Rick Warren

The Role of Women in the Church – Part 1

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Our brother Bruce at Reasoned Cases for Christ talked recently about ruffling feathers, and though I am not so accustomed to do, I felt it necessary to enter the fray concerning the role of women in the church. It has been widely reported this week about Saddleback Church being disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention. To read more click here for the story. Though we are not Southern Baptist, our denomination holds a similar view on women in the pulpit. But I have often felt that lost in the ruckus over credentialling women, is the bigger question of just how far we are to push the concept of women remaining silent in church.  (see 1 Corinthians 14:34) Just what exactly Paul meant, and how God wants us to apply his teaching today are two very valid questions. First let’s begin with some biblical examples, beginning with two of the most famous women in the New Testament: Mary and Martha.

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39-42 NKJV

Interestingly, Luke does not tell us of anything that Peter, James or John had to say, only this brief conversation Jesus has with Martha. Notice that our Lord does not dismiss her by saying, “Be quiet and sit down woman.” Instead, Jesus treats her question seriously and addresses her with love and respect, even as he is correcting her attitude. If we follow on with the story of the lives of these women, we discover later that it is Martha who comes and addresses the Lord on the outskirts of Bethany after the death of her brother. There again, Jesus does not either command or expect her silence in His presence and his reply to her words, “I am the resurrection and the life” are ones that still comfort God’s people after two thousand years. In fact, even Paul, who is often cited in the defense of keeping women from speaking at all in the assembly appears to have sometimes relied on women in spreading the gospel.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life. 
Philippians 4:3 KJV

I am not saying that there is no difference between men or women serving in the senior pastoral role. What I am suggesting is that even the most conservative of positions cannot really mean that women should never speak in church. Should Amy Carmichael have remained in Ireland rather than serving Christ on the mission field of India for 55 years and rescuing thousands of girls from temple prostitution? Are we to believe that Corey Ten Boom should have not traveled around the world speaking about the lessons she learned of forgiveness and grace in the German concentration camp? Does God mean that books by Elizabeth Elliott or Joni Eareckson Tada are meant to be read only by women? If we are honest, these kinds of questions ruffle our feathers, but ruffling can be good, if it opens our hearts to consider what God has for us today. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow as we take a deeper dive into the Bible and a few ideas on how that might be applied today!

Good-bye Pastor Rick and Kay

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I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV

We have known for a year since Pastor Rick first announced his coming retirement, that this day was coming, yet on receiving the official announcement, I was still overwhelmed. No, Rick and Kay have not been perfect people, nor is Saddleback a church without fault, yet the impact they have made together has been tremendous. But rather than revisit old arguments back and forth over their Purpose Driven model; today might be a day of to put that aside and be thankful for the good they have done, the sacrifices made and the many who have come to know Jesus because of them.

I remember first opening a shiny new copy of the Purpose Driven Church back in 1995-96. Its concepts were simple, challenging and gave hope for reaching our communities for Christ. Too long we had either met between four walls, with minimal positive outreach, or gathered for stadium events, which though outwardly successful, seemed to have little impact in our own local churches. Sure, there are lots of things I wish were different with our own church which seems to follow closely their model, but we are at least in some areas truly growing, baptizing new believers and trying new things every year to serve our community.

But church politics aside, let’s pause and be thankful for Rick and Kay. Let’s pray for God to continue to keep them in His hands and bless them as a family that has been through much together in the service of Jesus. More than this, let’s realize that as Rick said of their replacements, “… God has prepared and chosen them to take up the baton and run the next leg of the Saddleback marathon.” God has also prepared and chosen each of us to either be passing or taking up the baton where we live (I’m in the passing generation). I learned from the track team on which I once ran, that winning the relay race was more than just running fast. Our team won first place in the state in 1965, not just because our guys were the quickest, but because every one of them passed the baton flawlessly on to the guy running the next leg of the race. The key was that the approaching runner could not slow down even a quarter second. He had to keep up the same pace as he stretched out his arm with the baton. The receiving runner could not just stand there waiting. He had to start running beforehand and then match his pace with the one behind him till they were almost side by side, then, with a seemingly effortless move he grasped on to the baton and took off alone to run his leg of the race. So, don’t slow down, if you are the one giving it your all to pass on the gift that God has given you. Run with all that is in you- not to – but through, the finish of your lap. For you who are waiting for the baton to reach you. Don’t just stand around waiting for it to be handed to you on a silver platter. Get going! Start running your best, till you match the pace of the one who is handing on to you what God has chosen for you to receive. We are all on the same team – Team Jesus! And when we finish our course, there is a victor’s crown that waits, which we will one day cast at the feet of Jesus – who loved us and gave His life so that we could run the race!

You can read my post from a year ago here

When Life is Shaken

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The changes in our government, our way of life and our world have threatened to shake us all to the core. In light of these events especially the news from The Ukraine I was encouraged by what Pastor Rick Warren wrote today.

Everything on earth will eventually crumble—except the church. No business, school, government, or nation will last forever. Only the church will last forever, because it is built by Jesus, and he’s focused on building his family.

Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).

Are you feeling shaken? God has a place of refuge for you not only in Heaven but also right here on earth. That place is a family…His family , and when we need them the most we have fellow believers to pray with us, come alongside or even just listen. Have a blessed day no matter what that day is looking like in your part of this planet. Jesus’ promises will still be standing long after every evil plan on earth has fallen!