Rick Warren on Female Pastors: About That SBC Debate 

We must be careful to not adopt the spirit of the age and act like the world- angry, contentious, arrogant and uncharitable. Your approach is exactly what we need more of. Thank you!

If you’re taking suggestions for theological triage, I think a video discussing the three main views of hell (the traditional view, annihilationism, and universalism) along those lines would be super helpful.

Scripture is clear on this in my opinion. I’m a woman and not offended by that, I believe and accept what scripture teaches. Rick Warren should just accept the SBC decision since that’s their belief. He’s the one who changed his belief about this, so it’s right for his church to not be part of SBC. His church seems a lot like a non-denominational church anyway. This is dangerous, as he is a very popular pastor, if he will start teaching wrong things, his congregation and others who follow him might believe him.

Gavin, I am so grateful for you being willing to address this topic. Truly grateful. I grew up at Saddleback and then spent most of my 20s with deep ecclesial anxiety. Your videos are a significant contribution to my healing and understanding of how to move forward. Thank you so very much ❤

A video on the biblical basis for complimentarianism would be fantastic.

This was so good loved it, thank you so much for addressing this topic. “As the body of Christ we have to model a better way! We’ve got to assume the best in each other. We’ve got to treat people like human beings, not as caricatures; and that means listening carefully and not assuming the worst.” -Gavin Ortlund ““…You shall not add to it or take from it.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Throughout the Old Testament law there is this principle of “neither add nor subtract.” Adding on to the rules of scriptures is wrong just like subtracting from them is wrong. So we need to be sensitive to both.” -Gavin Ortlund

Very well said Gavin, this is an issue that comes up from time to time. I appreciate the time you took to work through this.

I didn't know you were American Baptist USA! That's technically a Mainline denomination, right? I'm an even bigger fan knowing you are a fellow MAINLINE Protestant!

Gavin, your work on this does my heart good. Thank you for your humble, scholarly approach! You are a gift to our time! May the Lord continue to bless you!

Thank you, Gavin. I am grateful for your voice in this. Reasoned, pleading for grace for one another, and I share your burden for the course our culture is headed and the church mimicking this. I am also SBC currently and struggled to see this as a 2nd Rank (leaned more 3rd rank) but you are making me think more about my position as a 3rd rank. Thanks, brother.

Thanks for this. It’s helpful to witness you apply your theological triage concepts to current situations. May God bless you for your irenic approach in the midst of all the self absorbed caterwauling on social media today.

Gavin, I am so thankful for your synthesis of not only great reason but also admonition for greater kindness and intellectual honesty in the debate. I am sharing this link with many people. Well done.

Thank you, Gavin. I wish others where as calm and irenic as you are about this (I wish that for myself). My church went through this controversy just a few years ago, and it was a complete disaster, and we are still feeling the effects of it. I do not wish this controversy on any local church.

I absolutely love your treatment of this conversation. While we may not fully agree, I greatly appreciate you’re clarity and conviction. Please keep doing great work and research.

Thank you so much. You are the most charitable and balanced complementarian pastor / theologian I've ever heard so far. May the Lord continue to bless and expand your ministry for His glory.🙏❤

Thank you Gavin for this well reasoned and thoughtful video. We need your wisdom and your heart on topics like these. I especially appreciate how you described not all egalitarians being on the road to liberalism just as not all complementarians are abusive and power hungry. Keep up the good work! God bless you!

I absolutely love your heart on this! 💛💯 I share your burden of concern about how angry and frustrated we've become, about how divided and divisive the church is becoming, and how poorly we treat each other. ⚠️ In fact, it's one of the main motivators for me starting my own channel and hopefully joining the few content creators out there trying to bring peace and reconciliation in the Bride of Christ. 👑 Keep up the great work, Gavin. Don't grow weary of doing good. Your voice is needed. Blessings! 😎👍

Speak the truth in love ❤️ This video is so helpful for understanding how we're supposed to do triage better.

I am going back and watching old videos and found this gem! I am currently studying this subject for myself and I found all your references and thoughts very helpful, as usual!

What an approach! Humble, loving, level-headed, and gentle. Way to set the tone in how we should approach this topic in our brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless you.😄

You nailed it. Well done. Prayerful, articulate, knowledgeable, intentional. Thankyouthankyou. (MTS in Church History from Gordon-Conwell here--I can hear all your research. Keep it comin'. Keep being gutsy and winsome.)

Well said Gavin! Thank you for promoting reason in the midst of such heated discussions!

