Can you be a radical woman in the church - Part 2

Okay, so I am already getting backlash from some people about trying to tackle this issue, but part of being a radical woman for Christ is not backing down from the truth just because pressures from society may say otherwise. However, I am also called to love those whom I disagree with. As a result, I pray and hope that for those women who may hold that they are called to be pastor-teachers or elders that God blesses their ministries, despite the fact that I believe that it is a mistake for women to take on such a role. I also believe that many hold to an opposing viewpoint based on the following three misconceptions:

1. 1 Timothy is written to counteract only a specific situation in the life of the church.
2. As such, it cannot be considered to be normative for the church today.
3. Therefore, 1 Timothy contains no directives for the church today.

With that said, I am going to continue on to address 1 Timothy 2:9-15. This post will look at the first two verses of this passage.

"I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God" (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

These verses are intended to address the issue of women conducting themselves in a manner where their behavior does not mar the way that others either view God are that hinders another person's ability to commune with Him. These verses are calling women to decency, propriety, modesty, and good deeds. These are not culturally bond principles; however, specific examples offered are, to an extent, culturally relative.

In this day and age, the proper application of this passage would therefore require an understanding of what adornment is excessive, immodest, or improper. As a result, there must be consideration given for the individual and social differences between various cultures in our world today. What may be viewed as appropriate attire in one country may be considered to be immodest in another. As Christians, it is therefore important to remain in touch with our own culture but also to be sensitive to the differences found in other cultures as well.