Women's Ordination, Gender Identity, and the Sabbath (2013)

theoretical concept for the fallen world nor a rough sketch drawn for a world to come; neither is there a different or modifi ed standard for the fallen world. The model of the pre-Fall world is to be followed by the believer in the here and now, based upon the initiative and redemptive power of God. The Sabbath builds the bridge between the pre-Fall perfect world and the corrupt world and translates the message of God’s presence and his desire for a relationship with human beings, male and female, into the language of the fallen world (Exod 20:8-12; cf. 16:1-36). 3. The Sabbath’s message of God’s presence in the fallen world places the human being, male and female, into the center of God’s attention. Unlike any other biblical concept, the Sabbath offers insights on (a) the ontological question of what it means to be a created human being, male and female, before God (Gen 1:26– 2:3); (b) the aspect of relationship between God and the human being (Exod 20:8-11; 31:12-17; Deut 5:12-15); and (c) the function of the human being as male and female before God and others including the church (Exod 20:811; 23:12; Deut 5:12-15; Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17-18). Jesus summarizes the human-focused rationale and scope of the Sabbath with the words, “Because of the human being the Sabbath was made and not the human being because of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, my translation). Jesus’ words show that the preFall Sabbath has not lost or altered its signifi cance and meaning in the fallen world. 4. Adventists understand that the Sabbath’s description as a covenantal sign between God and the Sabbath observer (Exod 31:12-17; Ezek 20:20) and as the seal of God (Exod 20:8-11; Ezek 9:4, 6; Rev 7:3; 14:1) has a distinct eschatological character. This character is to promote God’s mission to the fallen world by including male and female of all people groups as both the carriers and the target body of the good news of salvation (Rev 14:6-7; cf. Exod 20:8-11; Acts 2:17-18). 5. Scripture shows that the Sabbath will continue to have a prominent position in the post-Fall world. Its all-embracing nature and message calls all humans—sons, daughters, eunuchs, and foreigners—to enjoy the benefi ts of the Sabbath in the world to come (Isa 56:3-8; 66:23).2 With regard to the church, Scripture shows that its existence, purpose, and mission are to proclaim the message of salvation to the fallen world with the Sabbath as an everlasting sign of God’s love to human beings (Exod 31:12-17; Rev 14:6-7). The organizational structures and ministries of the 2Gerhard Hasel notes: “In the realm of the new creation beyond history there will be total restoration of the break brought about by sin. ‘All fl esh’ in the sense of all mankind, the redeemed remnant of all times will worship before the Lord Sabbath after Sabbath. . . . The Sabbath will thus be the only institution designed by the Creator that will link the fi rst heaven and earth with the new heaven and earth” (“The Sabbath in the Prophetic and Historical Literature of the Old Testament,” in The Sabbath in Scripture and History, ed. Kenneth A. Strand [Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1982], 49). 152 SEMINARY STUDIES 51 (AUTUMN 2013) church exist precisely for the sake of the mission. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, in acting on the missional purpose of the church, does not assign “roles to play” to church members; neither does the Holy Spirit impart gifts on the basis of gender. Rather, the Holy Spirit calls members into ministries of the church on the basis of his divine will and gifts them accordingly.3 In addition, the gifting of church members, male and female, does not function according to a hierarchical ranking system: the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and faith are not superior or inferior to the gift of prophecy or healing. Likewise, the appointment to the ministry of an apostle or prophet is not superior to the ministry of a teacher, evangelist, or pastor (1 Cor 12:1-31; Eph 4:7-16). All ministries are given so that “you, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, may proclaim the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). Sabbath and Gender in Creation Times This section analyzes the creation text in Genesis 1 and 2 in view of the connection between the creation Sabbath and the creation of the human being as male and female. The intent is to set the ground for the understanding of the essence and function of the human being as male and female in their relationship to God, who is present and involved in the created world by means of the Sabbath.