Why Bethmore is right on the disparity between the way we value men and women. This is Dr. Jim

Dinnison's The Daily Article podcast for Wednesday, June 12th, 2019. The Southern Baptist Convention

began its annual meeting yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama. According to its president,

the denomination faces a defining moment

that will shape the church for generations to come. In focusing on the crisis of sexual abuse,

Dr. J.D. Greer stated, quote, this is not a distraction from the mission. Protecting God's

children is the mission of the church. Close quote.

In response, messengers approved last night an amendment, making it explicit that an individual

church can be expelled from the denomination if it handles or covers up sexual abuse cases.

They also established a special committee to evaluate such claims against churches.

Speaking the previous evening at a panel discussion on the issue, well-known author and speaker

Beth Moore stated, quote, one of my great concerns is abuse happens anywhere humanity happens.

What I want so much for us to reckon with honestly is our

culture makes us vulnerable because there is a disparity between the way we value men and women,

close quote. Why does this disparity exist in our culture today? One root cause is the endemic scourge

of prejudice that plagues humanity. I define prejudice

as the temptation for people who feel inferior to devalue others based on unchanging factors,

such as skin color and gender. The sentiment stated or unstated runs like this, quote, I may be less successful than you,

but I'll always be white and you'll always be black, close quote. A second root cause is sexual

lust. When men see women as bodies rather than human beings, they objectify and degrade their

humanity. Sexual lust and prejudice against women

led to their commercialization as a means to their ends. For example, the pressure on women to have

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