When Culture Collides with the Church: Exploring Power, Gender, and Gospel Integrity

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2019

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How can the church faithfully navigate cultural change without compromising the gospel? Mike Erre, Bonnie Lewis, and Tim Stafford tackle the fallout from John MacArthur’s public rebuke of Beth Moore, dissecting its implications for women in ministry, biblical interpretation, and the misuse of spiritual authority.

Using sobering personal stories and sharp theological insights, the trio wrestle with the deeper issues behind why conversations about gender, race, and power provoke such intense responses within evangelical culture. From Paul's teachings on women to the role of cultural interpretation in faithful exegesis, this episode challenges long-held assumptions about who’s allowed to lead in the name of Jesus—and how that leadership should reflect Christ.

Key Takeaways:
• Beyond “Go Home” – Why the real issue behind the MacArthur-Beth Moore controversy isn’t just complementarianism, but how power is protected and wielded in the church.
• When Culture Drives Gospel Reflection – Understanding Paul’s missionary accommodations, and why sometimes culture helps the church see Scripture more clearly.
• Rethinking Gender & Power in Scripture – Exploring alternative readings of Pauline texts often used to prohibit women from teaching and leading.
• The Damage of Dismissiveness – Bonnie shares a personal story of spiritual abuse, highlighting how mocking and silencing women in ministry has long-term effects on leadership and faith.
• Micro-Communities Movement – Updates on growing listener-led Voxology gatherings, and opportunities for deeper engagement across the country.

Resources Mentioned:
• Email your micro-community location: [email protected]
• Past and upcoming events: Q Commons, Heated event audio & video on YouTube
• Galatians 3 & 1 Timothy 2 – Scriptural references unpacked in the discussion
• Support Voxology: Patreon | Tithely Giving
• Vox Merch Store: ETSY
• VOXOLOGY TV on YouTube

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As always, reach out to us with questions or reflections at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and “like” us on Facebook. Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford. Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy. Learn more at voxologypodcast.com.

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Vox podcast.
0:08.7	I, Mike Erie, am here along with Bonnie Lewis and Timothy Stafford.
0:14.0	And at least two of the three of us are very depressed this morning.
0:17.8	I am depressed because my Cleveland Browns with immense talents have proven themselves
0:26.4	to be the same old Cleveland Browns on national television. I literally, so I don't, I try not
0:33.7	to cuss a lot because I don't ever want those words coming out of my mouth when I'm speaking.
0:39.5	So I try to practice like verbal discipline. So so like if something ever happens and you're on
0:45.0	stage, uh, you know, you don't just kind of slip up. So, um, I was so frustrated that I was
0:52.7	combining like daggone it and freaking elf and like just I mean just
1:00.0	nonsensical words and anger which delighted my son to no end when he's so with dad why don't
1:07.1	you just use the words I'm like no son this is this is what it looks like to be godly and um freaking elf so so anyway i'm depressed i'm depressed for that reason tim staphord though
1:20.8	has much better reasons to be depressed tim if i were to describe him to you um is haggard. Oh my gosh. That's not what I would say.
1:32.3	Dark circles under his eyes. Yes. Um, uh, you know, the, the normal sort of polished beard is
1:42.0	frazzled and scraggly and the hair is just flowing everywhere.
1:46.5	So there's a hat on it.
1:48.2	But, Tim, one of the joys of living in California are the wildfires that happen every fall.
1:54.1	That is one of the joys.
1:55.6	And you happen to be in an area where they've decided to take preventative measure.
2:00.3	Tim, would you please describe the joy of living in Auburn, California right now?
2:05.0	We're right in the heart of the big power outages.
2:09.1	So we're on our second round of power outages, although this time they just kind of said,
2:14.0	it'll maybe happen, it'll maybe happen, it'll maybe happen.
	...

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