Thank you Gavin for another interesting and informative post!

Love the heart posture in this video Gavin, becoming one of my favorite RU-vid channels. Level headed and done in the right attitude and I would say very fair to both sides.

The grace & truth by which you approached this topic really encouraged me. I share similar views to you and your dialogue sharpened my convictions

This was excellent - profoundly compassionate and gracious in tone, a thorough, comprehensive response, and lucid (in the most complimentary sense of the word). Will be sharing this!

Thankful for this video Gavin, very helpful. God bless you and your contribution to the church.

🙏 Pastor Gavin, theological Triage 👍 and adressing contemporary issues biblically, factually and with a spirit of love and compassion 🙏🙏🙏

It took me a couple of days to work up the courage to watch this video because I've read so many other articles that are very dismissive of women and the way the Spirit has gifted us, and I was scared yours would be the same despite all of the humility you have exhibited in other discussions (sorry!). I read your book Finding the Right Hills to Die On because I spent the better part of 18 months studying the issue of women in ministry and ended up changing my mind (moving from a complementarian to an egalitarian position - for lack of better terms) and I didn't know what to do. I appreciated the wisdom that your book provided and find that all of the practical considerations you gave in this video are exactly the issues that I have faced in deciding to stay where I am for now despite my new position. Thank you for speaking up on this issue despite the risk. Your humility is an important addition to the conversation.

Thanks so much for your content and for providing clarity on such tricky subjects. I would love to see you do 'theological triage' on the peccability or impeccability of Christ! Praying for your ministry and your reach here on the Tube and in your local body!

Great outlook and very good!! I’m an SBC pastor for 38 years and you are spot on

Your videos are fantastic, and you’ve provided a great service, thank you. God bless.

28:52 I love that you built a quick biblical basis for not adding laws to Scripture. I'm going to check if you have a video specifically on that topic. I also love how rich this video is! I appreciate that you have clear reasons for what you believe!

I'm not a Baptist but I care about what happens to my Baptist friends. As an outsider listening to Rick Warren and Al Mohler make their case, I notice that Dr. Mohler said the issue of female pastors had already come up and had been decided 30 years previously. I didn't hear Rick Warren explain what had happened in 30 years that SBC should change their minds. I also didn't hear Rick Warren explain why he chose to start appointing women pastors first and then demand that SBC be Ok with it, instead of campaigning first to have SBC change their rules and then appoint female pastors after SBC was Ok with it. It seems like Rick Warren was trying to force the issue by appointing female pastors who would be upset if SBC didn't change their rules. It doesn't seem like very orderly conduct and I don't see how SBC could allow it without causing other problems. If people inside SBC really want female pastors this confrontational approach probably isn't helping their cause. Unless they are Ok with destabilizing SBC.

Thank you! Appreciate your grace-filled approach to this conversation.

Wow! I love you, Gavin! You're an example to me. Thank you for this video, brother.

This video handles the topic perfectly. I see too many videos and people being overly-critical of one view without acknowledging the faults of the other view, or acknowledging what the other view sometimes gets right. This video did a great job of that while perfectly explaining how to go about disagreements on the subject. Thank you for your ministry Gavin

Gavin thanks for this helpful video that came at a good time for me! I’m reading Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta. I like to hear a variety of perspectives on this issue! I love the kindness with which you approach doctrinal differences!

Your Channel was recommended by Becket Cook. So glad it was! Immediately subscribe & enjoying your deep dive explorations. Well done!

So grateful for the way you addressed this topic. Thank you, brother!

Thank you so much for this, Gavin. This entire conversation can create a knot in my stomach, and your video helps loosen the tension a bit by emphasizing the importance of the conversation without unhelpful amplifying it. I often feel like my two options are either being a liberal or being a sexist (from how each side can present the other), and your insight helps give me confidence/freedom to research, pray, and hold a position with humility!

A thoughtful response Gavin. Very nicely done. Just a request for a video idea one day, Christian mysticism particularly Protestant mysticism and mystics. I know you're very busy so it's just a suggestion/request. Thanks for all your hard work.

Thank you for your gentle way of explaining bible truths. It is so important that you want always to continue loving our fellow Christians despite any differences in understanding.

