Resolutions 5-14, reaffirming the Biblical Teaching of Man and Woman in the church was an important one. There is no doubt about this.
I got increasingly frustrated as I listened to the delegates in the 'con' line say again and again, "When I get home from convention, I would hate to tell the ladies at my church that they weren't appreciated", "When I get home from convention, I would hate to tell this couple that they can't serve together", "When I get home from convention, I would hate to tell my congregation that we can't serve communion because we don't have enough able bodied men to help serve" , and so on and so forth.
In the same way that closed communion is a practice of pastoral care and not one of discrimination, pride, or a veiled insult, reaffirming that men are to serve at the altar is a practice of love and protection for the women of our congregations.
Men are to serve women with their bodies. They are to protect and sacrifice their bodies in order to serve the gentle and maternal nature of their ladies. This is shown in many ways. Some days, it is bearing the burden of carrying heavy loads, back breaking work, and leaving the home in order to sustain it. Some days, that sacrifice is putting oneself in physical danger. Some days, that is leading and guiding the household. Men wear many hats in order to serve and preserve their other hats.
This distinction doesn't mean that women are incapable of the work that men are supposed to do. Of course it doesn't. Women are strong, flexible creatures. God made us to multitask and be versatile. This isn't about what women *can* do. This is about what men are supposed to do.
I love the passage in the book of Judges of Jael. Totally my type of story. What a story of woman's power! A prophetess! A strong woman that defended the Israelites through strength and cunning! However, if we boil it down to that portion..we miss the point.
Jael was not the person who was supposed to drive Sisera to his death. Barak, by doubting God's Word and putting Deborah in unnecessary danger, lost the battle he should have won. Barak, by not being strong enough to go alone, forfeited his honour. Of course a woman was capable of the task, but she only did it, because of the failure of Barak. Jael had to do the violent, dangerous, task because of doubt and insecurity.
Pastor Fiene wrote a beautiful piece that mentions how lucky the western church has been, to not suffer violent persecution in recent memory. However, this weeks tragedy in France must remind us what the church always has, and always will face. When the church gets attacked, the bold will go for the head of the church. They will go for the leaders of the church, for the visible who are serving the Body and Blood of Chritst, reading the Scriptures, and offering forgiveness.
One of my pastors talks about the mystery of communion. We have a specific recipe for the sacraments, he says. Any deviation from that specific recipe puts you into perilous and questionable territory. The Scriptures are clear about male leadership.
So, sure females *can* serve at the altar. However, at what cost?
So delegates, when you go back to your congregations...please do not stir up resentments against the synod and please don't tell your ladies that they are unappreciated by the rest of Lutherans. Don't tell that couple that they can not serve the church together. Rather, express to them that you do not want to be like Barak, that you don't want to be like Heber, that you want to protect and serve the women that you love so much that you don't want to enter into perilous territory, either physically or spiritually. Tell them that you would die for them, be imprisoned for them, that if it means waiting an extra 10 minutes to receive the body and blood of Christ, that you are willing to be patient for their sake.
Pastors, Elders, Gentlemen, when you go back to your congregation, serve the ladies the body and blood of Christ, not tent spikes.
