* * *
I do not know why Jesus chose only male Apostles, or only Jews,
or so many fisherman, or only Galileans (except possibly Judas), and it would be
presumptuous for me to speculate beyond what Scripture reveals. We may be
certain that it was not because God automatically rejects women in public
service, since at different times he has approved their leading worship (Ex.
15:20-21; 1 Cor. 11:5), acting as ruler-judge (Judges 4-5), serving as
prophetess (Judges 4:4; Lk. 2:36-38; Acts 21:9), hosting the church (Acts 12:12;
16:40), team-teaching theology (Acts 18:26), serving as deaconess (Rom.16:1-2),
and generally "working hard" in the Lord (Rom. 16:6, 12).
Be assured that I care nothing for political correctness. My sinful nature is
far more likely to manifest itself in cantankerous individualism than in seeking
the favor of the crowd. Be that as it may, I try always to base doctrinal
conclusions on a careful, prayerful, exegetical study of the biblical text in
context. Whether the results support or frustrate any popular notion is wholly
beside the point. Universally-applicable scriptural principles must always
outweigh "culture" and "political correctness" of every stripe -- whether
today's radical feminism or male-dominated hierarchicalism of the past.
The Bible, not culture, is our final authority. But we best understand the
Bible's teaching when we have some knowledge of the cultures in which its
various parts were written. And we best apply its teaching when we are sensitive
to the particular culture in which we ourselves happen to live and serve God. I
suspect that you do that yourself when it comes to women wearing veils (1 Cor.
11:5-7), washing each other's feet (John 13:14-15) and greeting people with a
kiss (Rom. 16:16).