The Lord led me to this powerful testimony against "patriarchy" or the archaic, and mistaken belief and practice of mend dominating women. This is shared with the sword of truth of Christ--a sister's sword, and confirmed by a powerful sign today! Women rejoice! The Lord considers you equals-- patriarchy, domination and abuse of women is coming to an end! The testimony of Kathryn J. Ross, Th. M., teaches clearly, with bible support, that Christian men do not have a God-given right to dominate women. It is also a powerful testimony in support of traditional marriage of course. I'm using the Lord's sword of truth to point to someone else, for a change-- yay!
She is worthy! God bless this lady's work and divine inspiration.
This has been on my mind for many years, especially lately, with all the tragic subjugation and abuse of women in the news, especially by patriarchal cultures and religions, such as Islam, Hindu's and Judaic religions and cultures, and Ms. Ross, who I will address as "Dr. Ross," has clarified these issues--in my opinion, she is an honorary "doctor of the Church," ordained by God.
The powerful confirmations of this, are answered prayers, including this morning's weather after a prayer last night. The Lord is confirming us as Christians that are prayers are powerful in the last days, if we have the faith of Elijah--even if we don't!
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
Patriarchy is the nearly universal social system by which men dominate women and other men. Unfortunately, combined with the fallen, sinful nature of humanity, a misogynist attitude toward women, and the aggressive nature of males, it has produced many evils.
...***
...***Although the rights of women have improved over the centuries, the excesses of patriarchy have not ended. Modern Hindu societies still practice wife-murder in order to maximize financial gain from dowries and the burning alive of wives on their husband’s funeral pyres. Moslem societies enforce the seclusion of women, denial of their rights, and the mutilation of young girls, often leading to their death, under the religious euphemism of “female circumcision.” Throughout the world, but especially in China, where population control is strict, millions of female fetuses have been aborted due to the preference of parents for a son. And in all societies, rape, pornography, prostitution and the sometimes violent subjugation of women continue to multiply the evils and injustices of unfettered patriarchy.
Biblical revelation was given within the patriarchal contexts of ancient Israel and the first-century Roman Empire. This revelation limited the practices of patriarchy by commanding children to honor both father and mother, holding men accountable to God for the treatment of their wives, and God’s directive in Genesis 2:24 that marriage should be between one man and one woman. However, patriarchal abuses continued. Polygamy was a common practice under ancient Judaism, which continued into Jesus’ time.
In America today, the physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual abuse of women and girls is unintentionally enabled by religious organizations that fail to confront abusers or correct the patriarchal belief system they use to justify their behavior. In this article, we will consider how the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures deny that belief system, leaving room for the development of a model for male-female relations more in line with the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1. God created woman, as well as man, in the divine image
She is worthy! God bless this lady's work and divine inspiration.
This has been on my mind for many years, especially lately, with all the tragic subjugation and abuse of women in the news, especially by patriarchal cultures and religions, such as Islam, Hindu's and Judaic religions and cultures, and Ms. Ross, who I will address as "Dr. Ross," has clarified these issues--in my opinion, she is an honorary "doctor of the Church," ordained by God.
The powerful confirmations of this, are answered prayers, including this morning's weather after a prayer last night. The Lord is confirming us as Christians that are prayers are powerful in the last days, if we have the faith of Elijah--even if we don't!
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
by Kathryn J. Riss, Th.M.
For a short bio on Kathryn click here
Patriarchy is defined as “a state or stage of social development characterized by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family in both domestic and religious functions, the legal dependence of wife, or wives, and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line” (Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language 2nd Ed. unabridged). For a short bio on Kathryn click here
Patriarchy is the nearly universal social system by which men dominate women and other men. Unfortunately, combined with the fallen, sinful nature of humanity, a misogynist attitude toward women, and the aggressive nature of males, it has produced many evils.
