Patriarchy Movement Lecture, EMNR March '08 at MBTS

The Development The Development and Practice of and Practice of

PatriarchyPatriarchy::

Cure for Cultural Decline or Cure for Cultural Decline or New, Gnostic Disease?New, Gnostic Disease?

Cynthia Kunsman, Cynthia Kunsman, RN, BSN, MMin, NDRN, BSN, MMin, ND

What is What is Patriarchy?Patriarchy?

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

– Intolerant Ideology of so-called Intolerant Ideology of so-called “Biblical Patriarchy” “Biblical Patriarchy”

Prescribes rigid practices of both SOCIAL Prescribes rigid practices of both SOCIAL and religious preference and moral and religious preference and moral imperatives imperatives

* * Not MonolithicNot Monolithic ! ! * *– Many denominations and practices Many denominations and practices

within Evangelical Christianitywithin Evangelical Christianity

Patriarchy:Patriarchy: Disproportionate Disproportionate

Christian ResponseChristian ResponseFamily as Central Family as Central

to Restorationto Restoration of Culture of Culture

Special Purpose Religion Special Purpose Religion Affinity Group Affinity Group

– Neo-tribalisticNeo-tribalistic

– AuthoritarianAuthoritarian

– Evangelistically PessimisticEvangelistically Pessimistic

Objectives:Objectives:

Contributing InfluencesContributing Influences

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs

Practices & ImplicationsPractices & Implications

Grand overviewGrand overviewof the diverse beliefs & practices of the diverse beliefs & practices

Contributing Doctrinal Contributing Doctrinal Influence Influence ##11

Dominion Theology Dominion Theology & & TheonomyTheonomy

Dominion TheologyDominion Theology TheonomyTheonomy Christian ReconstructionChristian Reconstruction Confederate Confederate

IdealismIdealism

Influence 2:Influence 2:

Christian Christian ReconstructionReconstruction

Cultural and Religious Cultural and Religious NostalgiaNostalgia

– Little / blurred distinctionLittle / blurred distinction

Christian, American and FamilialChristian, American and Familial

NollNoll: “: “Scandal of the Evangelical Mind”Scandal of the Evangelical Mind”FishburnFishburn: : ““Confronting the Idolatry of Confronting the Idolatry of

FamilyFamily””

KeillorKeillor: “: “This Rebellious House”This Rebellious House”

Influence 3:Influence 3:

Confederate Idealism Confederate Idealism

Confederacy as anConfederacy as an

* * ideal theocracyideal theocracy * *

Film: Film: “God’s and Generals”“God’s and Generals”____________________________

– NollNoll: “The Civil War as a Theological : “The Civil War as a Theological Crisis”Crisis”

Influence 3:Influence 3:

Confederate Idealism Confederate Idealism

Southern ViewSouthern View North was North was

uncivilized, unchristian & industrialuncivilized, unchristian & industrial– Feared industrial revolution Feared industrial revolution (social (social

reforms)reforms)

War Between the StatesWar Between the States Economic exploitation by the NorthEconomic exploitation by the North

Not directly related to slaveryNot directly related to slavery

Influence 3:Influence 3:

Confederate IdealismConfederate Idealism

Interest in SlaveryInterest in Slavery Today? Today?

– Not viewed as unbiblicalNot viewed as unbiblical

Christian philanthropyChristian philanthropy

Answer to the welfare stateAnswer to the welfare state

– Supports gender argumentsSupports gender arguments

““Southern Slavery” & “Black and Tan” Southern Slavery” & “Black and Tan” (Doug Wilson & Steve Wilkins) (Doug Wilson & Steve Wilkins)

Robert Lewis DabneyRobert Lewis Dabney

* “The evil is not slavery, but the * “The evil is not slavery, but the ignorance and vice in the laboring ignorance and vice in the laboring classes, of which slavery is the classes, of which slavery is the useful and righteous remedy.”useful and righteous remedy.”

