Doctrine and Practice: The Case of Female Worship Readers in WELS Multicultural Church Settings

Abstract

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

Thanks to advances in technology, transportation, new political settings, etc. the world is getting smaller and smaller. For the family of Christian believers, this is a source of opportunity and joy, but also it does bring along a variety of challenges, as we get together as a Christian family around God’s Word and sacraments.

One of these challenges is to offer to God proper and pleasing worship, and also be enriching and beneficial to all. This concise essay will explore the case of female readers in worship services in a multicultural setting. The first question we must contemplate is if this practice violates any God-given principles, or if is a matter of adiaphora (pertaining to Christian freedom), neither forbidden nor prescribed in the Bible. To answer this question and others relevant to our case study, it’s necessary to review the Biblical principles involved, along with the influence that the culture may have in their application.

Once we are able to respond our first interrogation, The second question is of a great importance, namely, even if this is a matter of adiaphora, is this practice wise and edifying? Under what circumstances?