new church life: march / april 2014
it. This saddens me quite a bit – not that people have a different view, but that
it seems there is a fight brewing. There seems to be no tolerance for varying
points of view.
I tried to have a conversation with some people about this topic. This
seems to be impossible. I got a very strong push back. I could not finish my
thought before being interrupted. A flood of feelings came at me. In short,
no conversation took place. They communicated their feelings to me and I
communicated nothing to them.
Men and women are made differently in every way. The Writings are clear
on this. One is not more human than the other. They are both needed. The
bodily differences between men and women correspond to the difference in
their souls. Men are in the form of the understanding, since this predominates
with them. Women are in the form of love and affections, for these predominate
with them. Men think from the understanding and women think from
their affections. Both of these ways of thinking are important to the human
experience.
Deriving doctrine from the Word is primarily a function of the
understanding, not the will. I am not saying that women are incapable of
deriving doctrine. But because they think from affection they are not as able
to do it with the same clarity as men. Men are more interested in ideas drawn
from the Word, while women are better at taking those ideas and putting them
into action or use. Men have their heads in the clouds and women are more
down to earth.
As Mr. Rogers said, it is fine to have women ministering to people, but
drawing doctrine from the Word is a masculine use. Men and women need to
work together. This does not mean doing the same job, but that the talents of
each should be used in harmony, like a choir. Women should not be singing
bass and men should not be singing soprano. But we can sing together.
I have worked in many jobs. Sometimes I have tried to do the work that
others do. When I do that I am often frustrated. Why does it take the expert
less time and effort? I found the answer is that the expert has the right tools for
the job. If men are given certain talents or tools, and women other talents or
tools by the Lord, shouldn’t we follow His will? Is this not what innocence is?
If my comments have hurt or offended anyone I offer my humblest
apology. I am just trying as best as I can to understand the issue. It’s possible I
am wrong, but from all that I have read I don’t think so. I do believe that this
argument must start and end with the three-fold Word. And in my quest to
find the real truth this is how I see it.
The question of women in the ministry is extremely important and is one
that will define the General Church. Doctrine derived from the Word is the
one and only gateway into heaven. If it is derived primarily from our affections
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