When society was patriarchal, as it was in the New…
““When society was patriarchal, as it was in the New Testament context and as it has been everywhere in the world except in modern society in our day, the church avoided scandal by going along with it - fundamentally evil as patriarchy was and is. Now, however, that modern society is at least officially egalitarian, the scandal is that the church is NOT going along with society, not rejoicing in the unprecedented freedom to let women and men serve according to gift and call without an arbitrary gender line. This scandal impedes both the evangelism of others and the edification - the retention and development of faith - of those already converted.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Theology of Gender, John G. Stackhouse Jr, 2021
The church historically conformed to patriarchal norms, but now, in an egalitarian society, its refusal to embrace gender equality hinders evangelism and spiritual growth.
In simple terms: The church clings to old gender roles, hurting its mission.
Key Takeaway
Embrace gender equality to strengthen outreach and faith development.
Themes
gender
church
egalitarianism
evangelism
faith development
culture clash
Mood
reflective
challenging
Type
theological
social
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- gender ministry
- mission strategy
- faith retention
Key Concepts
theology
social justice
institutional inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can the church take to model equality?
- How does gender bias affect community growth?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated traditions can cause internal conflict and resistance.