Thank you for this video… so good & balanced 🙏🏼🙌🏽

Stumbled on to your channel as I have been loosely following the recent events in the SBC. You have done one of the better jobs in explaining the complementarian position. As a Pentecostal I come from a more egalitarian back ground. I have never given the topic of the roll of women a lot of thought from the perspective I have heard many share recently....very interesting to hear the perspective. A few thoughts from the "other side" to add to the conversation. It is fascinating to hear Baptist and complementarians call those of a different viewpoint more liberal. In my experience we see Baptists in general as being much more liberal when you take the entirety of scripture into context. Not a bad thing...just a traditional Pentecostals experience and viewpoint living in a "Baptist dominated world". Can you, or someone clarify this, because it is still not clear to me. I understand the position of women not being able to pastor. It is actually a position that I hold with room for few exceptions - many of which you outlined in your video. But when it comes to teaching where is the complementarian line drawn at specifically/literally. Can a women teach in any capacity within the "4 walls" or confines of the church? What about to children or other women? I know personally that is restricted in many churches in the south. That seems extreme and not typical, but again it is my experience. Can a woman not speak in front of mixed company or behind the pulpit in any capacity/for any reason? I know it's an extreme example (at least from POV), but what if a woman is singing a solo (I assume that is allowed)...would they be permitted to speak/read scripture in the context of that song as precursor or successor to singing? In my world that is no different than preaching and perfectly normal/healthy. When scripture is so full of women that play vital rolls in ministry across the centuries...I wonder if the whole notion has gone to an unintended extreme? To say, for example, that Deborah or Miriam were not serving as a preacher/teacher/pastor or whatever word you want to use in the context of the work they did for the Lord seems to be out of context to those of us that would be labeled as egalitarian. I don't believe those women cared what you called them, but they were leading God's people just the same... I heard a clip from the SBC meeting that mentioned nearly 2000 churches with woman on staff as leaders (couldn't say to what capacity)....from my perspective again, it is normal for women to serve in all kinds of ministry rolls in a local church. If this is a real problem within the SBC of adherence to scripture...is their a shortage of men to do the work in the SBC...or does it mean that those churches need to be shut down if not brought into agreement with the Baptist faith and message (never heard that phrase until recently and I kind of like it). That's just an outsider looking in and wondering how it will be addressed in the context of the SBC. It is fascinating to me to see this much discussion over something that rarely if ever enters our minds. I am definitely praying for my brothers and sisters in the SBC as they navigate this. I pastor a small Pentecostal church surrounded by Baptists in the south. I have one dear brother whose local church is wrestling with how they proceed in light of what is going on. I pray my comments are not seen negatively. No ill will meant at all. It is a very big deal to the Lord because it is a big deal to a large number of his people. I agree that this is a 2nd or even possibly a 3rd level issue. I am glad it is not salvific. I know we certainly don't see our Baptist friends in sin over this, and I pray that we are not viewed that way either.

Hey Gavin really big fan of your channel. Love the wisdom, love, and truth of your heart in these matters. I would love to hear you talk about Jonathan Edwards and some of the early Church fathers and their perspectives and experiences of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Would be such a stellar video or series!

This was a great video and a fantastic treatment of the subject!! Thanks Brother

I didn't realize that it's so complicated to be a baptist.

I appreciated your breakdown of this very much! This is one of the kindest humblest discussions I have heard on the topic (and I have heard many). One point you made I hoped to expand on - you mentioned how egalitarians often portray complementarians as not believing that women can teach them anything and how that was unfair. It sounds like you have had a different experience, but I grew up in a community of complimentarians where many of them would said such things and worse. It is unfortunately a part of the complimentarian camp.

As a woman, thank you for this. There is a great danger from a woman's perspective, one that I think a lot of people miss when they are not careful with these discussions. These days many women are told from leftists that the church does not respect women, and beyond that, that the Bible does not affirm our humanity. These people promise us that if we hold a more leftist or secular view, we will no longer have to fear being regarded as less than men. Although I would consider myself a complementarian, the reality is that some complementarians, particularly the more fundamentalist ones, truly do paint women in a way that reduces them to being less than a man, and it's incredibly discouraging. They often see women as a monolith, disallowing for women the diversity in talents and personality that is considered acceptable for men. Worse than that, they closely associate their beliefs with a high view of Scripture, creating this false dilemma that many women feel they face - either they have to submit themselves to this incredible narrow view of femininity, or they must begin to deny the authority of Scripture altogether. Videos like this are really important to push back against such ideals.

I appreciate your gracious discussion of these difficult issues

Beautifully handled and said Gavin!

This video is a welcomed addition to the conversation about bringing in priestesses. It's wonderful to see Bible believing Christians taking a stand.