– Most respected Presbyterian minister in Most respected Presbyterian minister in the Confederacythe Confederacy

– Strong advocate for Strong advocate for homeschoolinghomeschooling

* * ““A Defense of Virginia and the South”A Defense of Virginia and the South”

Phillips on DabneyPhillips on Dabney “Robert Lewis Dabney: The Prophet “Robert Lewis Dabney: The Prophet Speaks”Speaks”

““His choicest words were reserved for the His choicest words were reserved for the feminists feminists of his day; the of his day; the suffragettessuffragettes. He . He accurately predicted that the women’s rights accurately predicted that the women’s rights movement would lead to the emasculation movement would lead to the emasculation of men, the end of the nuclear family and of men, the end of the nuclear family and the the *overthrow of Western culture*….*overthrow of Western culture*….

Dabney claimed that there was a direct link Dabney claimed that there was a direct link between the rabid *between the rabid *egalitarian spiritegalitarian spirit * *

of the women’s rights of the women’s rights movement and similar *movement and similar *anti-anti-

authoritarian movementsauthoritarian movements.*”.*”

--Phillips’ Introduction, xvi (emphasis added) Phillips’ Introduction, xvi (emphasis added)

Benjamin M. PalmerBenjamin M. Palmer 11stst Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church, New OrleansNew Orleans

““The Family The Family in its Civil and Churchly Aspects in its Civil and Churchly Aspects””

(1876)(1876)

Worship of God within the Worship of God within the familyfamily

–““Natural religion”Natural religion” of the family of the family under under general revelationgeneral revelation

– Suggests family as a building block Suggests family as a building block used by God for the used by God for the special special revelationrevelation of the Gospel of the Gospel

Influence 4:Influence 4:

Doctrine of Doctrine of SubordinationismSubordinationism

Ontological differences among Ontological differences among persons of the Godheadpersons of the Godhead

– Lesser Lesser essenceessence and and authorityauthority

Kevin GilesKevin Giles – ““The Trinity and Subordinationism: The Trinity and Subordinationism:

The Doctrine of God and the The Doctrine of God and the Contemporary Gender Debate”Contemporary Gender Debate”

– ““Jesus and the FatherJesus and the Father””

Influence 5:Influence 5:

Federal VisionFederal Vision

Trinity Hierarchy Trinity Hierarchy and individual and individual wills wills (Wilson, Jones)(Wilson, Jones)

– Covenant within TrinityCovenant within Trinity Patriarchal Father & Ever Submissive Patriarchal Father & Ever Submissive

SonSon

– Exemplars of hierarchyExemplars of hierarchy for roles in for roles in marriagemarriage

– Anthropomorphized TrinityAnthropomorphized Trinity Poor hermeneutics (“Intuitive Art” per Lusk)Poor hermeneutics (“Intuitive Art” per Lusk)

Influence 5: Influence 5:

Federal VisionFederal Vision

Discussion of AdamDiscussion of Adam

– Preoccupation with Christ as Preoccupation with Christ as the Second the Second AdamAdam

– Adam’sAdam’s sin sin was immaturitywas immaturity Would have been invited to partake Would have been invited to partake

of the Tree of Knowledge eventuallyof the Tree of Knowledge eventually (Jordan)(Jordan)

Influence 6:Influence 6:

Submission DoctrineSubmission Doctrine

Next Generation GothardismNext Generation Gothardism– PaternalisticPaternalistic

Pessimistic about believers’ abilitiesPessimistic about believers’ abilities

Intervention by an enlightened mediatorIntervention by an enlightened mediator

– Works OrientedWorks Oriented (Romanist)(Romanist) Grace merited through works & attitudeGrace merited through works & attitude

– Spiritual Covering SuperstitionSpiritual Covering Superstition

Patriarchy More Aggressive Patriarchy More Aggressive than Gothardismthan Gothardism

Threat and RetaliationThreat and Retaliation– Verbal aggression, threatened lawsuits, Verbal aggression, threatened lawsuits,

actual legal action, business interferenceactual legal action, business interference

Neologism & ConnotationNeologism & Connotation

Loading the Language & thought-stopping cliché”Loading the Language & thought-stopping cliché”– ““egalitarian” egalitarian” (Marxist)(Marxist) Botkin, VF Botkin, VF– Everything noted to be “BIBLICAL” !!!Everything noted to be “BIBLICAL” !!!– ““normative” and “non-normative”normative” and “non-normative”– Pejoratives & MonikersPejoratives & Monikers

