Biblical patriarchy
Encyclopedia
Biblical patriarchy is a set of beliefs in evangelical
Christianity
concerning marriage, the family, and the home. It sees the father as the head of the home, and responsible for the conduct of his family. Notable adherents of biblical patriarchy include Douglas Wilson
, R. C. Sproul, Jr.
and Douglas Phillips. Notable publications include Patriarch magazine and Above Rubies. The biblical patriarchy movement has been said to be "flourishing among homeschoolers
. "
advocates such beliefs as
Some advocates of Biblical Patriarchy teach that women are "part of a chain of command. God is at the top, then Jesus, after that the husband, then the wife, and finally the children. "
, in Moscow, Idaho (pastored by Douglas Wilson
) reckons membership by household. The church's constitution states that, "Those members who vote in church elections are called electors. Electors are the heads of member households. Independent unmarried members are considered as a household for purposes of voting. "
and Wayne Grudem
, representing the Complementarian position, say that they are "not as sure in this wider sphere which roles can be carried out by men or women. " Grudem also acknowledges exceptions to the submission of wives to husbands where moral issues are involved.
interpret the Vision Forum statement to imply that "women really cannot be trusted as decision makers" and "unless a daughter marries, she functionally remains pretty much the property of the father until he dies. "
Andrew Sandlin
argues that a "renewed patriarchalism in some quarters is working for hegemony over the other legitimate spheres of God’s authority" In other words, the authority of the father dominates other authority structures in the church and in society. Sandlin writes that some patriarchalists "have gone so far as to suggest that Christian day schools are sinful or erosive of the family" and to "demand almost unswerving obedience and servanthood from their forty-year old married sons".
In 2008, Cynthia Kunsman ran a workshop at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
(sponsored by Evangelical Ministries to New Religions
) critiquing biblical patriarchy. She defined it as an "intolerant ideology" that has arisen within circles of the Christian homeschool movement during the last two decades. She suggested that the biblical patriarchy movement was guilty of subordinationism
, and identified the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
, the Federal Vision
movement and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
as adherents of biblical patriarchy. In response, both EMNR
and MBTS
accused Kunsman of making "unwarranted and misinformed accusations against Christian teachers and ministries, including the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
and agencies within the Southern Baptist Convention
. "
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
concerning marriage, the family, and the home. It sees the father as the head of the home, and responsible for the conduct of his family. Notable adherents of biblical patriarchy include Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson (theologian)
Douglas James Wilson is a conservative Reformed and evangelical theologian, pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, faculty member at New Saint Andrews College, and prolific author and speaker...
, R. C. Sproul, Jr.
R. C. Sproul, Jr.
Robert Craig Sproul, better known as R.C. Sproul, Jr., is a Calvinist Christian minister and theologian and is the son of Robert Charles Sproul, a noted Reformed theologian and founder of Ligonier Ministries....
and Douglas Phillips. Notable publications include Patriarch magazine and Above Rubies. The biblical patriarchy movement has been said to be "flourishing among homeschoolers
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
. "
Beliefs
The "Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy" published by Vision ForumVision Forum
Vision Forum is an evangelical Christian organization based in San Antonio, Texas. Vision Forum Ministries is a 501 non-profit organization, while the associated commercial operation is called Vision Forum, Inc. It advocates Biblical patriarchy, creationism, homeschooling, Family Integrated...
advocates such beliefs as
- God reveals Himself as masculineGender of God in ChristianityGod has traditionally been described using masculine terms in Christian scripture and theology. While this has sometimes given rise to the idea that Christians consider God to be male, the majority of Christians believe that God transcends gender....
, not feminine. - God ordained distinct gender roles for man and woman as part of the created order.
- A husband and father is the head of his household, a family leader, provider, and protector.
- Male leadership in the home carries over into the church: only men are permitted to hold the ruling office in the church. A God-honoring society will likewise prefer male leadership in civil and other spheres.
- Since the woman was created as a helper to her husband, as the bearer of children, and as a “keeper at home,” the God-ordained and proper sphere of dominion for a wife is the household and that which is connected with the home.
- God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” still applies to married couples.
- Christian parents must provide their children with a thoroughly Christian education, one that teaches the Bible and a biblical view of God and the world.
- Both sons and daughters are under the command of their fathers as long as they are under his roof or otherwise the recipients of his provision and protection.
Some advocates of Biblical Patriarchy teach that women are "part of a chain of command. God is at the top, then Jesus, after that the husband, then the wife, and finally the children. "
Practices
Some churches connected to Biblical patriarchy practise "household voting". For example, Christ ChurchChrist Church (Moscow, Idaho)
Christ Church is a Reformed and evangelical church in Moscow, Idaho pastored by Douglas Wilson, and a member of the Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches...