I appreciate it your handling of this discussion. I am reminded of Tim Keller's more recent articles on the decline and renewal of the American church. Some of the ideas you expressed are similar to the conclusions he reaches in chapter 3.

I would be curious about on your Triage of Sabbath-keeping, specifically Seventh-day Sabbath vs Sunday worship. Love the concept!!

Theological triage: love it! This is a healthy and helpful concept

I am soft complementarian. I would not want a woman to be a pastor, or teacher on a Sunday morning. The latter happens in my church, not the former. However it is noticeable that our women are better teachers and would arguably also be better at eldership than our men. But I have not found any of the arguments pro women teaching or elders convincing. ( Prophets yes. Teaching children fine.) I would rather go with what seems right by God. But I also would not leave my functioning fellowship where we believe in salvation by grace, look out for the Body, and share the Gospel. I'm grateful I can be a (female) teacher in a university, though I think I would refuse an invite to teach in Church on a Sunday.

I think this is one of the most compassionate dissections of egalitarianism and complementarianism i've heard. I haven't really ever had a productive conversation with someone who Identifies with complementarianism, there's always this arrogant dismissive undertone towards me as a woman. I don't know where I stand exactly on the issue, but I have always been so put off in the past with almost every man arrogantly and plainly stating "women can't be pastors" and not even giving anyone who thinks differently the time of day or respect. Thank you for this video.

Good job, thank you for reminding me to be kind and gentle ❤

Thank you for your work on RU-vid, Gavin! Are you familiar with Rev. Calvin Robinson? It would be so cool to have him on the channel to discuss Protestantism and current affairs. I know you've got a lot on your plate currently though so no pressure!

Thank you - I'm also torn here because I've been blessed by God through Rick Warren's ministry and yet have been so uncomfortable with the rhetoric war happening between him and the SBC. I'm also super thankful of your last comment on not letting these disagreements become escalations as our culture loves to escalate things to the most extreme conclusion. Blessings and may God safeguard you and keep you!

Good thoughts! I’m in agreement with you here. How would you think through the related issue of women preaching on Sunday morning or teaching a mixed audience Sunday school class? I’ve been thinking through this for a few months now (and read a lot), and I’m not convinced by hard complementarians. (Though I consider myself a complementarian when it comes to the office of elder). -Would this go in the second or third bucket of triage? -Do you know any good resources for this question?

First video I watched from you. I appreciate the way you communicate regarding this issue. There is a desire to love those who may not agree with you and a eagerness to discern God's word. I have been wrestling on this topic and asking God why it's not very clear such that everyone can be on the same page. But I know God is much wiser than me and has a reason for that. My job is to rely on the Spirit to direct me in understanding the word.

Thanks Pastor Ortlund. I definitely want to hear more from you on this. I'm going to go looking for anything you've put out already. This is a necessary meditation on this topic, the only thing it lacks is more of it!

Thanks Gavin, helpful stuff.

I love your approach here, brother, and the heart behind it. For what it's worth, I think you may have misunderstood Warren on the "one word" point (around 39:16 in your video), because unless I'm mistaken, he was saying there was only "one word" in the Baptist Faith & Message that Saddleback disagreed with - NOT that it all came down to a disagreement over "one word" in scripture. Anyway, thank you for your thoughtfulness and Christlikeness in speaking about these issues. We need more voices like this in the culture!!

You are wonderful. I am Catholic leaning, but I have the highest regard for you.

I found this video helpful and edifying. Thanks.

I appreciate the commentary, Dr. O. I have some differences in perspective coming from the more traditionalist side (dare I name drop RL Dabney? Don't cancel me Dr. O!) but think you laid the arguments for both sides well. I 100% agree that the historical theology considerations are underappreciated by most on both sides. On the one hand, you are correct regarding the precedent of female deacons (though I take a male only deacons perspective based on the qualifications passages in the Pastorals). On the other hand, I don't think we can disconnect the numerous examples of the drift into apostasy so many formerly "mainline" Protestant denominations have experienced once they capitulated on this issue (hence, my name dropping of Dabney and his warning on this in the late 19th century). Currently being in North Carolina, there is quite a stark difference in Biblical fidelity to issues of sex and sexuality, Nicene orthodoxy, and the historic confessions of the Reformation in those churches that have maintained the traditional perspective on female elders and those that have embraced the egalitarian view. You can just see it in the churches around here. Especially in this age of apostasy in which the rainbow cult (I want the rainbow back as a Christian symbol) is bringing an enormous amount of pressure to bear on any Christian church that would profess traditional and/or Biblical morality and order (just look at the LA Dodgers this past week with the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence"), I think the balance lies with the egalitarians to prove their perspective. I just don't see it as tenable. Also, considering the levels of abuse in public schools and secular workplaces compared to SBC churches, I think the broader issue in the SBC is being used as a cudgel to erode local church autonomy. Though I am not currently in an SBC church (1689 right now), I may find myself in one again after I move for work next year, so this issue does resonate. Anyways, sorry for rambling, Dr. O! Appreciate your thoughts, brother.

