#2 Threats to Patriarchy

by Dr. Stephen R. Phinney

A biblical view of men and women is that of complementarianism--men and women created equal in God’s own image but having different roles. Egalitarianism (e•gal•i•tar•i•an•ism), on the other hand, is the view that men and women have been gifted equally so that no role is limited to one sex. It is maintaining, relating to, or based on a belief that men and women are, in principle, equal in all aspects and should enjoy equal social, political, and leadership rights and opportunities. This is classified as “Christian feminism.”

Complementarian response is built upon a thoroughly biblical vision of male headship. This means men lead their families and churches by mirroring God (the Father) and Jesus (the head of the Bride--the Church). Scripture portrays God as the loving, sacrificial, protective Patriarch of His people.

Many men today are living according to an egalitarian belief based on the fact that role equality is considered to be extremely reasonable. But, research has shown many conservative and evangelical households to be among the “guiltiest” when it comes to giving way to externally applied pressure regarding egalitarianism and family harmony, relational happiness, and emotional health. In other words, men of our generation tend to default to female leadership to keep peace.

Christian men are known to maintain headship in the sphere of ideas, but their day-to-day decisions are based on a process of negotiation, mutual submission, and consensus. That’s what our biblical patriarch (forefathers) would have called “feminism.”

Embracing biblical patriarchy protects the doctrines of God from departing from what is right. To reject male headship leads to a redefinition of the Fatherhood of God and His divine sovereignty. This is just another way of promoting the view that God is impotent and limited in knowledge. Rearranging the order of God has been Satan’s goal and objective from the beginning. Converting our homes into “Christian Egalitarians” is one of his main tools and man’s worst enemy.

It is not wise to confuse “Christian Feminism” with equality regarding the inherent worth and dignity of being children of God. Spiritually, we are all created equal; but in the realm of leadership roles assigned to us by the Living God, we are called to function differently. God has asked men not to be conformed to the ideologies of the world, nor the fashionable trends of this age.

Christian men need to rid their thinking of feministic influence. They need to fill their minds with the design of God--embracing the masculine mind that has been embedded in them by the Father. If a man walks according to the worldly fables of man, he will become emasculated. If he walks according the teachings of God, he will find his fulfillment as a man.

Commit yourself this day to be a man who does not conform to the “traditions of man.” But be transformed in your masculinity by the doctrines and ways of God. Go now and practice the true characteristics of manhood by standing firm in the immovable things of God.

Next article: True Biblical Manhood

The Principled Patriarch: Threats to Patriarchy. 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.