It is really nice of you to have taken time to reply to my comment. I am multi-facted minister as it were. I have a Ministry to women to teach Purpose, Integrity and Leadership and since we are in Africa, these are essential traits that we must teach.

I also publish a magazine for women and our site is http://www.effectualmag.com. We dont have the facilities that you have in your part of the world, but we are doing our best to spread the Word.

The opportunity to be able to belong to a community of women like yours even though on cyber space is huge for me.

I look forward to further comments and again, please keep up the good work. You really do speak to my spirit. God bless you.

kalli – thanks for reading and for sharing your perspectives. i definitely see those scriptures differently and believe wholeheartedly in equality in marriage & in the kingdom of God. i’m just plain old not a complementarian. and for me, i just don’t believe that God would promote discrimination to keep us meek and humble; that is just contrary to too many wider views of the kingdom and freedom and justice. Jesus came to set all free. for me, that means all. thanks for taking time to comment; it is always interesting to hear all kinds of different viewpoints.

Yes, as a woman I have felt “unwanted” or “unable” to get to ceratin places in life. But as the earthly years have gone by, I have come to see those circumstances as blessings. Meaning, those are places I don’t want to be, that God doesn’t want me to be, and are not FOR me. Meaning they are not my manifestation of God on earth, not my calling.

So to me, it all boils down to perspective. The Word of God gives great importance to being female, it requires a strong person to be a helpmate. We have the power to lift up others. To shape their lives. How awesome is that?

I agree in the synergy the Bible intends between a man and a woman. The bible says the man is to be the “head” of the household. Look up the greek word. It means Pointman, so-to-speak. The one who stands out in front of his family with his arms out to the sides protecting them. The one who takes all the hits. The one who gets shot at first. The one who steps on the bomb. It’s about responsibility, not authority. He is responsible for the direction and accomplishments of his family. It is a HUMONGOUS heavy burden ladies….one I wouldn’t want.

I’m a little off track, but I think it’s important to study what Jesus really said. It’s not about power or authority and no where do I think the Bible indicates such. Religion is the guilty party – interpretation makes all the difference.

One of my favorite parts of the Bible is when Jesus rose again on the third day and who was there? Mary. And what did he tell her? “Go and tell” my disciples that He is risen. Sounds like a pretty clear authorization for woman to preach to me! Sounds like a pretty important setting, message, and task give only to a WOMAN to me!

Hands down, given the choice, I would rather be a woman over a man any day. Ladies, WE ALONE HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE PEOPLE BY OUR FAITH. Specifically our husbands. Is that not the highest honor? We can give birth to God’s children! Is that not the most powerful, awesome blessing?! These things make me want to fall to my knees and let my face hit the ground in worship everytime.

Your point is not lost. I agree there are places in this world that woman are made to feel unwanted. Substitute the word “woman” for certain other races and identities and it is all the same. Discrimination. Evil. It is here to stay. But maybe it’s God’s way of keeping certain of us meek and humble, for THEY shall inherit the earth!

I guess my uplifting point is, maybe by looking at these situations from a different perspective, as guidance from above to keep us on the right path, we can see these situations as blessings instead of frustrations. In short, thank GOD for discrimination.

God Bless!

I feel you, not been wanted can be tolerated in the world where the rules are practically non-existent. But in church, it is just sometimes almost unbearable. But like you have said already, God loves us and wants us and nothing will change that. However, I also think that when it is women who dont want women then the problem is definitely bigger than us all.

If women will arise and rally round other women, the hurt of not feeling wanted can be completely eradicated from our midst. And we all must do our little bit in our little corner and for me this is all that matters… I will do my little bit in my little corner and hopefully make one or two others feel wanted in the process.

God bless you and keep up the good work.

julie - i know it is so hard to integrate into deep places within us because the damage runs so deep, but i believe wholeheartedly that Jesus did not come to set half his people free. he came to set everyone free. all the way free. i highly recommend reading any of christians for biblical equality’s stuff. they do an excellent job on bible interpretation from a very scholarly perspective. http://www.cbiinternational.org. i feel so strongly about this, julie: you were made to thrive, to live free, to live strong, to use your voice, to proclaim the gospel through your life, and to model this kind of freedom to your daughters who deserve to have the right to live freely & equally & not oppressed in any way, shape or form…

jessica - oh how i love you, my dear and powerful and wise friend and pastor. glad we are in the thick of it together. your post rocked.

laurie – xo

minnow - wow, great post. thanks for your honesty & courage.

julie & ew – thanks for the link. julie, thanks also for being a strong and powerful voice into this conversation. ti am so grateful for you & sure do wish we could have had more time in pdx, too!