...***
...***Although the rights of women have improved over the centuries, the excesses of patriarchy have not ended. Modern Hindu societies still practice wife-murder in order to maximize financial gain from dowries and the burning alive of wives on their husband’s funeral pyres. Moslem societies enforce the seclusion of women, denial of their rights, and the mutilation of young girls, often leading to their death, under the religious euphemism of “female circumcision.” Throughout the world, but especially in China, where population control is strict, millions of female fetuses have been aborted due to the preference of parents for a son. And in all societies, rape, pornography, prostitution and the sometimes violent subjugation of women continue to multiply the evils and injustices of unfettered patriarchy.
Biblical revelation was given within the patriarchal contexts of ancient Israel and the first-century Roman Empire. This revelation limited the practices of patriarchy by commanding children to honor both father and mother, holding men accountable to God for the treatment of their wives, and God’s directive in Genesis 2:24 that marriage should be between one man and one woman. However, patriarchal abuses continued. Polygamy was a common practice under ancient Judaism, which continued into Jesus’ time.
In America today, the physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual abuse of women and girls is unintentionally enabled by religious organizations that fail to confront abusers or correct the patriarchal belief system they use to justify their behavior. In this article, we will consider how the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures deny that belief system, leaving room for the development of a model for male-female relations more in line with the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1. God created woman, as well as man, in the divine image
- In Genesis 1:26, God created BOTH man and woman TOGETHER in the image of God:
“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind (adam) in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind (adam) in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27, NRSV).
***...
4. Scripture nowhere directs a husband to rule over his wife, nor a wife to obey her husband
In I. Timothy 3:4, Paul says that a bishop should be “one that rules well his own household, having his children in subjection,” not his wife! Verse 12 says that deacons should be “husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their households well.” Roman husbands were legally the rulers and judges of all those belonging to their households. Yet, Paul deliberately omits any reference to Christian husbands ruling over their wives!
The New Testament never uses the active voice of hupotasso, “to bring into subjection,” in relation to marriage. Nowhere in Scripture are husbands allowed to bring their wives into subjection. Christians are to bring evil into subjection, not other Christians!
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
***My personal opinions--
Without having time to reflect on this, I believe it would take a lot of teamwork and cooperation between men and women in the church to resolve all of this. Presently, until this lady's powerful defense, I supported husband and wife teams in ministry. And Kathryn teaches how men and women are equal in marriage, but I don 't think she goes into detail of how this would work in the church. I think bible defenses can be made for men being the "honorary" head of the family, as being by nature usually the stronger of the sexes. There are still natural roles of men and women, with women by nature and divine creation having more nurturing hearts and therefore being closer to the heart of God and what God considers to be most important in this world. We men, typically can be too much into head--thinking, while women are more heart-- Even that statement "we men, typically can be too much into thinking" is too freeking analytical-- Women would say and often do, "SHUT UP!!" sacred moments in life are heart moments-- emotional moments should flow from the throne of grace like the ocean and seagulls soaring on the breeze...that sort of thing-- YOU SEE??! you can't describe REAL moments-- if you have to think about it-- you're not really there where you should be....sigh...
BECAUSE: "You can't THINK up there... if you think-- your'e dead!" And as we all know... "well, that's a heck of a gambell with a 25 million dollar airplane, lieutenant!"
What saved Maverick!? Well, he needed God's help-- which came partly in the form of a lady, at least in that movie...TEAMWORK. and his commander who said,
"I'M NOT HERE TO [SHINE] SUNSHINE UP YOUR [i-Pod]... You have a confidence problem..."
and then he trusted him with his life: "give me a call...I'll fly with you."
He trusted him and believed in him. He gave him a chance. Like God does with each of us his servants, sons and daughters of the Christian family-- Heaven's armies.
If we don't trust our commander, how can we succeed? God is trustworthy, He is faithful to His promises-- He will never give up on us, so we should never give up on ourselves-- just learn teamwork and trusting in God's soverignty and unimaginable power of love and grace.
we just addressed this in a men's group Friday night-- the dialoge goes on...
