13

EXPERIENCE TRUMPS

SCRIPTURE

Some evangelical feminists put experience

above the Bible

Another procedure egalitarians use to avoid obedience to the New

Testament concerning the differing roles of men and women is to place
such a strong emphasis on experience that the teachings of Scripture no
longer are the highest authority. This occurs when egalitarians such as
Sarah Sumner, whom we have encountered in previous chapters, argue
that “Every generation produces gifted women who minister effectively
to women and men,” and then use this as one of their primary argu-
ments why women should be allowed to be pastors.^1 Sumner several
times uses herself as one example of such gifted women.^2
Cindy Jacobs says that God’s blessing on the ministries of women
pastors shows that what they are doing is right, and therefore objections
based on what Scripture teaches are discarded. Jacobs argues,

Women in numerous different ministries teach both men and women

and are producing godly, lasting fruit for the Kingdom. Would that

be happening if their work wasn’t sanctioned by God? Wouldn’t their

ministries simply be dead and lifeless if God weren’t anointing them?^3

(^1) Sarah Sumner, Men and Women in the Church (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,
2003), 49.
(^2) Ibid., pages 15, 17-19, 20-21, 49, 51-53, 73-74, 95-96, 104, 187, 195-197, 226, 308-309, 315.
(^3) Cindy Jacobs, Women of Destiny (Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1998), 176.