Graham Beynon and Jane Tooher Embracing Complementarianism: Turning Biblical Convictions into Positive Church Culture (Good Book Company, 2022) Review by Andrew Bartlett In this short book, the authors want to help churches put complementarianism into practice in a way that they believe is healthier and more biblically faithful. It is clear and well-written. I found it fascinating, because of its unintended effect: it lays bare the difficulty of reconciling complementarianism with a coherent understanding of Scripture and exposes the empty space at its centre.
I've commented before that I think the terms complementarian and egalitarian are problematic. We simply have men and women who are different physically and in their gender characteristics in broad ways. This actually makes them "complementary" but not in the way evangelicals currently define that in terms of authority, so it's today an unusable word. Men and women can have any gift in God's Kingdom, but since men and women are different, that difference leads to men more often being in leadership roles. Other than unfair restrictions put on women, I think it is this simple.
Well said!!
I've commented before that I think the terms complementarian and egalitarian are problematic. We simply have men and women who are different physically and in their gender characteristics in broad ways. This actually makes them "complementary" but not in the way evangelicals currently define that in terms of authority, so it's today an unusable word. Men and women can have any gift in God's Kingdom, but since men and women are different, that difference leads to men more often being in leadership roles. Other than unfair restrictions put on women, I think it is this simple.