Distinctions with dignity

"The Church does not feel authorized to change the will of its founder Jesus Christ," said Monsignor Angelo Amato, speaking last Friday in response to recent renegade ordinations of women to the priesthood. The Vatican has threatened excommunication for non-compliance.

In these times, when dignity is taken to be synonymous with radical equality, the clamor of women to possess every last benefit bequeathed on a man need not even be argued from Scripture; the right is thought to be "self-evident."

Not to everyone, I should confess. When I became a Christian, one of the first things my brother said was, "You realize, don't you, that this means you'll have to submit to your husband." Whether he was being snotty or instructive doesn't matter. It didn't bother me at all. "Look, I just stepped down from being "god" to being a creature. I figure I can come down one more inch."

It's God's prerogative to make distinctions among people, and he does it throughout the Bible. Out of all mankind, He chose the Israelites. Out of the Israelites, only the Levites were allowed to be priests. Out of the Levites, only the Kohathites were allowed to care for the sanctuary. But even they might not touch the sacred articles, but only Aaron and his sons.

Speaking for myself, I'm just so glad to be included anywhere in God's kingdom. I would rather be a doorkeeper there than the CEO anywhere else, wouldn't you?