IN CHRIST
those words are used in the new testament more than once. One scripture is "in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, male nor female."
That particular scripture is used by some Christian denominations to validate having women in the same leadership positions as men in the Church and elsewhere in society.
So the Church leaders are saying that those of us who have become followers of Christ need to leave behind those fallen attitudes such as that women are different from (and less than) men.
Let me point out that the Bible new Testament gives instructions for "bosses" and for those in the employ of or enslaved (according to the world's system) by another; also , Paul, in fine tuning instructions for Christians as he continued the Church, distinguished between Jewish Christians and gentiles who became followers of Christ. Furthermore, some of Paul's rather specific instruction (such as in 1st Corinthians) could be interpreted as giving guidelines to people (individuals, congregations and leaders of congregations) to avoid trouble that would occur when followers act in imperfect (fallen) ways.
So my interpretation of "in Christ there is neither . . ." is that in God's eyes there is no difference between these people; and at our best, we , as godly, Spirit filled followers of Christ interact with one another in this godly way; and the verses that seem to contradict the verses such as this in fact rather give guidelines addressing the reality that we imperfect people do not always maintain that most godly attitude towards one another.
So the passages in the new testament that limit the roles of women are loving limits that protect men and women from going in the ditch by flying too close to the sun.
(To Be Continued)
