Putting Faith into Action
This post will discuss two authors whose works challenge readers to think and act in ways that seem contrary to conventional politics.
Brett E. Fuller is a Christian pastor, author, who also serves as chaplain for the Washington Football Team.
High Ceilings: Women In Leadership, offers a different perspective regarding where and how women are called to leadership. Fuller sees himself aligned with the concept of Complementary-Egalitarian. This view holds that the traditional view that women should be submissive to men is only valid within the context of marriage. Outside of that setting, leadership positions and responsibilities should be available to both females and males.[1]
The concepts Fuller discusses in this book include:
- God created both man and woman, equally, in God’s image. Prior to their fall from grace through sin, both man and woman shared the responsibility of caring for creation.
- After the fall, God refined their roles with the man being over his wife and she is under his headship as he remains under God’s leadership.
- Outside the marriage relationship, Fuller finds no reason a woman should be restricted from church leadership based on her gender.[2]
Fuller used exegetical study and context of scriptures to clarify his thinking. For instance, 1 Cor. 14: exhorts women to be silent in church. However, 1 Cor. 11:5 alludes to women prophesying in church should cover their heads. Scripture did not explain the context[3].
Fuller showed humility and self-awareness in this book, recognizing that his interpretation could have flaws just like those relegating women to silence in church may be flawed. However, he is at peace with his diligence and prayerfulness in exploring this topic.
Questions: What inspired you to tackle this topic? Have you gotten serious push back from other theologians who you respect? If so, was dialogue possible?
– – –
In Dreaming in Black And White Brett Fuller tackles being God’s community and the intentional diversity that is lived in his congregation.
In August 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King spoke words that have been forever imprinted on many lives.
“I have a dream…little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers…. that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.[4]”
According to Fuller, Dr. King was dreaming in black and white.[5] But Fuller did more than quote Dr. King. He has dedicated much of his life and ministry to working to make Dr. King’s speech a reality.
Dreaming in Black and White seemed like a foretaste of what a congregation and ultimately the world could look like if people actually saw one another as people rather than just the color of their skin or the accent of their speech.
Fuller highlights current affairs that compel the urgency of the book. Some of these included the rising number of deaths of black men for which there was no reason that brought non-black people to finally begin to realize that something was terribly wrong. The author invites the reader to learn, repent, grow, and “fulfill the hopes that the crises of 2020 cry out for.”[6]
Brett Fuller is not naïve. He knows that change is costly. Many people have to let go of things they hold dear[7]. As an example, he adjusted his preaching style to help people who may be different than he to relate to him and hopefully hear God’s message for them[8].
Reconciliation begins when someone gets to know why someone sees the world in a certain way[9]. It must go beyond just good intentions.
Questions: How do you know when you are on the right track?, What do you call success?, How do you care for yourself when you are doing such intense work?
– – –
Jim Wallis is a theologian, faith based political activist, and author.[10] In his book God’s Politics, Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It” Wallis gives background and examples how American politics gets it wrong when political parties claim that God is on their side. More importantly, Wallis asked questions about the purpose of politics, values and public life. How those questions are answered could determine where a country goes and what it funds. However, connecting a nation with a church to simply support an empire is arrogant and dangerous[11].
Wallis does not think the answer is secularism but good theology. His book shares examples of leaders such as Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, and Desmond Tutu as people who used their faith to hold others accountable to God’s intentions for justice, humility, repentance, and reconciliation[12]. He calls today’s Christians to support visions that rely on what Old Testament prophets, Jesus, and New Testament writers say about our responsibility for the needs of our society including those marginalized and disenfranchised.[13] His book is not simply a history lesson. It is a call to action for Christians to discuss their faith in relation to moral issues in the political arena that will lead to social impact[14].
Questions:
How do you equip people to get beyond the rhetoric and move from listening to you to being able to make a difference in today’s political world? What is the most surprising breakthrough you have witnessed? How do you recommend people recover and regroup if there is defeat or delay?
[1] Brett E. Fuller, High Ceilings, Women In Leadership (Orlando, FL, Brett Fuller, 2021), 2-3.
[2] Fuller, High Ceilings, 41.
[3] Fuller, High Ceilings, 30.
[4] Brett E. Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White (Brett Fuller, 2021), 7.
[5] Fuller, Dreaming, 7.
[6] Fuller, Dreaming, 14.
[7] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It (New York, Harper Collins, 2005), 121.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid., 119.
[10] Ibid., xvii.
[11] Ibid., 149.
[12] Ibid., 149 -150.
[13] Ibid., 28.
[14] Wallis., 396.
About the Author
Diane Tuttle
8 responses to “Putting Faith into Action”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Diane, Looking forward to our connecting this week.
I am interested to know what stood out for you in Wallis book as a key takeaway?
Hi Daren, I think the thing that stood out most was calling for Christians to actually speak out when they see something wrong in our politics. Simple answer but a big thing to do and often difficult. Thanks for asking.
Hi Diane,
In your perspective, how does the Complementary-Egalitarian view, as discussed by Fuller in “High Ceilings: Women In Leadership,” reconcile the traditional roles within marriage with the broader opportunities for women in leadership outside of marriage, and what implications does this have for gender equality in church leadership?
Hi Shela, I think that the Complimentary-Egalitarian is about what you wrote. A woman’s role in the marriage is different than her role in areas outside of the marriage. In the church setting it might rankle some feathers of people who think women’s role in church should be the same as in the marriage. I think the implication for churches is that congregtions who embrace complimentary-egalitarian positions will benefit from the diverse approaches that may be brought into their churches. Peace
Diane, I like your question to Fuller, “How do you care for yourself when you do such intense work?” How do you think someone should care for themselves when doing intense work? How do you care for yourself?
Hi Debbie, Good questions. I think each person needs to figure out for him/her self what caring for self means. I think for me it varies by situation and where I am at different times. Sometimes caring for myself is going out for dinner with my husband, connecting with family or socializing with friends. (Yes I am an extrovert.) However, even acknowledging the extrovert in me, I find the best way to care for myself is to sit in my comfy chair in my room and be quiet with the Lord. Peace.
Hi Diane, I know you work with a diverse group of people, and I am curious to know what challenges you face as a leader concerning the topics mentioned in your post. How does your team navigate these “hot-button” issues?
Hi Elysse, Everyone we serve is marginalized in one form or another. I think because they tend to be far from wealthy, often unable to speak with their voice and unable to vote, we are the voice of their needs. Sharing them does not necessarily need to be in the political realm though. For instance, each time students volunteer in our program, I encourage them to do several things: get to know the people they are helping, when they grow up to remember them when they vote, donate, money, or consider a career.