Thank you, Dr. Ortlund. Your opening remarks asked for more issues in need of theological triage. Have you done one on affirming vs non-affirming views on homosexual practice? That would be beneficial, brother.

Thanks Gavin, I attend a Presbyterian church and I’ve been kind of shocked at how they sneer at and misinterpret the spirit of complementarian attitudes. It’s almost like complementarian is a dirty word.

Rick Warren's arguments as you frame them seem to be: we need to be inclusive and not have divisions, truth is held by an elite class, and everything boils down to power dynamics. These are all key philosophical components of the World Economic Forum. Rick Warren has been actively involved with the WEF for years and has publicly said his goal is to use church networks to act as a conduit for the implementation of the WEF's agenda. I have no idea to what extent he shared those presuppositions before getting involved with the WEF or to what extent the WEF has influenced his thinking after joining. And it has no bearing on the Christian arguments for or against ministry roles for women. However, the SBC severing ties with his church could have the benefit of protecting them from that corrupting influence.

Fabulous video. I find it interesting to reflect on the Anglican communion and the "rank" of this issue. Across the Anglican communion as a whole we have managed to muddle along and make it work as a third-rank issue, even though I agree with you that it's second-rank. That's true even in the GAFCON fellowship (I'm from Sydney diocese, so very much a part of that). We have a strong enough common heritage and identity, and with effort can keep focused on our common call to Christ's mission, that we can relate and work together at a very high level, even though we know that this is a very significant difference (and even at that level, it has created significant conflict). For us, in our very loose "fellowship of dioceses and provinces" across the world, it kind of functions as third-rank. But ISTM that when it's treated as a third-rank issue at the level of individual dioceses (not to mention individual churches!), that's when it creates pain, tension and difficulties that substantively impacts ministry and mission. That is, it is more properly second-rank - and the closer your institutional and missional engagement together, the more it needs to be treated that way. Might be wrong, but that's my impression. (Or maybe the Anglican communion is just weird.) And change of tack: but I think this is very helpful when thinking about the issue that actually provoked the creation of GAFCON within Anglicanism: not the LGBTQI+ issue per se, but that of the status of the Bible as the Word of God and what that means for our alignment or non-alignment with modern Western culture (and yes, that deeper authority issue presented itself through the LGBTQI+ challenge). The worldwide Anglican communion managed to "ride out" the debates over women elders (presbyters/priests and bishops), precisely because it is a second-rank issue. But the Bible as the Word of God - and the way in which that is or isn't maintained in the way we respond to the question of human sexuality - is absolutely a first-rank issue. GAFCON chose the right issue over which to make its "theological heresy" stand. Thanks again - a clear, gracious and helpful contribution to the conversation.

This video is incredibly helpful - we are in dire need of reclaiming a level of charity with our brothers and sisters in the Church at large. You mentioned briefly the position of having women as pastors but not as elders (though I know that wasn’t the focus of the video). Do you have any reading suggestions for this position in particular? Our church has landed on this position but I’d love some historical/theological resources if there are any you’re familiar with or would recommend

Might have missed it, so I apologize. How do we know what is second, third and fourth rank doctrinal issues?

This was quiet helpful. We definitely are talking past each other a lot.

Thanks for this!

Truly my fav yt channel

A really thorough and gracious treatment of a controversial topic. Thanks!

Great video!

A person’s Christlikeness can be judged by how they treat people who disagree with and offend them The loudest voices in this disagreement are likewise, and almost uniformly, the most petty and vindictive

Thanks for your POV. I am an egalitarian main because I would rather have my conservative highly educated woman pastor teach me than have a woke man teach me any day.

