In Genesis 38, we read the story of Tamar. Joseph’s brother Judah defies God’s law and marries a Canaanite women named Shua, who gives him three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranges a marriage between his oldest son and another Canaanite woman, Tamar. Because of his wickedness, Er dies. …
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Gen. 2:18, NIV For nearly all of world history, both societal and church, women were viewed as inferior beings created to serve men. Until the last quarter of …
Read more “Ezer Kenegdo: Subordinate helper or powerful assistant?”
A healthy biblical theology about gender, and the role of women in specific, must begin at creation. It is in the story of creation where we develop an understanding of the purpose of mankind and genders. Those who would support a hierarchy of the genders point to the creation order …
Read more “Biblical support for Christian Egalitarianism: Equality in Eden”
The church has often used Jesus’ choice of all male disciples to preclude women from leadership roles in the church. But, was Jesus making a definitive statement for church practice? Why didn’t Jesus choose any female disciples?
On Christmas Day 1863, two years after the gut-wrenching loss of his wife to an accidental fire, and two weeks after retrieving his son who had been severely wounded in a Civil War battle, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow put words to the anguished dissonance in his soul as he heard Christmas …
Read more “The Problem of Evil and a Loving, Omnipotent God”