Earlier this week I noted the "Doctrinal Discussion" section of our new periodical, Communion together. My concern was that the conversation is one-sided, with no real opportunity for dialogue. Well, here's my two-bits on the latest article.
In the just released January/February 2011 edition there is a much-too-short article by Michigan pastor, Gordon Steinke, on "A Biblical Perspective on Marriage" (p. 16f). Based on the study from his doctoral dissertation Steinke challenges the conventional notion of male headship within the family by focusing on a pre-fall vision of creation and marriage. Certainly this is a provocative, if not controversial, position that challenges the conventional perspectives that have directed much of Christian theology. Equally powerful is his statement that "It is biblically and theologically inconsistent to teach male leadership in the home while at the same time claiming that God calls women to leadership roles in the church" (p. 17).
Overall, I personally tend to agree with Steinke's position. Much of the popular biblical view on gender relationships and marriage comes from a wooden method of reading Scripture that does not fully take into account the larger biblical narrative that emphasizes the radical social implications of the Gospel. Although offering a fresh hermeneutic, Steinke's teaching should be welcome by us in the Church of God, despite our increasing sell-out to cultural conservatism in recent decades.
My biggest concern with Steinke's article is that he tantalizes us with his position, but is not given nearly enough space to truly make his case. This leads me to question even more the suitability of Communion together for this type of "doctrinal discussion". The brevity of the argument will likely encourage negative reactions by those espousing more traditional views, and could leave many feeling frustrated. And, this is all complicated by not having anywhere for people to engage in this important discussion.
In any case, if you need to sound off on this article here is one opportunity for you in the comments section of this blog.
In the just released January/February 2011 edition there is a much-too-short article by Michigan pastor, Gordon Steinke, on "A Biblical Perspective on Marriage" (p. 16f). Based on the study from his doctoral dissertation Steinke challenges the conventional notion of male headship within the family by focusing on a pre-fall vision of creation and marriage. Certainly this is a provocative, if not controversial, position that challenges the conventional perspectives that have directed much of Christian theology. Equally powerful is his statement that "It is biblically and theologically inconsistent to teach male leadership in the home while at the same time claiming that God calls women to leadership roles in the church" (p. 17).
Overall, I personally tend to agree with Steinke's position. Much of the popular biblical view on gender relationships and marriage comes from a wooden method of reading Scripture that does not fully take into account the larger biblical narrative that emphasizes the radical social implications of the Gospel. Although offering a fresh hermeneutic, Steinke's teaching should be welcome by us in the Church of God, despite our increasing sell-out to cultural conservatism in recent decades.
My biggest concern with Steinke's article is that he tantalizes us with his position, but is not given nearly enough space to truly make his case. This leads me to question even more the suitability of Communion together for this type of "doctrinal discussion". The brevity of the argument will likely encourage negative reactions by those espousing more traditional views, and could leave many feeling frustrated. And, this is all complicated by not having anywhere for people to engage in this important discussion.
In any case, if you need to sound off on this article here is one opportunity for you in the comments section of this blog.
3 comments:
Lloyd, I am glad, glad, glad to read your comments. I glanced at Gordon's article and missed his punch. Later, re-reading it, I read portions to my wife and we heartily agreed. We have been often challenged by that cultural conservatism you accuse the chog of submitting to, and you are right on.
Of course, I am plugging for a hardcopy magazine, but the only way we will ever have one is for it to be forcibly brought to a vote in the GA with a demand that we publish and underwrite such a venture. But, like the CHRISTIAN STANDARD, it should be published by an independent publisher and without agency ties.
Btw, I should like to read Gordon's thesis; perhaps he will publish from it.
Gentlemen,
Let me encourage you to add your voice to the on-going discussion of this issue at MyCHOG. We are encouraging the contributing writers and those with alternative or supporting thoughts to share amongst one another there.
I appreciated Dr. Steinke's article on Christian marriage and especially his emphasis on where the "submission" scripture begins. Most sermons on the subject begin with verse 22 (perhaps because it is divided that way in most Bibles) but the passage and thought really begins as Dr. Steinke pointed out, with verse 21. This is the key verse and the verses that follow on the subject are merely further explanations on that theme.
I was disappointed however, when he began the article by referring to George Barna's baloney about Christian marriages being as prone to divorce as the world. This is totally untrue. All you have to do is study the statistics and you can see that Barna either doesn't know what he is talking about or he is deliberately misleading people to sell books.
I recently came across a book I really enjoyed and recommend to everyone who uses statistics about the church in your preaching or teaching. The book is “Christians Are Hate-filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You’ve Been Told”, by Bradley R. E. Wright, PhD.
According to the information on the back cover, Dr. Wright is “Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut, where he researches American Christianity.” His book de-bunks many of the negative things we’ve heard about the church through the years.
And the reason he disagrees is because the statistics just do not show up the way Barna claims.
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