““Welcome To Normativity”Welcome To Normativity”

Subtitle to Photo on Blog reads:Subtitle to Photo on Blog reads:

““Marriage is Normative”Marriage is Normative”

http://persevero.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archttp://persevero.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.htmlhive.html

Basic (Gnostic) Basic (Gnostic) Beliefs…Beliefs…

Űber-AdamŰber-Adam

– Participation in Participation in Self-SanctificationSelf-Sanctification

– Utopian-oriented Utopian-oriented preoccupation with preoccupation with AdamAdam

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##11

~ TRINITY ~~ TRINITY ~ Doctrine of SubordinationismDoctrine of Subordinationism

Implications of hierarchy within Trinity Implications of hierarchy within Trinity significant to gender rolessignificant to gender roles

– CBMWCBMW Wayne Grudem, Bruce Ware, Denny Wayne Grudem, Bruce Ware, Denny

Burk, SBTS, ETSBurk, SBTS, ETS

– Federal VisionFederal Vision

Hierarchical Role ofHierarchical Role of

“Submitted Sonship”“Submitted Sonship”

God the FatherGod the Father = = ManMan

in Trinity in marriagein Trinity in marriage

rules and reigns overrules and reigns over Son Son = = womanwoman

Women to be like Christ Women to be like Christ

in terms of hierarchy and in terms of in terms of hierarchy and in terms of submissionsubmission

Kevin GilesKevin GilesParallel drawn between Parallel drawn between

hierarchical role ofhierarchical role of

Christ and womenChrist and women

Wayne GrudemWayne Grudem – ““Systematic Theology” Systematic Theology” (1994)(1994)

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##22

~ PATRIOCENTRIC GOSPEL ~~ PATRIOCENTRIC GOSPEL ~(Russell Moore of CBMW and SBTS)(Russell Moore of CBMW and SBTS)

Criticism of Criticism of PATRIARCHYPATRIARCHY = “ = “open theismopen theism” ”

Viewed as an indirect challenging of God the Father Viewed as an indirect challenging of God the Father and His Lordship over all creationand His Lordship over all creation

* Gender becomes a matter * Gender becomes a matter of of

Biblical Authority. Biblical Authority.

Phillip LancasterPhillip Lancaster“Family Man, Family Leader” “Family Man, Family Leader” (Vision (Vision

Forum, 2003)Forum, 2003)

To be clear, we do not think patriarchy is To be clear, we do not think patriarchy is the central theme of the Bible…the central theme of the Bible…

<<[Author describes patriarchy as a<<[Author describes patriarchy as aKEYSTONE ISSUE vs. a cornerstone…]>>KEYSTONE ISSUE vs. a cornerstone…]>>

We need to get back to patriarchy so that We need to get back to patriarchy so that we can rebuild all that is fallen in our we can rebuild all that is fallen in our times and then build anew…times and then build anew…

Without the groundwork of patriarchy, no Without the groundwork of patriarchy, no other efforts at renewal and progress other efforts at renewal and progress

will succeed.will succeed. Pgs Pgs 319-20319-20

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##33

~ REDEMPTIVE DISTORTION ~~ REDEMPTIVE DISTORTION ~

(Palmer, Federal Vision, etc.)(Palmer, Federal Vision, etc.)

Implies that Implies that JesusJesus DID NOT make DID NOT make our relationship with first Adam our relationship with first Adam OBSOLETEOBSOLETE

Jesus as Jesus as CatalystCatalyst – Restores man to Adam’s state Restores man to Adam’s state

before the fallbefore the fall

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##44

~ WOMAN ~~ WOMAN ~

““DerivativeDerivative” or “” or “IndirectIndirect””

Image of GodImage of God (Ware & MacArthur)(Ware & MacArthur)

Eve was created from Adam’s substance Eve was created from Adam’s substance and is therefore and is therefore

