revmarple

One of the most common misconceptions of Christians, including those who describe themselves as evangelicals, is that all sins are equal.  This is an unexamined position on the part of most, in that they have not stopped to think about how it does not square with reality -- everyone knows that committing murder is worse than stealing, for example.  To be sure, not everyone will agree all of the time about what sins are worse than others.  But as Christians we should let the Spirit speak through the Scriptures as to such details.

Now what most Christians mean when they say that all sins are equal is that all make us guilty before God and for any sin we need Jesus for salvation.  This is true.  As the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it, "Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come" (84).  However, the question and answer before this is: "Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?  A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others" (83).  If every evangelical had been schooled in the Westminster Shorter Catechism they would not fall into the trap of saying that all sins are equal and letting that bleed over into their everday discourse and practice.  This is not just nitpicking but a very important theological distinction that makes a huge difference in everyday life.

Among those who take Scripture seriously there has been a continuing debate about the propriety of women's ordination.  The best case that can be made against the ordination of women is to appeal to Paul's letters to places where it says that women should not teach men.  For example, Paul said to the Corinthians according to the ESV: "the women should keep silent in the churches.  For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.  If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.  For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church" (1 Cor 14:34-35).  Also, Paul said to Timothy, "Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet" (1 Tim 2:11-12).

The problem is that those who take Scripture seriously need to study it more if they think this is the end of the matter.  For example, there are women who are praying and prophesying in church earlier in 1 Corinthians.  Prophesying is a form of teaching.  Paul did not have a problem with it. There are also a number of examples of women teaching men in Scripture including Priscilla.  And there are clearly women deacons so those passages that require they be the "husband of one wife" can go the other way around for both deacons and elders (what is ruled out by the phrase is polygamy and homosexuality and shacking-up; the phrase does not rule out single men and women).  All of these things are clearly much more complicated than it might seem on a first read.