Becoming a Bible Slinger

Pam, you do not like to "sling verses around". Okay. Then I suppose you disagree with the way Christ lead and redirected his disciples using old Testament scripture. Or perhaps Paul, Peter, John, etc. The Bible is termed as a "sword" for a reason. Yes, it stings, but only when your on the wrong end of it. It can also be used for edification and protection against the lies of this world. THAT is why you need to use scripture in your argument. Otherwise, from what authority are you getting this? And if we don't know from whose authority you are getting your argument, then why should we listen?

This comment just came in on a post I wrote more than three years ago. It was a post about Complementarianism, a fancy word that refers to a biblical interpretation of men being created for the role of leader and women as helpers.

In my post and the flurry of comments that followed, I defended myself for not "slinging scriptures" by stating that I did not wish to use the Bible as a weapon.  People who agreed with me about biblical equality were fine with this. But the folks who disagreed demanded biblical exegetical proof. I refused to give it to them. Let them go debate the Bible somewhere else, I surmised.   (you can read the post and all the comments  HERE)

It's interesting timing to get this comment in my email box on such an old blog post. For this is the week, the very day, that I am revising the Bible part in my book, Unladylike : Resisting the Injustice of Inequality in the Church.  

(as a side note, this is why my blog has been so quiet! Writing, rewriting and revising!!!)

When I submitted a first draft of the book to the editor, he advised me to not skirt the Bible as I present my argument for biblical equality. "You have to include the Bible. Saying that you don't want to scripturize people and use the Bible as a weapon is not going to cut it. The Bible more than adequately supports biblical equality. Show it to your readers."

I agreed. I wanted to avoid theology in this book. I love theology, but I don't love Bible wars. I figured if I steered my readers to theologians I trust that would be good enough.But my editor, and the commentator above, are both right : I must reveal what it is in the Bible that convinces me that women can possess all manner of spiritual roles and leadership offices.

I know my Bible. And I'm learning even more as I dig deep into the theological trenches of biblical equality.

I can't wait for you to read it when it comes out in February. Stay tuned!