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According to news sources, Gospel Today Magazine was pulled from LifeWay Christian Bookstores across the United States. Why? The cover, and topic, is "Female Pastors". According to the Southern Baptist Convention, owner of the LifeWay Christian Bookstores, it was pulled because it went against their belief on Women's roles as pastors, that it's only a role reserved for men. Gospel Today's owner, Teresa Hairston, is "shocked by this news." You can read the full story here.
But what are your thoughts? Yes, it can be about your stance on Women as Pastors, but what do you think about pulling it on the basis that you don't agree with it? Should readers have equal opportunity to read different views of Scripture since the store is LifeWay Christian book store, not LifeWay Southern Baptist book store?
For additional reading on the topic of women in ministry check out: |
Comments
Sure there may be a sense of closed-mindedness on such a controversial topic, but everything in "Christianity World" is driven by an equally obvious motivation: "support" a.k.a. money.
The magazines weren't pulled because they want to censor the differing views on female pastoral leadership, they were pulled because said differing view runs the risk of driving away staunch southern baptist members, and along with them, their wallets. It wouldn't be surprising if the largest portion of Lifeway's customer is of the southern baptist denomination.
Furthermore, since Lifeway is owned by the SBC, they see it in their best financial interest to not disturb the giant that keeps them going. Most groups works this way. Example: if a missionary doesn't align himself with his support church's doctrine, he runs the risk of losing their support. It's just unfortunate that the ideals at hand don't even have to be the fundamentals of the Christian faith. With the majority of churches it could be anything from female pastors, to drums in worship music, to long pants every Sunday. It's just too risky.
Well said. It's drums in worship that I have a problem with. ha! Kiddin'
My first thought is that book store must be pretty small, because if they pull that magazine based on that principle, they better be pulling all of the theological books and commentaries written by Christians who do not hold the Southern Baptist Convention view.
There are far more destructive books (not that this one is destructive) that I have seen in the Christian bookstores were I shop. I suppose on the upside, if women pastors are their biggest issue, than they are doing better than most denominations. Beside, as long as they are preaching the gospel truth--their position is between them and their God. I think of what Paul said, Whether in pretense or in truth, as long as the Gospel is being preached, he is happy. (Paraphrase.)
Of course, I have my opinion on women pastors depending on the degree of authority, but that has nothing to do with your post :-)
God bless you. I guess I took the long way in answering your question. Bottom line for me is, change the name of your store and only keep what applies to your every doctrinal belief, or leave the magazine in the store.
Thanks for sharing....and Christians wonder why the world laughs at us. Sheesh.
Teresa
I think there are far more theologically offensive materials that they keep on their shelves. Seems like they want to make a stink about the easy stuff, women pastors on a magazine cover, rather than the more difficult stuff; what people like Brian McLaren or Joel Osteen are teaching. But hey, those books sell and they don't need to get their hands dirty making a stand about one magazine issue about women pastors.
I think Ingrid Schleuter says it well in this post:
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/uncategorized/lifeway-stashes-magazine-un...
Just to keep things consistent, I assume Southern Baptists aren't allowed to listen or vote for Sarah Palin either, right?
Tragic, embarrassing, small-minded, fear driven--should I go on or is that enough to express one smidgen of the outrage/disappointment I feel. But coming from a denomination that was borne out of pastors' desire to keep their slaves (and justify it via the Bible), I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. It took them 150 years to apologize for that one. Perhaps we can hope for maybe a decade or two on this one. Racism and sexism have deep, insidious roots.
I agree with the above comments that the decision is money driven, otherwise there are a lot more things that should be taken off the shelves.
Unfortunately Dr. Film, most Christians who understand the biblical restrictions on female leadership in the church are not willing to apply their theology to politics. I believe a consistent application of a biblical understanding of the roles of men and women should not lead Christians to support female civil magistrates. The fact that most Christians who oppose female pastors, are going crazy in support of Palin shows that they are driven by pragmatism, political or economic, rather than biblical theology.
Even IF that view of restriction on female leadership was solidly justified, it is questionable whether or not it ought to be applied to the government, as it is not a synagogue or a church meeting. "Civil magistrates," which we like to call government officials in this century aren't necessarily in a place of spiritual leadership over a household. They are supposedly civil servants with representative roles for the people that constitute this nation (a nation that has been attempting to move into the direction that all men *and women* have equal opportunity for whatever they may). I'm not sure I see that as a proper application.
I'm also unsure that pragmatism is driving those Christians to support Palin. That's like stating she's already right for the job. Palin's a Christian, pro-life, foreign relations (you know, because she lives right next to Russia), the fact that she IS a woman, or basically just overall incredibly conservative. I'd be willing to guess these characteristics are driving their maniacal abetment. Heck, just mentioning the first two could get you the support of James Dobson and the entire Focus on the Family crowd.
sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Most of the books that led to my renewed relationship with God were bought at a University bookstore. The most important book was Richard Rohr's "Simplicity". I doubt the carry it at LifeWay.
I have fond memories of my time working at a Berean Bookstore. I remember the opening night when they had Rebecca St. James sing. It was early in her career, and she sang in the Bible isle to 5 teenagers more interested in pizza than her music. I never bought a book from Berean, but I can sing the songs from the first Veggie Tales video (which played on a loop in the children's section) by heart.
Thank you for sharing this story. I am going to go and read the Gospel Today article and share it with my wife, a candidate for Priesthood in the Episcopal Church.