Author Archives: javenbear

While single men are empowered and encouraged to build a career or get an education or start a business or get a job and move up the chain, single women are stuck in limbo. The ultimate (even if unspoken) goal is marriage, but while they wait for a man to approach them, they have toContinue reading “Feb 24”

Jimothy’s answer suggests a sharp divide between the culture and way of living inside the church and out there in the world. I think we do well to seriously consider the implications of such an understanding of the kingdom of God. If the kingdom and its ways are only applicable inside the walls of theContinue reading “Feb 23”

We can chuckle, but we must admire Jimothy for his honesty in the third frame. If he is so much as alone for a few minutes with a woman, he has no confidence his purity will survive the encounter. This is familiar talk given to young men in many churches. Consider the view of womenContinue reading “Feb 22”

In order to keep women from any positions of authority of leadership it’s necessary to say that anytime a woman senses a call to these positions, she has heard wrong or that she didn’t hear from God. Conversely, when men demonstrate an ability to lead or if they sense they are gifted in leadership, theyContinue reading “Feb 21”

The logic of being completely different and kept apart (while still being “equal”) was employed during the Jim Crow era to keep black children out of all white schools. Eventually, even white people realized how ridiculous this logic was and were forced to integrate. This same kind of logic is employed in churches where men’sContinue reading “Feb 20”

It is an absurd notion that women should be kept from leading men in any area. Yet this is commonplace in many church communities and done under the guise of being God’s will. When faced with the reality that many other cultures see the family order playing out much differently, we are either forced toContinue reading “Feb 19”

In many churches, women are discouraged from getting career jobs or investing in opportunities which would distract from what is seen as their true calling (motherhood in the home). And there is often an anti-education attitude which develops, perhaps unconsciously. When men are encouraged to follow the call God has placed on their lives byContinue reading “Feb 18”

When we examine a church or a business or other institution where people are involved, we can take a look at it’s ideal (what is the aim, the vision for the people there?) and the structure implemented (how are things arranged, who is in charge, etc.?) We can examine forwards and backwards with these thingsContinue reading “Feb 17”

Jimothy here is at least honest. Some ultra-complementarians (like John Piper) admit there are pieces of scripture where women are praised for doing things that don’t reckon with their theological picture of gender roles/design. At the end the day, or the beginning rather, preachers have to preach something. And something that’s black and white isContinue reading “Feb 16”

This strip brings to mind one of my favorite quips, If the King James Version was good enough for Paul, then it’s good enough for me! Those who fret about the perpetual worsening of culture often have a very short memory and very little conception of the things which have happened in the distant andContinue reading “Feb 15”