Ontologically SubordinateOntologically Subordinate

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##55

~ PRIMOGENITURE ~~ PRIMOGENITURE ~Male Hierarchy based on Male Hierarchy based on

an Irrefutable Creation Mandatean Irrefutable Creation Mandate

““Sin entered through Eve” Sin entered through Eve” (Ware & (Ware & MacArthur)MacArthur)

Adam held accountable for sin Adam held accountable for sin because of headship because of headship

All women are given to deception All women are given to deception More obligated to accept blameMore obligated to accept blame

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##66

~ MYSTERIOUS SALVIFIC MAN ~ MYSTERIOUS SALVIFIC MAN ~~

Man as Man as earthly saviorearthly savior for family for family(Both physical and spiritual)(Both physical and spiritual)

Husband must “Husband must “sanctifysanctify” his wife ” his wife Eph 5:25-27 (VF, McDonald, MacArthur, Eph 5:25-27 (VF, McDonald, MacArthur, Wilson)Wilson)

– Implications for Lord’s SupperImplications for Lord’s Supper

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##77

~ PATRIOCENTRIC MARRIAGE ~ PATRIOCENTRIC MARRIAGE ~~

Primary Symbolism:Primary Symbolism: Adamic Adamic

Christ and Church BrideChrist and Church Bride

““Incomplete view of marriage”Incomplete view of marriage”

Must include the patriarchal ruling Must include the patriarchal ruling over wife with disciplineover wife with discipline (Heb 12)(Heb 12)

– Role of “submitted sonship”Role of “submitted sonship”

Militant FecundityMilitant Fecundity

““Militant Militant Fecundity”Fecundity”

(Hart, Phillips, Brown)(Hart, Phillips, Brown)

Large families of “godly Large families of “godly seed”seed”

– Preferred over conversion in adulthoodPreferred over conversion in adulthood– Numerical domination Numerical domination Christian AmericaChristian America

SPIRITUAL EUGENICSSPIRITUAL EUGENICS in the absence of concerted ministry to the larger in the absence of concerted ministry to the larger

cultureculture

– Imprecatory prayer Imprecatory prayer (Wilson) *(Wilson) *SEE EXCERPTSSEE EXCERPTS

Basic Belief Basic Belief ##77

Specific Reproductive Specific Reproductive PracticesPractices

– Women saved through childbirth Women saved through childbirth (I Tim (I Tim 2:15)2:15)

– Contraception discouraged Contraception discouraged (?prohibited?)(?prohibited?)

– Home births preferredHome births preferred

Patriarchal interventionPatriarchal intervention

during childbirth!during childbirth!

Doctrine and PracticesDoctrine and Practices

Vision Forum Vision Forum AsAs

a Prototypical Example of a Prototypical Example of the Modern Practice of Patriarchythe Modern Practice of Patriarchy

versusversusMichael Kruse and “Household Codes”Michael Kruse and “Household Codes”

based onbased onAristotle’s “Book 1 of Politics” and paterfamiliasAristotle’s “Book 1 of Politics” and paterfamilias

http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/2007/07/household-the-h.htmlkruse_kronicle/2007/07/household-the-h.html

Doug Phillips as Doug Phillips as PrototypePrototype

Attorney formerly with HSDLAAttorney formerly with HSDLA

Founded Vision Forum (1998)Founded Vision Forum (1998)

Boerne Christian AssemblyBoerne Christian Assembly Developed from homegroup ministryDeveloped from homegroup ministry

Vision Forum MinistriesVision Forum Ministries– National Center for National Center for

Family Integrated ChurchesFamily Integrated ChurchesScott BrownScott Brown

NCFIC DirectorNCFIC Director

““Tenets of Biblical Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy”Patriarchy” 2003 Revision2003 Revision

– Inflammatory and Quickly RevisedInflammatory and Quickly Revised

Declared SinsDeclared Sins Homeschooling alternativesHomeschooling alternatives

Non-normative roles for womenNon-normative roles for women

– Education outside the home settingEducation outside the home setting

– Working outside the home settingWorking outside the home setting

““Tenets of Biblical Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy”Patriarchy”

Spheres of DominionSpheres of Dominion

– Only men in public squareOnly men in public square

– *Women are not permitted to vote *Women are not permitted to vote *(additional literature)*(additional literature)

