tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343277549128598933.post8955137378214203839..comments2023-08-10T09:38:07.159+01:00Comments on Revising Reform: My monster....Rev R Marszalekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01831340057673771787noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343277549128598933.post-71153449208756453692009-01-24T18:11:00.000+00:002009-01-24T18:11:00.000+00:00Simply - thank you so much. I have spent a very in...Simply - thank you so much. <BR/><BR/>I have spent a very interesting weekend with the guy in the 'Pleased to promote...' advert - my cousin Dan and his American wife Anna - they are passionate Christians and into wholeness therapies and reaching the marginalised through the opportunities to be outdoors. They are about to prepare for a 'transforming of others ministry' by treking 2700 miles across America, living out of a tent as they go. They expect to be very transformed by their experiences and use what they learn to benefit others in their ministry. They think out of the box and made me more conscious of some of my own brokenness and need for healing. There seem to be two very conflicting schools of thought about ministry leaders- one school where the broken heal the broken and rest in the brokenness of the incarnate Christ and the other theory where through Myers briggs and other self-analysis or self-healing / self-revelatory exercises you are required to sort 'all of your shit out' first before you are able to minister to others -so is it both or is it each or is there no answer. Just some ponderings. <BR/><BR/>Thank you so much for your thoughts re my monster - so helpful. <BR/>love RachelRev R Marszalekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01831340057673771787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343277549128598933.post-69583259279803019442009-01-24T11:11:00.000+00:002009-01-24T11:11:00.000+00:00I am not sure that YOU have created the monster. ...I am not sure that YOU have created the monster. It has (in my opinion and experience), been created by a school of theology which persists in a sectarian view of humanity which I for one do not find under the new covenant as described in the New Testament or before the Fall. But when you are continually taught that it is God's will that women are to submit to all men and carry out a limited set of roles within the church (despite any gifts and vocation they may have), it seeps into your subconscious and any other interpretation of scripture doesn't get a look in. Imposed worthlessness, hopelessness and a lack of respect from some men who teach these doctrines will inevitably have a profound effect and it is SO hard to move away from these teachings when they are all you have ever known. When you do finally start to open up and examine other interpreations of key passages, it almost feels as if you are treading on forbidden ground, or sinning in some way. What do you know anyway, you're only a woman after all. It isn't a woman's place to question doctrine, teaching is a man's role... Questions like: 'Am I being selfish and disobedient in following where I believe God is leading?' come into your mind. Or: 'Is it all a product of my imagination?' Or eventually and more positively, 'Is God actually leading me away from what could be false theology, and what could be hindering me from following Christ wherever he leads?'. In short, the monster is being CARRIED AROUND by you, but NOT created by you...As soon as you feel able, leave him where you found him, in the arms of those who created him. Who knows what God has in store for you in future days? if I were you i would be VERY excited and encouraged...it sounds very much to me as if you have a strong vocation and calling to leadership and ministry. In the words of the (evangelical) Bishop of Birkenhead when I met him: 'Go Girl!'Crunchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218148147949487600noreply@blogger.com