Читать книгу Bone of My Bones - Cynthia Gaw - Страница 5

Author’s Note

At the commencement of this book I stand upon a very strong and stable bridge about to jump into a whitewater of controversy. The conversation into which I plunge rages. But because those whom I seek to persuade share the bridge, I believe agreement is possible. We have so much common ground. We share a high view of the Bible as our final authority and a common set of hermeneutical principles by which to interpret that inerrant revelation. We share the same Savior, Spirit, and Father to lead us into truth and model for us relational perfection. We are all organic, essential organs of the same holy, catholic and apostolic body of Christ on earth. And we all know that our God has chosen to edify us through that community. We trust alone in Christ for our salvation, so unity will eventually be perfected in him. We share the knowledge of our finite and sinful natures which obliges us to humility in the face of infinite truth; we, none of us, have perfect understanding and are, therefore, needing to hear the understandings of our brothers and sisters in Christ that the transformation of our minds may progress. For this purpose we need those who disagree with us more than those who agree. These brothers and sisters will, however, do us little good if we do not listen, and really hear, what they say. The authority and truth of the Word of God is not threatened by a human misunderstanding or blind spot. But transformations in our thinking which are consistent with that Word prove it powerful and efficacious.

Those I seek to persuade not only share a firm foundation, but also important conclusions on our subject. Equality of essence is not denied by any of us. We agree that monogamous, heterosexual marriage is prescriptive and good. We agree that gender diversity is complementary. We agree that service to God and others from a motive of love is not demeaning, but a positive act of freedom and an enlargement of the human personality. We agree that nurturing and training children happens best within a loving family and that it is a high calling for both genders. We agree that temporary, gift and talent-based hierarchies are sometimes wise. The point of disagreement I address is that the Scriptures teach a gender-based hierarchy within the church and family.

I have declined to write an academic book on the subject because it simply is not needed. All necessary research has been done and written up. So I have chosen fiction, a genre not true to facts, but true to both ideas and experience. The university campus setting is my world, in that sense only is the following narrative autobiographical. I speak only of my experience. All characters are fiction.