Brother Bob has felt “the Call”; he is sure God wants him in full-time service to the Body. So he goes to those who have been called to such service before him: the Women of God.

With much passion and conviction, Bob relates his unmistakable calling, his heartfelt desire to please God, and his devotion to seeing the lost saved and the saved discipled. Others testify to his proven dedication and action in other areas, and his lifelong practice of all Jesus taught. He is ready, willing, and able to serve in leadership.

But the Women of God respond: “You are a male, and God has only ever used female terms to describe the church. This is because scripture says plainly that sin entered the world through Adam, and he refused to lead and protect Eve when she was being tempted by the serpent. Then God promised the Savior through her Seed alone. That is why God has called a man to leave his parents and join to his wife, clearly indicating her superiority.

“All men have shared Adam’s weakness and should therefore never be given such a responsibility. God even predicted that all men would lust for leadership and go against what is so clearly shown in nature. They have a history of violence and passing blame, qualities not suitable for this ministry. Be happy in your proper role; there are many other areas in which you can serve God, such as fixing things and putting up buildings. Isn’t that enough?”

Bob is devastated. How could he have been so wrong? And why would God call him to something so clearly yet forbid him to pursue it? Does God really prefer women and “look on the flesh”? After all, it was the woman’s seed that crushed Satan; is it true that the reason is males alone carry the “sin gene”? Is he sinning against God by aspiring to leadership?

But Bob, being a good solid Christian who wouldn’t think of going against the wisdom of the Women of God, consigns himself to his proper place. He even buys a toolbelt and takes classes in woodworking. He spends the rest of his life building and repairing, but never quite loses that old feeling, that perhaps God really had meant more for him.