Sometimes I just cannot resist temptation. Over the last couple of days I have scanned most of this thread, which shows how little it takes to entertain me and how much time I am willing to waste.
For the most part everyone has been beating dead horses because it does not appear that anyone's opinion has been broaden or changed. My opinion is that, although the OP may have contained a serious question, we have chosen sides so that we can bash each other over the head with our Bibles (the bigger the better).
It appears to me that each family represented here has worked out their own situation according to their own beliefs. As long as they are comfortable with their own arrangement (and no one is being abused), that's fine.
The problems that I have with the way this thread has played itself out is that it is not enough for someone to declare their opinion, they also have to castigate everyone else who does not believe as they do (e. g., calling them "heretical", or "the antichrist"). Another problem that I have (which I have mentioned on another thread) is the use of the Bible as an "answer book" that does not require the user to do any thinking or to directly engage the issue at hand. You simply find the scripture verse that backs up your opinion, declare it to be "God's Word!!", and you're done. I feel that this is an unfeeling and impersonal practice that does not respect the other person's humanity and dignity. The other problem that I see with this is that it limits God and what God might want to do in the future. The discussion about Deborah could have turned in this direction, but it didn't. I suspect that it made at least a few people uncomfortable.
Finally, just so there won't be any doubt as to where I stand on the issue at hand, I have no problems at all with women in authority. I have worked with women, worked for women, been fired by a woman, been preached to by women, been taught by women, learned from women, and enjoy the company of women, especially my wife's company. I even considered having a woman serve as the "best man" in my wedding. I see the unwillingness of men to see the full value of women's contributions to business, society, community, church, etc., to be, at least in part, a fear that they might have better ideas or be more competent than the men. That I find to be really sad.
Tim Reynolds
