there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ. Gal3:28b There is a very curious fact in the bible. Men are included in the bride of Christ and women are included as sons of God. With Christ as the bridegroom the church is the bride and John the apostle tells us that due to the love of the Father we are now called sons of God of which women are apart. So the New Testament is very contemporary. When a person comes into the fulness of Christ gender is no longer important. We no longer treat people as men and women. We are not to see them according to gender and scripture that refers to gender does not apply. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence. 1Tim3:12 This scripture has befuddled many a Christian. There is order in the church. In marriage women are to submit to men and men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and in the church, women are to let men run the show. But if a women receives a gift of the Spirit, like tongues or prophecy, or operates with a word of wisdom or knowledge, women must move in the gift and not keep silence. In Christ there is neither male nor female. Or if a women receives an office such as an evangelist or pastor and teacher, she is no longer bound to keep silence in the church for in Christ there is neither male nor female. It is one of the prerogatives of God to elevate people in the church, not in terms of respecters of persons, but in terms of ministry and operation and administration. The order that God has established in male female relationships still apply but when God moves on a person in the Spirit that order is superseded by God. God has used both men AND women mightily in his work so in Christ there is neither male nor female. My experience as a Christian has taught me to respect a person who has received an anointing from God whether male or female. When he or she is operating in a gift I do not see gender and when a person is in Christ, when they are operating in the gifts, they do not see gender either. Gender is important in the world to establish order and harmony but in Christ gender is not important. What is important is the gift or office the person has which is God ordained. In Christ we are his bride and in Christ we are the sons of God whether male or female. Let it be so. Amen |