No, no, a thousand times no. Is Vallotton's argument that the New Testament is not a template for life? Seriously? This is the poor teaching that reduces everything down to cultural arguments. Well, because women were thought of so poorly when this was written, we should update what God was saying to match how they are viewed today. No, we should not. God's word transcends all culture. The bible is to be taken as a whole, not chopped up into each individual setting. God orchestrated what books would be included in the canon. So while Paul was writing to the Church at Galatia, God was writing to the entire church about the issues affecting the Galatians. While Paul was writing to the Corinthians about their issues, God was writing to the entire church.
"Now that we have a little insight into the commonalities of the three cities where Paul seemingly restricts women, let's journey back to Corinth and see if we can unravel God's heart for women in ministry and leadership."
This encapsulates the unfairness in which Christo-feminists approach this subject. We have clear and directive scriptures such as the key verses, which are supported by verses in other books written to two other congregations, yet they insist they must be wrong. Kris admitted at the beginning of this chapter that he always had issue with these scriptures and wanted to find a way around them. So instead of obeying, the Christo-feminist scours the bible for historical narratives they can twist. They "journey back in time" as if that is sound hermeneutics. It is not. While they are busy unraveling God's alleged heart they are ignoring what He has actually said about the matter! The arguments are capricious and often times just contrived. They pretend to know how the Apostle Paul was feeling, or how a particular congregation was behaving and apply that as the reason for why God wrote the key verses. The vast majority of women in leadership they exalt are taken from closing thanksgivings by Paul. So he is not writing prolifically about women in ministry. He is merely thanking those that helped him. Yet they will seize on something like the fact that four of the six times Paul mention the married couple Aquila and Priscilla, he mentions Priscilla first as proof that she was the lead. Please. Or when Paul thanks Phoebe as a servant, they pretend she was really a "deacon", even though the church would not use that word for another thousand years. Or when Junias was well known to the apostles, they turn him into a woman and pretend he was an apostle. All to avoid obedience to clear and directive scriptures. We do not need to travel back in time Kris. Heck, we do not even need to interpret the key scriptures. We just need to read them.
My question to people who believe men have authority over women is this: Are you using your authority to empower, promote and exalt the women around you, or are you using your authority to reduce, oppress and suppress women? Jesus made it clear that the greatest among us is to be the servant of all (see Luke 22:26). In my opinion, the argument over where authority originates is dwarfed in light of the responsibility, servanthood and humility that true authority requires.
As the final snippet I felt this summed up the unbiblical arrogance and false teaching of Kris Vallotton. God forbade one thing beloved. One thing. Women cannot teach or preach with authority over men within His church. He even told us why! Not good enough for Christo-feminists and Vallotton. To them, God prohibiting one thing is akin to reduction, suppression and oppression. Jesus did say the greatest among us should be a servant but being a servant starts with obedience to what He says! Jesus Himself lamented once, why bother calling me Lord if you refuse to do what I say? Kris, if you were responsible, you would not lead your sisters into disobedience in order to sell some books. If you truly taught servanthood you would start by doing what He has commanded. If you had an ounce of humility you would stop mangling the word of God for your own twisted carnal ends. Try empowering, promoting and exalting Jesus for once.
Kris Vallotton is a dangerous wolf beloved. He has previously been devouring the sheep through false prosperity and targeting youth with experiential Christianity and the cesspool that is Bethel Church. He has set his sights now upon women in body of Christ. Like Satan in the garden he woos you with "did God really say?" Let me assure you my beloved sisters. God really did say. Do not follow the hucksters and charlatans who tell you that God wants you to be disobedient to His own word. There are plenty of things for you to do in the kingdom but it starts by remembering it is all for His glory.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- November 6, 2019