***...
4. Scripture nowhere directs a husband to rule over his wife, nor a wife to obey her husband
- The Ten Commandments contain no directive for wives to obey their husbands or husbands to govern their wives. The second commandment directs children to honor both father and mother, showing that the marriage partners share equal authority over their offspring.
- No command of Scripture anywhere directs a husband to govern his wife.
In I. Timothy 3:4, Paul says that a bishop should be “one that rules well his own household, having his children in subjection,” not his wife! Verse 12 says that deacons should be “husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their households well.” Roman husbands were legally the rulers and judges of all those belonging to their households. Yet, Paul deliberately omits any reference to Christian husbands ruling over their wives!
The New Testament never uses the active voice of hupotasso, “to bring into subjection,” in relation to marriage. Nowhere in Scripture are husbands allowed to bring their wives into subjection. Christians are to bring evil into subjection, not other Christians!
- The New Testament instructs wives to “submit” to their husbands, not to “obey” them. Obedience was instructed for children and slaves. The voluntary decision to submit by the wife is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. She submits to her husband as she is submitting to the Lord; that is, with Godly wisdom. Absolute obedience belongs to God alone!
- The original, Greek word translated “submit” or sometimes, erroneously, “obey” (hupotasso) means to defer to someone respectfully. To quote the Bauer, Arndt, Gingricht Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, the middle or passive voices, which are always used in NT marriage contexts, mean a “voluntary yielding in love.”
- The Greek words to “obey” (hupakouo) and to “obey a ruler” (peitharcheo) are not used in any New Testament command for wives! Nor is a husband ever described as “ruler,” archon, but “head,” kephale, which means source of life, as Jesus Christ is the source of life for His bride, the church.
- I Corinthians 7:3-5 is the ONLY passage that directly addresses how a married couple should make a decision, and it tells them to decide the matter “by consent” or “by agreement.” It is also the ONLY passage which uses the word “authority” (exousia) regarding husband and wife, and Paul gives it to both equally!
Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical
***My personal opinions--
Without having time to reflect on this, I believe it would take a lot of teamwork and cooperation between men and women in the church to resolve all of this. Presently, until this lady's powerful defense, I supported husband and wife teams in ministry. And Kathryn teaches how men and women are equal in marriage, but I don 't think she goes into detail of how this would work in the church. I think bible defenses can be made for men being the "honorary" head of the family, as being by nature usually the stronger of the sexes. There are still natural roles of men and women, with women by nature and divine creation having more nurturing hearts and therefore being closer to the heart of God and what God considers to be most important in this world. We men, typically can be too much into head--thinking, while women are more heart-- Even that statement "we men, typically can be too much into thinking" is too freeking analytical-- Women would say and often do, "SHUT UP!!" sacred moments in life are heart moments-- emotional moments should flow from the throne of grace like the ocean and seagulls soaring on the breeze...that sort of thing-- YOU SEE??! you can't describe REAL moments-- if you have to think about it-- you're not really there where you should be....sigh...
BECAUSE: "You can't THINK up there... if you think-- your'e dead!" And as we all know... "well, that's a heck of a gambell with a 25 million dollar airplane, lieutenant!"
What saved Maverick!? Well, he needed God's help-- which came partly in the form of a lady, at least in that movie...TEAMWORK. and his commander who said,
"I'M NOT HERE TO [SHINE] SUNSHINE UP YOUR [i-Pod]... You have a confidence problem..."
and then he trusted him with his life: "give me a call...I'll fly with you."
He trusted him and believed in him. He gave him a chance. Like God does with each of us his servants, sons and daughters of the Christian family-- Heaven's armies.
If we don't trust our commander, how can we succeed? God is trustworthy, He is faithful to His promises-- He will never give up on us, so we should never give up on ourselves-- just learn teamwork and trusting in God's soverignty and unimaginable power of love and grace.
we just addressed this in a men's group Friday night-- the dialoge goes on...
