Jesus communicated through stories of the daily events of the people surrounding him. He plucked people from the crowd as characters, his mother, his brothers, the land-owner, the shepherd and children. He talked about seeds, wine, trees and sheep. It was stuff that the people around him understood. He spoke their language. He had a message that he wanted to get across but he did it in such a way that anyone who didn’t want it, could just mis-interpret, and go their own way.
That’s how much he loved his audience.
So how do I communicate about legalisms? Legalisms always kill the spirit. They take away a persons ability to deliberate.
What do I do with the legalism that people who happen to be female should not teach?
Although some legalisms are silly like clothing, or how one wear’s hair, this goes far deeper. It is one I stand against, it is evil. But how to not break eggshells? I love and respect many people who do not agree with me.
Some of my best teachers and preachers have been female, Corrie Ten Boom, Jan Johnson, Evelyn Owens, and Margareta Fleuter.
Jesus gently swept aside all the human distinctions that divide us when he made available the kingdom of the Heavens and explained its nature.
Those who were generally not thought very highly of, had the fullness of life available to them, in the Kingdom of the Heavens.
In first century Palestine, Jesus actions showed the high value God placed on women. He didn’t change anyone’s character regarding this, he just let females learn and interact, where they were at, and the gobsmacked students were scandalized. Love God with everything you have and your neighbour as yourself was pushed out farther into the world, and he stood back. Since then men and women have been developing the kind of character, and it has taken centuries, where they nod to the other, and say “now you, I want to hear from you.”
It is not because of rights or equality, it is simply because we are loved by God and we love God that we are obligated to go wherever he calls and become the person he longs for us to be. If someone is best for the job, they should go there.
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