I’m female and I don’t care for Osteen. I have the feeling that most of the women I know wouldn’t trust him/what he preaches, and so wouldn’t “like”(as you put it) him, either.

Yeah, women’s ministries are somewhat a result of the sex segregation of the church–men lead the *whole* church, so what are women supposed to do/where and how are women supposed to express their gifts? And if they seem a little focused on little stuff that doesn’t really matter, could it have anything to do with the fact that that behavior has been encouraged in the evangelical world (e.g., stereotypically feminine behavior and concerns, as you describe here) while a woman who asks questions about an accepted understanding of scripture is blown off, rather than thoughtfully responded to?

I know of a church where, once women could become deacons, the “women’s ministry” became a lot smaller, and less active….hmmmm…..

Maybe I’m just not one of those prissy women you were talking about: After all, I have used the term “screwed up” — or was it “screwed over” — while giving testimony in church.

I agree with a lot of what all of these authors say (except the last), but I just have to “but” into the conversation. My “but” here has to do with the historical narrative that is often attached to this topic. . . . Historically I just don’t thin…

…I am an occassional visitor to my local town’s bars (though a very temperate drinker), and I have had conversations about the Scriptures with unbelievers in said locations (once or twice.) I also either have used profanity in those conversations, or will. Not often, but if I talk enough, a situation will probably come up.

HOWEVER, I do NOT go into bars as a ministry. It’s an icky point, because Jesus spent a lot of time with drunks and tax-collectors, but I really do believe that there is something inherently dishonest in viewing spending time drinking as a “ministry.” Certainly all my life should be a witness for God, and I should be prepared to share the gospel, but I think there’s something far more honest about a Christian going to a bar to have a couple of drinks with friends than to minister to those giving into the evils of drink.

Tim

Last night a good friend of mine, an ordained Baptist minister, told me of his evangelism efforts from late afternoon to early evening. For the most part, he talked with a guy who is Bahai. The 2+ hour conversation took place in a bar, my minister friend joined the Bahai for a couple of drinks. My friend gave me a summary of the conversation, which centered on Jesus, His uniqueness, His gift of grace. According to my friend he freely used the f-bomb to punctuate his articulation of the Gospel to the Bahai guy.

Friends who know me know that I’m a bit fundie on the obscenity issue, so I’m not affirming the minister’s use of the f-bomb. But it is interesting, given fundie and evangelical cultural assumptions in the US, that an evangelical Southern Baptist would be in the bar, strenuously loving Jesus and God’s images, contending for the absolute truth of Jesus as the hope for this Bahai man. Perhaps many will judge the minister or claim he’s compromised or something. I like the fact he was fishing in places where the sort of people are unlikely to darken the door of a church’s building.