In this post I continue to focus on popular blogger Michelle Lesley when I will discuss her next example related to Galatians 3:38
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is mo male and female, for you are all one in Christ.
Michelle Lesley: "Anyone can come to Christ in repentance and faith - Jew or Gentile. slave of free, male of female, all are welcome. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. No one is more important than anybody else. We are all equally saved, equally loved, equally forgiven of our sin, equally precious in God's eyes. But equality in salvation does not translate to equality in church roles."
Michelle Lesley: "Let me illustrate it this way. My husband and I have six children. Each and every one of us are all equally Lesleys even though I married into the family and the rest of them were all born into the family/ No family member is more loved or important than another. However, we all have different roles, which come with different blessings and responsibilities. My 12-year old might not be able to drive the car, but he doesn't have to work eight hours a day and pay bills either. I no longer have to do homework but I do have to do housework. Our family would not operate in a healthy way if I tried to take on my son's role or my husband tried to take on my role."
Michelle Lesley: "It is the same way in the church. God loves, forgives, and saves each one of us equally. But He also loves us each individually. And it's because of that individual love that He gives each of us unique roles to fill in the church so that it will operate in a healthy way. The role of women in the church is precious and vital to the well being of the body of Christ. So is the role of men. They are both equally important, yet God has specially gifted women to fulfill the roles He has designed for us just as He specifically gifted men to fulfill the roles He has designed for them."
My Comment
Michelle Lesley is correct when she states that anyone can come to Christ in repentance and faith for we are all equally precious in God's eyes. But her following statements are not correct as far as Scripture is concerned.
As for her example of her son and her husband not being able to take on her role, her son is still a child so he is obviously not yet ready to take on adult responsibilities at home and he will not yet be spiritually mature to take on spiritual responsibilities at church. Moreover, as far as her husband is concerned, she and her husband are to work together as a team according to Genesis 1:26-28 and in the church they are to function in accordance with their spiritual gifts.
Their spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as He determines as we know from
Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then given generously; if it is to lead, then do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, then do it cheerfully.
P.S. Please note that no gender is mentioned in Romans 12:4-8 in the original text so it is best to use "you" when speaking of a particular gift.
And in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working but the same God works all of them in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one just as He determines.
And in Ephesians 4:11
It was He (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers....
We learn from the above passages that the Holy Spirit does not have a special list of gifts for Jews, a special list of gifts for Greeks, a special list of gifts for slaves, a special list of gifts for free, a special list of gifts for males, or a special list of gifts for females. He, apparently, is "blind" as far as nationality, position in life, or gender is concerned. Therefore, believers are to function in the church in accordance with their spiritual gifts regardless what their nationality, status in life or gender may be. That may mean that a wife may be the pastor of a church and her husband may be serving as an usher. Or it may be that a wife is a deacon and her husband serves as a car park attendant.
Read Part Seven HERE
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