I’m not really sure why I’m’ weighing in on this but here it goes.
The mere fact that I had to title it “Mac vs Moore” instead of “Mac WITH Moore” is a sad thing. Two people that are supposed to be going the same direction, serving the same God, but one is throwing darts at the other. Where to begin….
First, I do believe that our society has spent way too much time trying to make everyone equal and alike that we have lost the ability to celebrate our differences as a positive thing. Regardless of our opinions, men have inherent qualities that women don’t usually possess. Likewise, women have innate qualities that men don’t usually possess. Women have a very keen sense of discernment. Their intuition is unmatched and real. Men have an ability to make a decision based solely on facts and completely irrespective of feelings. That’s just the beginning of the mass difference between men and women. They are different. Very different.
All the more reason to embrace men doing things to help other men and women doing things to help other women. Because we’re so different, we need someone who has walked our walk. Someone who knows what it’s like to have the weight of the family on their shoulders and be afraid to make a mistake. The single mother with a deadbeat-dad ex-husband isn’t going to ask for a man’s advice on this situation. She’s going to ask a woman who has dealt with this or knows someone who has.
That’s why Mac’s stance confuses me somewhat. I understand that biblically, there’s no evidence that women ever led a flock, nation, church. But Beth isn’t pastoring. She’s ministering. There’s a huge difference. And she’s ministering quite well. People like Beth Moore and Christine Caine are exactly what women need. Someone who understands the complex and intricate things that women deal with; things that men just don’t understand. Starting with their whacked-out emotions. Haha. I can be emotional, but a female’s emotions are on an entirely different level. How to navigate a difficult marriage; single motherhood; abusive relationships; difficulties in the workplace. These are only a very small portion of the things these female ministers address that is needed by women, for women. Just because Beth Moore may not be your cup of tea, doesn’t mean tea is bad. It just means you need to find a different drink.
So maybe we figure out a way to celebrate the individuality of everyone. Maybe we figure out a way to celebrate our differences. Maybe we realize we have strengths and weaknesses and help each other when we have strength where they have a weakness, and vice versa.
I’m a firm believer that there is no greater testimony than that of someone who has known, loved and followed God their entire life. No one can convince me otherwise. Someone who has known God their entire life has a VERY valid wealth of experience and can effectively communicate God’s nature to someone who doesn’t know God. They can offer sound advice based on their knowledge of God’s word and their own life experiences. Having said that, there’s also something to be said for recovering drug addicts helping struggling addicts. There something to be said for those who have walked the broken path, to help those still on that path get off. Alcoholics are going to listen very closely to someone who has been down that dark road. Domestic abuse victims are going to follow someone who still has the scars from their own abusive relationship. It’s just the nature of human beings and there’s nothing wrong with it and it should be celebrated.
Men have spiritual insight for men. Women have spiritual insight for women. Former addicts have spiritual insight for current addicts… and so on. Let God use whoever He will use to reach His children. Because I’m fully convinced that there’s simply no way you can look at the life of Beth Moore and Christine Caine and say, “God’s not using them.” That’s just not possible. God’s using them in powerful ways. And will continue to, now that Big Mac decided to pick on a girl. “Hell hath no fury…”
Stay Classy GP!
Grainger