Ridgell's Originals

Saturday will be 39 years that Marsha and I have been married.  So -- if the Lord wills -- we will hit another milestone.  If the Lord wills.  What a striking phrase.  But one thing I have learned over 39 years is that you don't make it this long without the Lord.  That is one of the best things I have learned from her over the years.  It is all about God.  We pray for health to be active for him.  We would love to celebrate 50 years together.  Or, if we are like our parents, 60 or 70 years together.  But only God knows the future.  That's another good thing I have learned from her.  Enjoy each day as it comes.

Lots has changed over 39 years.  She has gone from Marsha to Mom.  And then from Mom to Mimi. And I have gone from Steve to Dad to Pops.  And it just keeps getting better.

She was an instructor at ACU, a stay at home Mom, a public school teacher, and now retired and busier than ever.  I have been a preacher, roofer, salesman, and now a preacher again.  And may never retire.  And we serve our church as an elder and wife.

But some things haven't changed in 39 years.  Still in love.  Didn't really know what it meant then.  Understanding it more every passing year.  And it gets better.

Still love family.  It's bigger now.  We went from two to four when we our two kids and got two more when they married.  Now we have five grandkids.  Now we take care of our parents more than they take care of us.  We get the whole cycle of life thing.  But it's still family and we would rather be with them than anyone else.

And still love God.  I am amazed at the journey over 39 years.  Faithfulness, restoration, struggle, victory, forgiveness, love.  Heartache, sickness, joy, healing, ministry.  And the one thing I am sure of is God's love and faithfulness.

And sometimes I lood at her when she doesn't know it.  And my heart still skips a beat.  I'd choose her again in a heartbeat.

So thanks for 39 years Mimi.  And as long as the Lord wills, we will love and live each coming year to the fullest.

Thanks God.  You knew exactly who I needed.  I am blessed.

Paul's teaches that in Christ there is no spiritual difference based on economic, racial, or gender status.  This teaching has recently been used by some as a universal principle to prove that men and women are not to function differently in the kingdom.  The conclusion is that there is thus a universal command that the church not discriminate against women in terms of what they can or can't do in worship.

Except that is not how Paul believed it.  The same Paul that wrote "neither male nor female" also wrote "as in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches."  Neither male nor female in Christ is a definitive, universal teaching.  But Paul indicates in the first century that women did not speak in worship.  So whatever it is, it is not a universal principle in terms of worship functionality.

But that was cultural, some would say.  It may be.  My point is just that we not interpret one verse in a way that that Scripture itself would not support.

The degree or extent of women's participation in worship or in leadership cannot be taught from the spiritual principle of "neither male nor female".  At best it is determined by culture. Or the I Corinthians 14 passage is universal, not cultural. Either way,  the discussion cannot be that God's intent or command.is that spiritual equality is the same as functional equality.

At least that is how Scripture seems to me.

As I look at this issue, I'll share more of my thoughts later.

I shared last post about spiritual equality in Christ.  There has been quite a bit of conversation lately about whether spiritual equality means functional equality.  That is, since we are spiritually equal in Christ ("niether male nor female) then we must be functionally equal.  In other words, anything a woman can do in the kingdom, a man can do also.  And whatever a man can do, so can a woman.  This is especially used when talking about leadership roles in worship and in the church.  Does spiritual equality mean that men and women should both be preachers, worship leaders, elders, etc?  Or is there a difference in spiritual and functinal equality? 

You have to make some assumptions to hold the position of functional equality.

One is that functional equality is a universal principle that God expects his people to follow.  Just as spiritual equality is a principle that must be followed.

Second is that function is dependent on spirituality.

Another is that to not be equal in function is to imply some kind of "second class" spirituality.

By the way, I think it is possible to argue for functional equality based on other considerations.  However, the one I hear most often is the Galatians 3 passage which I believe teaches spiritual, not functional, equality.  And beleiving there are other ways to argue a point does not mean you have to agree.

So more to come on whether God expects functional equality in the Kingdom.  But be thinking on whether there is a difference between spiritual and functional equality.  And realize I am thinking these things thru myself. 

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for youare all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:26-28)

This is a great passage.  I have always loved the inclusiveness of the family of God.  All of us baptized into Christ have put Christ on and we are one in Christ.  What a great statement of spiritual equality to those who some in the world might see as second class citizens. 

A Greek Christian does not require a Jewish advocate to know Jesus.  The slave does not need the intervention of his master to experience Christ.  And a woman does not need a man to experience Jesus.  We are all equal at the cross.  All lost sinners.  Same blood of Jesus shed for each of us.  Same baptism.  Now sharing the same Holy Spirit.  One in Christ.  No spritual advantage by race, economic status, or sex.

