Christians for Biblical Equality’s

E-Quality Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 2

Affirming the biblical truth of equality as reflected in Galatians 3:28
June 2002

Welcome

Welcome to this edition of E-Quality Newsletter, the quarterly e-mail newsletter from Christians for Biblical Equality. We hope you find this issue to be useful and encouraging. Much more is available at our Web site.

http://www.cbeinternational.org/

Enjoy reading highlights from our international ministry, including an article on the Apostle Paul, news about our marriage conference, a wonderful book sale, and reasons why CBE membership is for you. We’ve also included information on CBE chapters, the Cornerstone Festival, an update on the TNIV and events in Japan. Enjoy!

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Did Paul Practice What We’re Told He Preached?
By Alvera Mickelsen

People who know very little about the Bible all seem to have heard that Paul is "against women" and teaches that they should be subservient to men and that they should not be in leadership position where men are involved.

And people who are Christians seem to hear most frequently three verses from Paul, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man," (I Tim. 2:12) "Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord," (Eph. 5:22) and "Women should be silent in the churches." (I Cor. 14:34).

If we believe the Bible is God’s Word (which I do) then we keep the commands that are in the Bible, don’t we? Of course we do–providing we understand what those commands are really trying to say. And then the problem becomes a good deal more complicated.

One of the most serious problems of Christians (and we are all guilty of this) is selective literalism. We choose which passages we want to apply literally; we shout those and we ignore all the others that we don’t like. Well, if that is bad, wouldn’t it be better if we just applied all of them literally? That would be almost impossible. For example, I’m sure that every person reading this is now disobeying at least one biblical command. "You shall not put on a garment made of two kinds of materials." (Lev. 19:19). So if you are wearing a cotton polyester blend or any other kind of blend, you are disobeying a biblical command!

Well, you may be saying, that’s an obscure Old Testament command. And you are right. There are lots of others like that. So let’s look at a New Testament command. Five times, Paul and Peter tell Christians to "Greet one another with holy kiss." I’ve never seen that practiced in the churches I attend. And I could give you quite a list of other similar New Testament commands that we do not follow.

To read more of this article, click the link below.
Did Paul Practice What We’re Told He Preached?

Be a Change-Agent: Join CBE

Why should you consider becoming a member of CBE? Simply put, the message of biblical equality is not a ‘woman’s issue’. It is a Christian issue. As Paul says, when one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. The church of Jesus Christ has too often ignored the gifts of the women in its midst, discarding the biblical model of a community of equals for a worldly system of hierarchy.

When you partner with CBE in membership, you support this ministry in so many ways. You are standing with people around the world who affirm that the gifts of all Christians, regardless of gender, race, or class, are indispensable to completing the work of God on earth. You are giving to something larger than yourself, helping the church empower all of its members for limitless service to its only true authority, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Join men and women from 36 countries and 97 different Christian denominations in this vital work. Join today. By pasting the link below in your URL line, you can join online. For new members we are happy to send you a FREE BOOKLET.

www.equalitydepot.com

Marriage and the Family of God

CBE wants to invite you to join us for a weekend of fellowship and scholarship at the marriage conference “Marriage and the Family of God” in Portland, Oregon on the weekend of September 27-29, 2002.  It will inspire you, motivate you, and encourage you as you learn what the bible really teaches about marriage.

We have 10 workshops, music, drama, a couples’ panel and much more! Come and hear as Jon and Carol Trott, John and Carolyn Kohlenberger, and John Temple Bristow share during the general sessions about their revelations regarding mutuality and partnership in marriage.  This is a weekend not to be missed!

CBE Attends Cornerstone Festival

Have you dreamed of reaching younger generations with the truth concerning gender and the Bible? God is giving us this opportunity now. CBE will have a significant presence at Cornerstone Festival, a Christian gathering of over 30,000 people from around the world. Converging on a small town in Illinois the festival features art, music, fellowship and teaching events.

Subscribe to CBE’s Award-Winning Journal- Priscilla Papers

The award-winning journal Priscilla Papers is indexed by the Christian Periodical Index (CPI) and edited by Carol Thiessen. A one-year library subscription contains four quarterly issues and also includes CBE's newsletter, Mutuality. Priscilla Papers, Indices and back issues may be ordered on CBE’s Web site. Click link below for more information.

Book Service News

CBE has created two brand new bumper stickers! Because we’re so excited about them, we’re giving one FREE with every order of $60 or more through June 25. For more details or to view the stickers,

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/bookstore.shtml

CBE's Church Membership Program

To support churches in unleashing the church of Jesus Christ for its important work of worship, evangelism, community outreach and helping Christians to recognize and use their gifts for God, Christians for Biblical Equality began offering church memberships during 2000. CBE member churches receive Priscilla Papers and Mutuality, discounts on resources and conferences and many other benefits.

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/membership/membership.shtml

Attend A CBE Chapter Activity in your area

For information on CBE chapter activity in your area clink the link below.

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/about/chapter_events.shtml

Quotable quotes

“Do all the good you can

            By all the means you can

                        In all the ways you can

                                    In all the places you can

                                                To all the people you can

                                                            As long as ever you can.”

                                                                                                John Wesley

“One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” Albert Schweitzer

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” Mother Teresa

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything you gave me." Erma Bombeck

“Paradoxically, the most constructive thing women can do ... is to write, for in the act of writing we deny our mutedness and begin to eliminate some of the difficulties that have been put upon us.” ATTRIBUTION: Dale Spender (b. 1943), Australian feminist, author. Man Made Language, chapter 7 (1980).

Update on the TNIV

June 11, 2002: Forum of Bible Agencies Says TNIV Falls Within Established Translation Guidelines; Statement Provides Definitive Voice on Translation Guidelines; Other Translation Experts Speak Up.

Japan Baptists Express Concerns Over Limiting Women in Ministry

Advocating respect for diversity in our Baptist heritage, Japan Baptists expressed their concerns about The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 to SBC Executive Secretary James Merritt in Japan recently. For more information click the link below.

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Christians for Biblical Equality

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Minneapolis, MN 55404

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cbe@cbeinternational.org

www.cbeinternational.org