Hey Gavin, I have a question as a Free Will Baptist. How do you think that we should address this problem? So I grew up in a small church in my hometown, I bet no one could tell you anything about our association except our preacher but for the Church its not a problem. The congregation has the power in the way that the preacher is voted in(had the same one since the 80s until his death recently). But i read online now that im older that the methodist are voting on things that are contrary to the Gospel like gay marriage. I have friends who are methodist who if i go to their church they would no doubt preach against it and probably dont know anything about what the association is doing. Basically the name on the sign is just that. Sorry it was so long

Gavin, I would be very interested to hear you make the case for why The Trinity is a First Rank Doctrine? I take it you see the Apostle’s Creed as an incomplete or insufficient statement of Christian Faith? What exactly should a person understand that he is affirming, when he affirms “The Doctrine of the Trinity?” How much disagreement on interpretation of the Trinity is permissible? Thank you again for your careful and charitable handling of these subjects. Your work is a blessing to me.

As a complementarian, I appreciate your take(s). Is there a category for something to be a 2nd rate issue in a local church and only 3rd rank in the convention?

Mike Winger did an outstanding job with this topic. Really went into a deep dive on egalitarianism. His review of the scholarship surprised him (and me too!). It was surprisingly really poor. I’d recommend you check it out, Gavin (and others, too!).

Verses that come to mind: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your WOMEN keep SILENT in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is SHAMEFUL for women to SPEAK IN CHURCH. I think the Bible is clear that women should not speak in church. I personally do not have a desire to speak in church or feel comfortable when a woman does. However, sometimes as a woman it does sadden me that we are viewed this way in the Bible. I immediately ignore the feeling & simply tell myself this is the way it is. I do have two questions: 1- If a woman loves the Lord & is godly, is she ever allowed to tell her husband anything about the word of God? Based on scripture, it looks like we are not. 1 Timothy 2:12-14 12 And I DO NOT permit a WOMAN to TEACH or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. I am a born again Christian. By God’s grace in the last 4 years there has been fruit in my life. I thank God. My husband is Orthodox & does not believe he is saved. Most of the Orthodox WE know live worldly lives. My husband is a pretty good man. However, am I allowed to share my views about the word of God? Can I share a verse with him and my beliefs? I know that not our words as wives but our actions will make a difference based on scripture. 1 Peter 3: 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, This is why I am constantly asking you to make a video with an actual Greek person who is Eastern Orthodox. 😬 This way I can share the video with my husband. He has been wanting a pastor to meet with his priest but hasn’t been able to do that. I know the Bible also says women will Prophesy. Why is it that in the last days women will be able to prophesy? Where would prophesying occur? In the church or outside of the church? Would a woman only prophesy to women and not men? This is a bit confusing for me if I’m frank. Acts 2:17-18 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Great job.

Hey Gavin, I was wondering as a Protestant who’s pretty young in the Faith I want to learn the History of our Branch of Christianity. I was wondering what are some good resources for this. Thank you.

Gavin, this is extremely helpful to me. Thank you for speaking to those of us that treat it as a 2nd rank issue technically, but a 1st rank issue emotionally. That is most definitely me. I would absolutely be in favor of a video or article on slavery and scripture, maybe even delving into recent arguments raised by atheists that say "no, American chattel slavery is *not* different than the type of slavery described in scripture."

Gavin, I listen often. Could you do something on NDE's (Near Death Experiences).... Thank you

You are a great explainer.

Great job Gavin - now dear churches can we get MORE deaconess??? We have these wonderful dear sisters who are doing the work - I’m all for more deaconess within the local body

Excellent.

A good video. On the slippery slope argument, do you think that the gender role distinction helps gird against the slide though? So while egal. doesn't mean an inevitable slide, it removes a safety barrier to it?

Great service to the body to encourage biblical Higher thought thanks

Thanks again for another phenomenal video, always appreciate your intelligent and informative yet gentle approach to all these topics. You're one of the best witnesses of Christ I've seen in these arenas, greatly looking forward to your future work. God Bless.

I disagree with your position, but I love your process and your heart. Thank you for doing these videos. Thoughtfulness and goodwill are such a breath of fresh air in this day and age.

How do single or widowed women in the church seek counsel or spiritual wisdom? Men generally feel comfortable speaking with their church elders (also men) or pastor (also men). As a woman, I have often had spiritual issues that I wanted help or guidance on but did not feel comfortable approaching a male to discuss. How can the church have a formalized plan to deal with this? Many if not most churches have no consistent plan for women to seek spiritual help or counsel.

Question: I was raised Baptist (not SBC) and the word "sacrament" was never used. I was taught that baptism and the Lord's Supper were "ordinances" of the church. Why do you say "sacramental" and to what are you referring?