us in that direction – that this view of women in leadership is simply part of God’s economy. It is part of the way that God works in world. We often don’t understand why God’s economy works. But we do know that it works.

On the other side of the coin, the egalitarian stance argues for the right of all women to lead – not as assistants to men, but as leaders in their own right. Often it is argued that this view is unbiblical. And yet, those that hold this view (including me, I am an egalitarian) don’t see it that way. We look at the Bible as containing both moral and cultural instructions. And the Bible is intended to lead us into a willingness to follow its moral precepts while recognizing that the cultural things can change. But the argument is large, and both camps are deeply entrenched.

So while I am not likely to change anyone’s mind on the role of women in the church, one thing we do know from the biblical record is that women have always been incredibly important to the church. In a culture where women and children were often overlooked, the Bible exalts both them and their ministry.

In this case, it was two women named Lois and Eunice. And both women used their influence to further the cause of the fledgling Christian Church. And when a young man named Timothy watched them and saw their faith, then he was moved to dedicate his life to the one that had proven to be so important to his mother and grandmother.

It is a story that has been told repeatedly through the centuries – women that changed the world because they refused to hide their belief. And the church – both complementarian and egalitarian – is deeply indebted to the ministry that they continue to do.

  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2