, in Moscow, Idaho (pastored by Douglas Wilson
Douglas Wilson (theologian)
Douglas James Wilson is a conservative Reformed and evangelical theologian, pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, faculty member at New Saint Andrews College, and prolific author and speaker...
) reckons membership by household. The church's constitution states that, "Those members who vote in church elections are called electors. Electors are the heads of member households. Independent unmarried members are considered as a household for purposes of voting. "
Differences to Complementarianism
Biblical patriarchy is similar to Complementarianism, and many of the differences are only ones of degree and emphasis. While Complementarianism holds to exclusively male leadership in the church and in the home, biblical patriarchy extends that exclusion to the civic sphere as well, so that women should not be civil leaders and indeed should not have careers outside the home. Thus, William Einwechter refers to the traditional Complementarian view as "two point complementarianism" (male leadership in the family and church), and regards the biblical patriarchy view as "three-point" or "full" complementarianism, (male leadership in family, church and society). In contrast to this, John PiperJohn Piper (theologian)
John Stephen Piper is a Christian preacher and author, currently serving as Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
and Wayne Grudem
Wayne Grudem
Wayne A. Grudem is a Protestant theologian and author. He was born in 1948 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and married Margaret White on June 6, 1969 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin...
, representing the Complementarian position, say that they are "not as sure in this wider sphere which roles can be carried out by men or women. " Grudem also acknowledges exceptions to the submission of wives to husbands where moral issues are involved.
Criticism
Biblical patriarchy has been criticised for holding views that demean women and view them as property. Don and Joy Veinot of Midwest Christian OutreachMidwest Christian Outreach
Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc , is a non-denominational, evangelical organization. It is a "a big Chicago support group that encourages people to leave cults" and "an apologetics ministry in suburban Chicago."...
interpret the Vision Forum statement to imply that "women really cannot be trusted as decision makers" and "unless a daughter marries, she functionally remains pretty much the property of the father until he dies. "
Andrew Sandlin
Andrew Sandlin
P. Andrew Sandlin is a Christian minister, theologian and author. He is the founder and president of the Center for Cultural Leadership; one of several pastors of Church of the King in California; theological consultant for ACT 3 Ministries; and De Yong Distinguished Visiting Professor of Culture...
argues that a "renewed patriarchalism in some quarters is working for hegemony over the other legitimate spheres of God’s authority" In other words, the authority of the father dominates other authority structures in the church and in society. Sandlin writes that some patriarchalists "have gone so far as to suggest that Christian day schools are sinful or erosive of the family" and to "demand almost unswerving obedience and servanthood from their forty-year old married sons".
In 2008, Cynthia Kunsman ran a workshop at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is one of six official seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is located in Kansas City, Missouri. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary also houses an undergraduate college, Midwestern Baptist College, SBC. Although the seminary focuses...
(sponsored by Evangelical Ministries to New Religions
Evangelical Ministries to New Religions
Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, often abbreviated as EMNR, is a coalition of Christian countercult organizations.-Purpose and Activities:...
) critiquing biblical patriarchy. She defined it as an "intolerant ideology" that has arisen within circles of the Christian homeschool movement during the last two decades. She suggested that the biblical patriarchy movement was guilty of subordinationism
Subordinationism
Subordinationism is a doctrine in Christian theology which holds that the Son and the Holy Spirit are subordinate to God the Father in nature and being...
, and identified the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is an evangelical Christian organization promoting a complementarian view of gender issues. CBMW's current president is Dr...
, the Federal Vision
Federal Vision
The Federal Vision is a Reformed Evangelical theological conversation that focuses on covenant theology, trinitarian thinking, the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, biblical theology and typology, justification, and postmillennialism.A controversy arose in Calvinist, Reformed, and Presbyterian...
movement and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
as adherents of biblical patriarchy. In response, both EMNR
Evangelical Ministries to New Religions
Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, often abbreviated as EMNR, is a coalition of Christian countercult organizations.-Purpose and Activities:...
and MBTS
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is one of six official seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is located in Kansas City, Missouri. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary also houses an undergraduate college, Midwestern Baptist College, SBC. Although the seminary focuses...
accused Kunsman of making "unwarranted and misinformed accusations against Christian teachers and ministries, including the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood is an evangelical Christian organization promoting a complementarian view of gender issues. CBMW's current president is Dr...
and agencies within the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. "
See also
- Family Integrated ChurchFamily Integrated ChurchA family integrated church is one in which parents and children attend church services together, children stay all through church services and organised groups and activities for children and youth are non-existent...
- PatriarchyPatriarchyPatriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
- QuiverfullQuiverfullQuiverfull is a movement among some conservative evangelical Christian couples chiefly in the United States, but with some adherents in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and elsewhere. It promotes procreation, and sees children as a blessing from God, eschewing all forms of birth control,...
- Gender roles in Christianity