In fact, in Chirst we do not see the differences the world sees.  The church cannot be racially divided.  Shame on churches that show racial prejudice.  Or economic prejudice.  The poor person is the same as the rich person in Christ.  Neither male or female is spiritually superior based on gender. 

This is one of the great counter cultural messages the church speaks into society.  No prejudice here!  Our culture may be unfair and prejudicial because of race, economic status, or gender.  We are different in the kingdom of God.

But does this passage mean more than this?  Thoughts on spiritual equality and functional equality next time.

Tomorrow Marsha's Mom turns 84.  I don't call her my mother-in-law but "my other Mom".  I love her because...

She loves her family.  All of them, but she is really close to the three generations of women coming behind her.  She talks to Marsha every day.  She loves Julie and one of the great joys of her life is to watch Julie and Avery.  It is one of the great joys of my life to worship with those four generations -- at least when I am in town.

She loves when Joe Don and Jamie are in town and take the time to bring their three kids over.  She loves watching them play.

She is always sweet and calm.  She never gets too worked up about things. 

She is strong.  She is in fairly constant pain but doesn't complain about it. 

She wants everyone to know Jesus and be happy.

She doesn't talk much about her faith.  She just lives it.  Has as long as I have known her.

She knows she is going to heaven and is ready when God is.  I sometimes think the pain is bad enough for her to want to go on home.  But she spends her time encouraging , praying, and loving Marsha, Julie, and Avery.  The rest of us too, but well... they are special to her. 

She needs our help now.  Marsha's sister Phyllis lives next door and helps constantly.  Shse and Granpa are sweet to take care of each other.  She is proud of Donnie's grandkids (Marsha's brother).  She gets so much joy from Joe Don and his family. 

She brags on Julie's husband Bobby.  She prayed lots for him to become a Christian.  She so appreciates when he does things at the farm and when he helps with the yard.

And she loves me.  Some of that is because I married her little girl and gave her grandkids she loves and they gave her great grandkids.  That is a big deal. 

But she has always treated me just like I was her son.  Even when she had a reason not to.  She did.  Still does. 

Just like Jesus.  Living her faith.  I see where Marsha gets it.  And I'm glad.

Love you Granny.

He's 84 today and things are not like they used to be.  He is suffering from Dementia/Alzhiemer's/Senility.  Doctors differ about the exact diagnosis but the end result is the same:  he does not function well mentally like he used to.  And he is physically frailer than ever.  Marsha and I spent yesterday with he and my Mom.  We helped get some legal work done (thanks to his grandson Joe Don) and cleaned out his work shed.  Here are a couple of thoughts on his birthday.

He still knows people.  He always knows his family.  We took him by the church and he knew all of the staff.  He couldn't hang in the conversation, but he knew them.  He always loved and cared about people.  It was how he functioned as an elder and how he interacted in his church family.  That is a great legacy.

People love him.  They go out of their way to tell me how much they love and respect my folks.  My Dad spent years helping people.  Praying for people.  Serving people.  Giving spiritual counsel.  Great way to be remembered.

He is still so sweet.  He is not mean or hard to manage.  He may not be aware of everything but he is unfailingly gentle.  Always has been.  I think this struggle has revealed his true nature.  And it is kind and gentle.

So I continue to be thankful for my Dad's influence in our life.  So glad my kids grew uup with his influence.   So happy when I hear my son Joe Don talk about passion and buy in for Jesus.  It sounds just like his Pap-pa talking about commitment.  Faith legacy.

I do a lot of my blogs about family birthdays and anniversaries.  And I do that because I am grateful and love them, but also to remind you of the people in your family who have loved and molded each of you.  Sometimes blood family.  Sometimes spiritual family.  So if you had a Dad like mine, thank the Lord.  If you have a Dad like mine, thank the Lord and thank your Dad.

Love you Pap.  Thank you God for the gift of a sweet, gentle man who loves you and his family with all his heart -- even if he can't anymore with all his mind. And thank you Dad.  Your legacy continues, whether you know it or not. 

God wants me to be happy.  I often hear this statement as a rationale for making decisions about what to do in life.  On the surface it is perfectly reasonable.  And yet, something about it bothers me. 

For one thing, that seems to make our relationship with God more about us than God.  And it is very easy to justify anything we want to do on the basis of whether it makes us happy.  It also sets us up to be the judge of what real happiness is.

I am more convinced that what God wants is for us to follow Him.  And in turn, that will lead to real happiness.  I know that this will sometimes seem to go against what we believe will make us "happy".  Things like staying in a difficult marriage, not buying a bigger house, making sure we have "me" time.  You know, things we think will make us happy.

But if God really knows what is best for us then the real question is not whether God wants us to happy.  The real question is how do I more perfectly live my life under the call of God.  Focus on that and I believe we will find happiness.

So, I would think God wants me to be obedient.  Happiness and contentment follow.