Paul and Gender: Conclusion

Abby's Conclusions

Cynthia Westfall has given some sound arguments and historical evidence for why she doesn't think Paul's letters create a theology of male-power. Westfall's conclusion is quite simple.

She calls for a thorough rereading of Paul's passages on gender. She says that traditional readings fail to work with Paul's theology of salvation, authority, or power, nor do they align with the cultural and social contexts of that time. Not only this, but they do not apply consistent hermeneutics or take into account women's ontological equality with men. I think Westfall makes some good sound points. Her explanations of Paul's letters make far more sense than any explanations I've heard thus far.

I hope you found these summaries as interesting as I did. I also hope you realize that Westfall defended many points that I didn't include in these summaries because I don't personally know anyone who believes such bogus things or, if they do believe them, they don't talk to me about them. 

An Abby Conclusion

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So what in the world does one do with all this information? I (Abby) have learned so much and have a very different perspective of Paul after reading this book. However, I want to give a warning about what I don't think we have to do with this information.

1) I don't think we need to panic. 

Westfall is not arguing that homosexuality is okay. Nothing that she says goes against the Ten Commandments or Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 or any of those New Testament lists about how nonbelievers behave, like 1 Corinthians 6:8-9 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Paul does not list women who lead men in these sorts of lists, nor does he list men who lead women for that matter.

Westfall is also not arguing that divinely inspired scripture is wrong or outdated. Westfall is challenging tradition, not scripture. She argues that our traditional interpretations of Paul are not supported by the rest of scripture, Paul's life, Jesus' teachings, early church history, Greco-Roman times, or consistently applied hermeneutics. 

Challenges to our traditions are scary but good. Our truths need to be based on God's word, not on our traditions of God's word. Challenging our traditions feels scary because it reveals that our perceptions of God &/or ourselves were wrong. But if we keep clinging to our man-made strongholds, our faith becomes stunted. This is just how growing Christians learn to rely more and more on God and less and less on human strength.

2) I don't think we need to demonize or shame past generations for their mistakes. We are all humans. We all make mistakes. We are doing the best we can. I also don't think we have to show our parents how their views are wacky—not unless they're asking. And only a very secure, mature parent can take corrections from their kids—I don't think I'm one of them. However, I do think it is our responsibility to teach the next generation as accurately as we are able.

3) I don't think we need to justify or sugar-coat people's motives. I don't think we need to believe that people have the purest of motives when they insist their traditional views are right. Most of what we do is done in ignorance and with mixed motives—selfishness, fear, or a reaction to childhood wounds. Everyone is operating faulty machinery, that is, a renovated heart at war with the flesh. Our mistakes are neither straight from hell nor straight from heaven. They are just the stumblings of learning Christians.

4) I don't think we have to start a crusade to alter our church's leadership. While Westfall's arguments trump nearly all the ones I've heard people say, this is truly the only book I've read on this subject, and the acquiring of this book was somewhat of an accident. Maybe there are valid counter-arguments out there; I just haven't heard them. But even if there aren't valid counter-arguments, I don't think we need to rally troops and make churches accept women leaders. That sounds like a bad idea.

If this is something God is going to bring about, God is going to do it himself. He doesn't rely on human wisdom or strength to do it. God desires we participate in his kingdom's plans, but it's not up to us. If someone feels the Lord is leading them to make a stand in their church about this topic, they need to obey the Lord's voice, but if their actions are motivated by self-righteousness, resentment, fear, or impatience, this will be evident. The same could be said of those who rear and snap at any suggestion of inviting women into church leadership. What is hidden will be made known. A tree is known for its fruit. 

Once again, it's scary to let go of something that seemed a part of us. It feels like losing our reality. But remember,  our fight is against the devil, the flesh, and the world, not each other. A huge shift in perspective like this takes time, is messy, and requires gads of love. 

Like what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said about bearing with others and allowing them freedom:

“The freedom of the other person includes all that we mean by a person’s nature, individuality, endowment. It also includes his weaknesses and oddities, which are such a trial to our patience, everything that produces frictions, conflicts, and collisions among us. To bear the burden of the other person means involvement with the created reality of the other, to accept and affirm it, and in bearing with it, to break through to the point where we take joy in it.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together. (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1954) Pg 101.

If we're committed to loving people for the long haul, this means learning to love them and even submit to their authority structures even if they're merely based on tradition. So long as we aren't going against what the Bible says is sin, we are being used in the growth process of others. And others are being used in our growth process too.