Paradigm Shifts Concerning Women In Leadership

(Short Article)
.. Jesus said that God is Spirit. And Spirit has no shape; it has no form; it has no physical essence. I mean, God is, in essence, beyond male and female. Or perhaps you could say it more accurately: God transcends and yet includes what we know as male and female. (RB)

______________________________________________________________ 7months into 2011, and there are still those who are still arguing if women should or should not be involved in certain levels of ministry. I am roaring with laughter as I write this, but at the same I'm saddened because as our World is shifting enormously, some have not in the church. I want to briefly discuss why this is an extremely OLD thought pattern. We must SHIFT so that we won't remain in dead inflections, that have no substance or meaning other than bias and stagnation. First, let's just look at the Government. We have seen a rise in very successful serious female candidates for President and increase of female presence in government. During the George W. Bush administration, Condeleeza Rice served as the 66th United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. Hilary Clinton is presently the 67th United States Secretary of State. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Liberia's (Africa) first female President! (The Mother land ....very interesting on many levels). We could go further, but we all see the rise and acceptance of women in World Government is increasing, because it's not about gender but who is competent and equipped. The World is shifting with quantum leaps and understanding. As mentioned before, it is difficult for so many to receive WOMEN in leadership, including other women..lol. Most use their Bible as a weapon to justify their narrowmindedness. Unfortunately, many use the Bible to denigrate women and several other classes of people. Some, know the bible (letters and pages) of the bible, but fail to know the mind and heart of the GOD of the Bible. Within this shift we must move to DIVINITY and SPIRIT, and not stay stuck in dogmatic models that produce nothing more than debate and mundanity. When this shift occurs we will see and know GOD as HE is. Because God is Spirit he holds and transcends gender (God in his divineness is male/femaleMother/Father). We must become this Divinity in the earth by putting away such intolerance. If we are to move effectively in this NEW DAY that is upon us, we must drop our issues that we have and so passionately wield against others in the Name of God. He has created us both male/femaleits a SPIRIT matter not a physical matter..(hmm you have to get that in the Spirit)...GOD did, does not, and will not disqualify anyone from serving, leading, loving, and excelling based on gender. I love this quote from : There is a feminine side of God. I always knew this ... It is this feminine side of God I find in Jesus that makes me want to sing duets with Him ... Not only do I love the feminine is Jesus, but the more I know Jesus, the more I realize that Jesus loves the feminine in me. Until I accept the feminine in my humanness, there will be a part of me that cannot receive the Lord's love. ... There is that feminine side of me that must be

recovered and strengthened if I am to be like Christ ... And until I feel the feminine in Jesus, there is a part of Him which I cannot identify. "Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88-Tony Campolo The feminine side of God cannot be understood with old patterns of thinking..Do we understand that physicality is convenient, but not necessary? When you live according to the law or under CHRISTIAN legalism taken out of context, you will not be able to see beyond anything else. BUT when you live under DIVINITY, the DIVINENESS you walk in total freedom. Because its in this realm the UNLIMITED operates. Some are afraid of FREEDOM and IMPOSSIBILITIES, because we have been trained, brainwashed, and domesticated by so many doctrines that have have shaped, patterned, and determined our thinking. However , in order to excel and be flexible winkeskins, the excess of religious ideology must be trimmed off. In fact, unless the diet is changed, it will be difficult to survive in this upcoming AGE. As we are entering 2012 it is ridiculous to squabble over matters of gender. Women have been utilized exclusively through out history and early church history. People kill me when they say: Show me this or that in the Bible! Women were not leaders, so the WORD says it is not so. Well, let's see How many people enjoy their life and good food? How many love Red Lobster, Long John Silvers? Lol..well there is a list of things the BIBLE says we shouldn't eat, but we get a revelation on why it's ok to do so...lol... Let me irritate just a little: We must live from the SPIRIT and by the letter. The Letters, laws of old will keep you locked in to something that GOD himself is not requiring. Prejudice, sexism, racism, treating people as second class citizens, and ostracizing certain classes of people is not on the list of prerequisites. We must SHIFT! For some, this will be difficult because it will be a complete rejection from multiple persuasions that are actually based on: personal issues, insecurities, mindsets, and refusing to let go of what one thinks to be correct. Sometimes, it is not even what he or she thinks to be correct, but rather, it is fear of thinking any other way about things (that's another topic). Expansion of mind, souls, and spirit is necessary! In this age, there is going to be an unveiling of things that have been purposely concealed. Moreover, women and every class, group of people that have been looked over, struggled to serve(due to interference and attacks from others) and take part in loving the CREATOR GOD OUR FATHER , will be granted their place in HIM.... In closing, you might as well SHIFT..................................