Snippet: Neutered in Christ?

snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

This one is in an article by Michael Jensen on current discussions regarding biblical manhood and womanhood:

“Key to this is Paul’s insight in Galatians 3:28, that in Christ there is no longer ‘male and female’. What he means is that [omitted]…. Certainly, we are not neutered ‘in Christ’….”

I’m setting aside what he thinks it means. I’m zeroing in on what he says it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that we are neutered in Christ.

In Christian circles there’s a lot being written and said right now about the role of men and women in the church and home and about what constitutes masculinity and femininity from a biblical perspective. This is one of the current hot topics.

Galatians 3:28 is a very important passage in these conversations: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The way I hear this verse bandied about in discussions, you would think that some people think this means we have been neutered in Christ. But virtually no one believes that, so no one should read that into what anyone is saying. Nor should anyone proceed to make arguments that seem to assume that is what Paul is saying.

If we can agree it doesn’t mean that, I think it’s an important point of agreement between the sides that needs to be said out loud.

But my guess is that most people on the differing sides of this issue haven’t asked and explored together what Galatians 3:28 actually does mean. The answer could lead to even more common ground and (hopefully) even more fruitful discussions.

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