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Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

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complementarianism

If you’re going to say it is a sin for a woman to preach, you better be prepared to say more

January 27, 2020 by Randal

This morning, I posted the following on Twitter: Here’s the problem with complementarianism in a nutshell. The historic justification has been that they are less intellectual & more emotionally unstable than men, but that’s clearly sexist. Women are no less well equipped than men to be profound teachers and leaders. So one might then retreat […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Bible, complementarianism, egalitarianism, exegesis, gender equality, hermeneutics, sexism

On keeping the ladies in the nursery: A response to Owen Strachan

May 11, 2019 by Randal

This morning, I came across the following tweet from Baptist theologian Owen Strachan (courtesy of Matt Mikalatos): "When I hear women & men challenging God’s order, saying…“Women should do more than just serve in the nursery or teach children.“ I wonder why they have such a low opinion of those babes in the nursery? Why […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: complementarianism, Owen Strachan, sexism

The Complementarian Dilemma

April 14, 2018 by Randal

Egalitarianism is the view that all offices of church ministry and leadership should be open to both genders. By contrast, complementarianism insists that some offices of ministry and leadership should be restricted to males. I am an egalitarian and yesterday I posted this tweet expressing my concern that complementarianism is not just wrong, but potentially […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: biblical ethics, complementarianism, egalitarianism, ethics, hermeneutics, sexism

How I wrote an article critiquing John Piper … and got attacked by egalitarians

January 24, 2018 by Randal

Yesterday I posted an article in which I argued that John Piper’s ill-formed and poorly argued prohibition on women teaching in seminary reveals that he is sexist, i.e. prejudiced against the female sex and gender. I did not anticipate that my argument would receive resistance from egalitarians. Trash! One individual named Henry Imler replied: Heirarchy [sic] […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: complementarianism, egalitarianism, ethics, John Piper, Jr. Forasteros

John Piper’s Sexism

January 23, 2018 by Randal

Yesterday John Piper posted a podcast answer to the question “Is There a Place for Female Professors at Seminary?” (A hat tip to Matt Mikalatos for tweeting this.) Piper stipulates that his answer to the question of whether women should be teaching in seminaries is predicated on an assumption that complementarianism is true. (Complementarianism is the view […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: complementarianism, John Piper, sexism

Is Christian Complementarianism Immoral and Sexist?

January 15, 2018 by Randal

For 150 years the Mormon church barred all members of African ethnicity from attaining the priesthood based on the alleged prophecy that dark skin reflected the “mark of Cain”. Then, in 1978 the prophet of the Mormon church received a new revelation that God wanted the ban rescinded. Good to know! An outside observer would reasonably […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: complementarianism, ethics, feminism, sexism

Should women be allowed to preach if it is carried out under the authority of a male elder?

May 8, 2015 by Randal

This is the question addressed in Pastor John Piper’s most recent podcast. The questioner was concerned about the relevance of 1 Timothy 2:12. Pastor Piper responds by addressing verses 12-14: “12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: complementarianism, feminism, gender, John Piper, sexism, women

52. Women in Ministry

October 21, 2014 by Randal

In 1967 Katherine Switzer made history as the first woman ever to enter … and complete the Boston Marathon. In this iconic photo you can see race official Jock Semple (the bald man in the black blazer) attempting to pull Switzer’s numbers off and stop her from running. As I reflect on the role of women ministering […]

Filed Under: Podcast-The Tentative Apologist, The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: church, complementarianism, ecclesiology, egalitarianism, feminism, ministry, spiritual gifts, women

Snapshots from Baltimore (Part 1)

November 22, 2013 by Randal

Over the last few days I’ve been in Baltimore at the Evangelical Theological Society annual conference. While ETS just wrapped up last night, this evening the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature begins (fortunately at the same venues). Thus far I’ve been intrepid with my microphone and have recorded eight — count […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: Baltimore, complementarianism, egalitarianism, ETS, evangelicalism

What would complementarians do with a hermaphrodite pastor?

March 16, 2013 by Randal

Complementarianism is the theological view that while women and men share ontological equality (i.e. both are made in the image of God), they nonetheless properly have different roles in church, the home and the wider society. The way this often cashes out in church is that women should not teach or be in authority over […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: casuistry, complementarianism, egalitarianism

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