#1 The Principled Patriarch: The Introduction

by Dr. Stephen R. Phinney

Patriarchs are light unto a dark world. Their lives are to be living examples of traditional biblical values that teach others to glorify God, the Father. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor can a leader who functions in his God-given abilities. He is a light to all citizens who need to find their way.

The world around us is lost and is in need of true dynamic leaders to show them the way. Patriarchs train patriarchs. This training starts on the home front. The whole goal and purpose of leading the home is for the community--training the next generation to be “lights unto the world.” People are designed by God to follow--each seeking to find a leader to believe in and follow. If the biblical patriarch had the mentality of “being fruitful and multiplying the earth,” we would change a dark world within several generations. But since the average male has the mind-set of “taking care of himself,” we fall short of God’s purpose of biblical manhood.

Our role as men should spill over into the communities we serve. All of the ways and actions we appropriate within our homes should be the very manner we manage within the community and work world.

If a man desires a position of leadership within the church, community, or nation, he desires a good thing. A man who lives with his wife in an understanding way, has his children under control, and manages his household with a servant-style leadership is well prepared and qualified to lead in society. The home is the starting place and training ground for public leadership. Many men today have this backwards--accepting leadership positions outside the home before their homes are a biblical model of proof of their ability to lead.

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:12-14 that women are not to be teaching or having authority over men. Why? Adam was formed first, then Eve. Those who were created first are given the command to “lead” those who were given the mandate to “follow” in church, community, and home. Therefore, if a woman desires a leadership position, it must be under the headship of her husband--or if not married, her father. The point being is what works for the leadership of the home is the same standard of leadership God uses in society.

A man cannot be trusted as a qualified leader (light unto the world) in the community unless he has proven his leadership within the home. The family is like a training institution for the man’s leadership. When he has passed the test of having his household in order, he will be a prime example of being a light unto the world. When a man attempts to lead in the community without having his family in order, he is sure to have a “trainwreck.”

The wisdom of this kind of direction and counsel has rarely been questioned until equalitarianism became the norm for family, church, and then community. Once a godly patriarch disregards the societal pressures of Christian feminism, he will be able to embrace the Truth of God’s order of male leadership.

Men, who hide behind the “light of women” or the spiritual leadership of women, resist the light of God’s ordained order. This results in the confusion and the emasculation of men. Men, who function as true lights of the world, live and operate by the life and light of God, the Father. God will only shine His light through His order of creation. He will not bypass His own order to please His creation.

In our society today, women open their own doors, defend themselves, and demand to be treated equally. Who is to blame for this? It is that of man! The need of a man to practice male manners is more critical today than any other time in history. Because women are so accustomed to caring for themselves, men have habitually taken the backseat to being gentlemen.

One would think that the women of today’s culture would have learned to demand their rights to be treated fairly due to men not treating them fairly. Well, this is simply not true. Women who function in independence do so because of their observations of men not treating their authority figures with all dignity. Men who do not show courtesy and manners to their authorities are modeling a lifestyle of disrespect and independence. Men bear the responsibility of showing their followers honor by honoring others. When a man honors his “up-line” first, he will then find it relatively easy to honor his “down-line.” How can we expect women to honor us, if we ourselves do not honor our authorities?

Honor looks like respect, courtesy, and manners. When a man honors authority, he will offer his services by allowing leaders to go first, helping them carry their load, serving them, and doing what he can to make their job easier. This is what most men expect from their women. If the patriarch is not doing like-minded service for their leaders, how can they expect their women to do differently? God may require women to service their disobedient male leaders, but it certainly is not the ideal way. Respect, courtesy, and submission require modeling such a role. Leaders, who expect honor without personally practicing honor, border on abuse of authority. Christ Himself didn’t even demand such honor. He modeled it first and then requested honor and respect from His body.

Man needs to show his respect for authority by demonstrating honor/manners to the woman who is called to serve him. This is accomplished through opening car doors, serving her needs first, or simply treating her as a “weaker vessel.” When a man shows common courtesy to a woman, he is demonstrating how Christ honors the Church.

Being a gentleman is the most perfect way of honoring God. When a man is respecting the guidelines of society, church, and God, he is revealing the order of God. A man, who is interested in honoring God, is recognizing the ordained roles God has assigned to His earthly structure. Men should care for all women in the same way they are commanded to care for their wives. Women should respect all men in the same way they are mandated to respect their husbands. This certainly does not mean that men or women should act out their marital roles with individuals outside their home. It does mean they should show the same kind of honor and respect to all. Although, it should be noted that women should maintain God’s “chain of command” even within society. In like manner, men should treat all women with the same dignity they tend to show their wives. A word of caution to men: do not allow your willingness to be a gentleman breed a familiarity of passion or attachment (intimacy) that belongs to your wife--or if not married, to Christ Himself.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY

Due to the need for men to understand the basic functions of biblical manhood, this study has been written to give each patriarch the outline needed to fulfill it. Men need to get back to the traditional principles of patriarchy. Our women, children, communities, and nations need a few good men--husbands, fathers, and leaders who are willing to lead according to the divine Word of Truth.

We are in the middle of a cultural battle that wages war against the male and female genders-- boys becoming emasculated and girls becoming masculated. Whatever happened to the patriarchs of our day? Why are women asserting more male dominance than our males? Why do men default to women in leading their families, homes, and communities? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered in The Principled Patriarch.  

This study is not for “interested onlookers!” This study is for the serious at heart--men who seek to find God’s solutions to man’s historical problems. This study is designed for small groups or individual private study. The Principled Patriarch is guaranteed to challenge and refresh the souls of all men of intent. 

Next article: Threats to Patriarchy

The Principled Patriarch: The Introduction. Copyright © 2013 IOM America. Permission to reproduce for educational purposes. Please keep author’s name intact.

All Scriptures, unless otherwise stated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.