A Brief Allegory

There once was a boy named Cory. Cory grew up in a big family - parents, grandparents, 3 sisters and 4 brothers. It was big, and a little crazy, but Cory wouldn't have traded them for any other family in the world.

...Although, there was one thing he longed for.

Cory loved to cook. As his mother would cook dinner, or his grandmother would make her famous banana pudding... He wanted to create such deliciousness with his own hands. And so, in those rare snatches of peace in the kitchen, he would experiment. A little bit of this, a little bit of that and voila! ...Eh, not so tasty. But he would try again... And slowly but surely he learned. And he loved it.

He would dream of new marinades for meat. Cory would daydream of frosting and funnel cake, he'd doodle pictures of cupcakes and cobblers. His eyes were always glued on Food Network . He was positive now - he would one day become a chef.

And his family began to take notice.

"Sweetheart... Why are you watching Rachel Ray?"

"Mom!!! Dad!!! Cory's in the kitchen again!"

"Son, is that a smudge of frosting I see on your nose?"

This was getting out of hand... It was time to sit Cory down for a talk.

Everyone sat around the living room. His dad cleared his throat, hands clasped behind his back.

"So son... I hear you've become interested in... cooking."

Cory nervously scratched the back of his shin with his toes. "Uh, yeah Dad, I have."

"But Cory, why would you ever want to do that?" His grandfather asked, perplexed.

Cory's eyes lit up. "Because it's awesome! Being able to make something delicious from things you'd never eat by themselves - the mixing and the blending, the sweet smells... Being able to feed people, trying new recipes... It's amazing."

"You're certainly right about that," his mother nodded sympathetically. "That's what I love about cooking. But sweetie, me and your grandma and sisters always take care of the cooking."

"Even though Carissa really shouldn't," Cory's younger brother muttered. It was true. Mom and Grandma were great cooks - their skills were mind-blowing in the kitchen. Candace was well on her way to their level (she had a natural knack) - Connie couldn't cook apart from recipes, but her food still tasted alright. Carissa though shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen.

But that was how things were in Cory's home.

"But Mom - "

"Cory" his dad interuppted. "We just don't understand it - if we have so many women who are able to cook so well, why would we need you to? Why would you even want to?"

What would you say to Cory? I mean, he does live in a house full of women who can cook sooooo well (minus Carissa). Why would another hand in the kitchen be needed?

Would you agree with the family?

Or would you perhaps think that another cook couldn't hurt. Sure, apple pie is apple pie... But no two people make apple pie exactly the same. Cory's family is missing out on his unique take to food. And not only that - Cory loves to cook. He loves to cook, he's good at it, he loves feeding people - the question becomes slightly absurd.

It's like asking a med school student "Why are you trying to become a doctor? We already have a million in this state!"

Or asking a dancer, "Why are you becoming a ballerina? There are already so many..."

Or maybe asking an emcee, "Why do you rap? Don't you know there are way too many people trying to do that?"

They do it because they love it - because they are talented at it - and some do it because it's the gift God's placed in their life to bless others with.

I'm sure you've already gotten where I'm going with this.

About a year ago, I was asked by a brother "If we have solid, able men in the church teaching, why would we need women to teach?" I was so taken aback, I wasn't sure how to answer... And also, there are so many assumptions wrapped up in that question, you almost have to tackle those before you move on to anything else.

Here is one assumption... Ability and desire are enough to qualify a man, but not a woman. Because in my friend's question's scenario, if another solid, able man wanted to teach, it would be no problem - yes, there are plenty of teachers, but another couldn't hurt (if he is solid and a good teacher). However, if a woman wanted to teach, she is asked "Why?"

Well, here's my answer. I am first of all very much a proponent of a plurality of teachers in any gathering of believers, whether it be a Sunday morning church gathering, or a small group or a Bible study. Having just one person teach week after week is unhealthy. Why? Because you are only getting this person's particular point of view, this person's style, only the nuances in the text that this person would pick up.

But if you have two people teaching... Ah, you're getting a bit more variety. God is expressed in diversity, because each person's relationship with God is different. I learn somethings about God from my co-worker, for example, that I never learn from my boyfriend - and things I learn from my boyfriend about God, I've never heard from my pastor. And so it goes.

Now, there is variation from person to person - what about from group to group. If I'm only hearing teachers that are all Asian, what does that do to my understanding of God or His word? Or what about teachers that are only from Chicago? Or teachers that all have law degrees, or who are all... You get the picture. In hearing from people who are all the same, I lose something that I can learn of God.

So... What if all the teachers I hear are always all men?