IS IT WORTH A BATTLE?
Ernest Beevers
October 1, 1986
Our nominating committee was stuck! We couldn't agree on anything-not a Sunday school director, not even a department director. Every time a name was suggested, Fred would object. We had no men both qualified and willing to take any of the key leadership positions, and Fred was set against having a woman in any position "over" men. We had a problem.
As pastor, I badly wanted to get the Sunday school staffed with able, committed directors. I also wanted to work through the differences Fred had with other committee members.
I suggested to Fred that we meet privately to examine the Bible teachings on the role and ministry of women in the church. We studied 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Galatians 3:28-29, Ephesians 5:21-30, 1 Corinthians 11 and 14 and other Scriptures. I pointed out the leadership roles played by Priscilla, Phoebe, and Deborah-all to no avail. Fred was immovable.
As I weighed the situation, I developed the following grid as an analytical tool.
X-coordinate: Degree of Certainty, or "How sure I am that I am right."
Y-coordinate: Degree of Importance of the Issue, or "How important this matter is to me."
On any given issue or question, each individual has a unique viewpoint. The person must determine how much intrinsic importance this matter has and also the degree of certainty of that position.
For point A on the grid: I am absolutely certain the toothpaste tube should be rolled up from the bottom. But on the scale of importance, I do not place it very high. Therefore I will not break fellowship with my wife if she persists in squeezing it in the middle! I won't even rant.
For point B: Euthanasia is a very important matter; it involves taking a life. But under what conditions should life support systems be suspended? And who pulls ...
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