Natalie Thinks

Definitions: Egalitarians “believe that leadership is not determined by gender but by the gifting and calling of the Holy Spirit, and that God calls all believers to submit to one another.”  In contrast , Complementarians “believe the Bible establishes male authority over women, making male leadership the standard.” Carolyn Curtis James. Imagine attending a church where half the congregation is BLACK and half are WHITE.  After a while you notice that no BLACK PEOPLE ever take up collection or make announcements; they almost never get called on to pray, they never lead worship and they never preach.  On the few odd occasions when they do speak or pray they always pray for THE LEADERS (who are white) and always encourage the other BLACK PEOPLE to submit to the LEADERS.  Imagine that when you ask some of the BLACK PEOPLE how they feel about this they say, “Oh, we’re quite happy being behind the scenes we don’t want to preach or pray up front.” Your mind boggles....

Yesterday I went to church and I did not find Jesus there. He was there, of course, but I did not see him. I was distracted by people, and songs with bad theology and sermons. This morning I was out early hanging washing, And there He was! In the thicket of trees outside my house... It was beautiful and He was there Enjoying the beauty with me. And the doves cooed, And He was there, And the wind rustled the leaves in the trees And He was there... And He brought joy.