Manhood/Womanhood, No Small Issue:

One can go into any bookstore and find many volumes dedicated to the discussion of what it means to be either a man or a woman. The books also attempt to provide answers to the challenge of how men and women should relate to one another. The bookstore you go into need not be one dedicated to Christian works, it can also be a Barnes and Noble, or a Borders, or for that matter any smaller independent shop. This sexual identity thing, this "Who am I?" relative to gender and "How should I act?" relative to gender has been a challenge for thousands of years. The discussion has been most recently intensified because of what is referred to as feminism. With in the Christian community there is a voice that is growing which is referred to as "evangelical feminism." I am currently reading and studying a book entitled "Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood- A response to Evangelical Feminism." by John Piper and Wayne Grudem. I have also read "Wild at Heart." This book has been used by one of your former youth pastors in his small group. It would be fair to say that the similar perspectives of these two works are fairly well accepted as correct within our church body. The terminology used to describe Mr. Piper and Mr. Grudem's views is "complementarianism." The evangelical feminist view is referred to as "egalitarianism." Ah, perhaps a great divide exists between these views. Perhaps they are completely at odds with each other. Or perhaps they are not so far apart. Some think the divide is so great that the future of the church and its effectiveness to reach the lost in the future, should Christ continue to tarry, is at stake. Many on both sides of the discussion believe this last statement. The dealing with this issue can be a discussion, a debate, a yelling contest, and even a war of words. Much emotion is connected to it as our sexuality, our physical identities are so personally woven into who we are. Be cautious as you approach this topic, but don't run away because it is difficult.

Here are some questions to ponder:
1. What does it mean to be a complimentarian?
2. What does it mean to be an egalitarian?
3. Is it natural for men to be "in charge?"
4. Should women always submit to a man's leadership?
5. Can a woman do just about anything a man can do? If so, should she?
6. If a woman can not do the same thing a man can do is she inferior?
7. When the Bible speaks of a woman as a "weaker vessel" does this mean inferior?
8. Is it correct for men to impose their collective will on women because they are generally physically stronger?
9. In church should a woman be eligible to become an elder?
10. In church should a woman be eligible to become a pastor or even senior pastor?
11. In the church should a woman get paid equally for equal work?
12. Should a man get more for his work because he is to be considered the "head"of the family, the provider and protector?
13. If a woman was your boss could you submit to her leadership or would you have to find a job where a man is the boss?
14. Have you ever followed a woman's lead in anything?
15. Is it better and more proper to follow a man going the wrong direction rather than a woman who just might be heading in the correct direction?
16. Should marriage put the man and woman on equal footing, different footing, or the man one step above the woman?
17. Who is more like God, the man or the woman?
18. Can a single person be complete?
19. Is a single man complete but a single woman not quite complete?
20. Are son's more valuable than daughters?

21. Does the Bible provide a definitive answer to all gender questions? If it does why is the issue so difficult for everyone? If it does not is the Bible incomplete?
22. Is it all right for a girl/woman to be a drummer in a Christian rock band?

We frame these questions as if they are exclusively being asked of men. They are as our small group and our Sunday school class is populated entirely, and by design, by young men. The fact that these groups are exclusively male is a nod to the idea that our church somehow recognizes that there are some differences between the genders. Give these questions some thought...lots of thought. Perhaps this is where we should go in the second half of our small group's year.