Blue Parakeet (Part 4)

McKnight moves from writing about discernment (Section 3) to giving an example - in this case, women in ministry. Again, the reader is encouraged to visit the question Do I read the Bible through tradition or with tradition? The answer will surely lead to certain outcomes.

In this case, McKnight makes the argument that the Church has read through tradition. In other words, God's principles were established and were never intended to change from the original (even within a culture or a time period). For that reason, McKnight maintains women in the church have never had a "fair shot" when it came to pastoring or teaching (especially holding authority over men). McKnight is quick to point out that instead of reading through tradition, one should read through Story (refer to Section 1). According to McKnight, reading through Story leads one to restoration/redemption/the way things were intended. He refers the reader back to the Garden when man and woman had a mutual relationship with God (cf Galatians 3:28).

When one asks the question "What did women do?" in the New Testament, he is obligated to study the influence of women such as Deborah, Esther, Mary, Junia, Priscilla, and Phoebe. According to McKnight, reading about these women in the Church (through tradition in lieu of with tradition) has been minimal and created a "Blue Parakeet".

McKnight then takes his readers (and a group of students) through a case study on 1 Timothy 2:8-15. His point is clear: We choose to adhere to some of Paul's commands and not others. Dr. McKnight then summarizes his thoughts reminding readers of Gen. 3:16 "... he (man) will rule over you", 2 Cor. 5:17 "... a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!", and arguing for the mutuality of relationship. Again, it seems imperative to read the Bible as Story.

As a good professor/writer does, Dr. McKnight then summarizes each section of the book and how they interact with one another. "Reading the Bible as Story teaches us to go back to that story so we know how to go forward in our world ... The story of the Bible is not only the story of our past, it is the story of our future." (212).

A Few Things:
I really enjoyed this read. McKnight is easy to read. His points are coherent and clear. He writes in a way that challenges the reader to think, while at the same time, writing in such a way that the reader is prevented from perceiving any arrogance on the part of the author. I would recommend the Blue Parakeet to any serious Bible student. The book is released November 1.