I hope your New Year has started with God’s goodness going before you and behind you. I send prayers for God’s favor to be with you throughout 2012!

Jon, my husband, and I began the year singing praises to our God followed by a prayer meeting with family and friends here in Ridgecrest, California. It was a precious and great time!  Since then, my husband and I have been humbling ourselves before God and asking Him to reveal to us anything that is not correct in our belief system. We had no idea where that prayer was going to lead us!  You all know how it is… We all are so easily entangled in tradition that sometimes we cannot see beyond it to receive the truth, grace and freedom God has waiting for us.  

We were led to a book called Beyond Sex Roles. We are approximately ¾ of the way through the book and find the material very interesting. It has definitely stirred a desire within us to dig deeper on the topic of God’s desire for our relationship after the cross, both marriage and within the Christian community. Gilbert Bilezikian shares a thorough biblical background and history of the role of women in God’s original design at creation, in her post-fall role, and in her post cross role under the new covenant – during early church days and modern times. He also explains, with the use of Scripture, the design for all relationships  in the new community, called the church, in regards to Jews-Gentiles; masters-slaves; and males-females.

I would highly recommend this book for your 2012 non-fiction read list, especially, if you struggle in your understanding of a woman’s role in today’s society – family and/or church.  There are a couple of conflicting views in the Christian community on this topic. After looking at the information we found in this book, searching the Scriptures for context unity and praying, our belief system has changed! Our confusion over Scriptures that appeared contradictory to us in the past, have now been reconciled to fit like a hand in a glove. If this book doesn’t lead you to change your interpretation of Scripture concerning new covenant relationships, I promise you, it will at least prove to be an informational read that will help you understand how those who believe different than you, believe what they do.
God bless you all!
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Sarah Goebel
Family Secrets Ministry