– Women serve in the home settingWomen serve in the home setting May serve patriarch outside home at his May serve patriarch outside home at his

businessbusiness

““Tenets of Biblical Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy”Patriarchy”

Education of ChildrenEducation of Children

– Homeschooling with Christian curriculumHomeschooling with Christian curriculum private school “discouraged”private school “discouraged”

– No women to be trained outside the homeNo women to be trained outside the home

In many homes, resources are not made In many homes, resources are not made equally available to girlsequally available to girls

California Law Review California Law Review (Yuracko NWU)(Yuracko NWU)– Violation of the federal Equal Protection Violation of the federal Equal Protection

Clause ?Clause ?

““Tenets of Biblical Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy”Patriarchy”

and other VF affiliated documentationand other VF affiliated documentation

Father and Younger ChildrenFather and Younger Children

– SonsSons Spread the fame & glory of their father (Brown)Spread the fame & glory of their father (Brown)

– DaughtersDaughters (Vision Forum, James McDonald, Botkin)(Vision Forum, James McDonald, Botkin)

Hearts kept by fathersHearts kept by fathers

Helpmeet of the father Helpmeet of the father (some equivocation on (some equivocation on term)term)

““Tenets of Biblical Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy”Patriarchy”

Father and His Adult Father and His Adult ChildrenChildren

– Courtship model Courtship model (Gothard, Lindvall) (Gothard, Lindvall)

– Married couples required to submit to Married couples required to submit to parental counsel and approvalparental counsel and approval

““multi-generational faithfulness”multi-generational faithfulness”

(Veinot’s (Veinot’s “Uncle Ned” vs. “leave and “Uncle Ned” vs. “leave and cleave”cleave” ) )

““Biblical Confession Biblical Confession for Uniting Church and for Uniting Church and Family”Family” Sphere of the ChurchSphere of the Church

– Plurality of Elders Plurality of Elders ? supports lack of accountability ?? supports lack of accountability ?

– Adoption of “non-normative” familiesAdoption of “non-normative” families e.g. Euchariste.g. Eucharist

– Separate activities Separate activities vilifiedvilified e.g. Sunday School, youth groupse.g. Sunday School, youth groups

““Biblical Confession Biblical Confession for Uniting Church and for Uniting Church and Family”Family” Father as patriarchFather as patriarch

– Negative view of church leadershipNegative view of church leadership

– Intervention from outside the family Intervention from outside the family vilifiedvilified

– ““Heart-level relationships” with fatherHeart-level relationships” with father

Home and Cell Group trendHome and Cell Group trend

Implications of Implications of PatriarchyPatriarchy

Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International 2006 ResolutionInternational 2006 Resolution

– FIC is Errant and schismaticFIC is Errant and schismatic Encouraging change of theology and Encouraging change of theology and

philosophy of the churches philosophy of the churches Does violenceDoes violence to local church authority to local church authority OT patriarchy as opposed to NT ecclesiologyOT patriarchy as opposed to NT ecclesiology False claim that destruction of the family is False claim that destruction of the family is

due to age appropriate education in churchesdue to age appropriate education in churches Prefers post-millenial theologyPrefers post-millenial theology Oddly inclusive based on unique ideologyOddly inclusive based on unique ideology

Implications of Implications of PatriarchyPatriarchy

SPIRITUAL ABUSESPIRITUAL ABUSE ““Heart levelHeart level” relationships or ” relationships or SHAME-BASEDSHAME-BASED relationships? relationships?

““Families Where Grace is in Families Where Grace is in PlacePlace” ”

(Jeff Van Vonderan)(Jeff Van Vonderan)C C CControlontrolU U UUnforgivenessnforgivenessR R RReactivityeactivityS S SShaminghamingE E EEgo-centeredgo-centered

Implications of PatriarchyImplications of Patriarchy SPIRITUAL ABUSESPIRITUAL ABUSE

Lifton’s Thought Reform CriteriaLifton’s Thought Reform Criteria– Loading the Language Loading the Language (& postmodern advertising approach)(& postmodern advertising approach)

– Demand for Purity / Dispensing of ExistenceDemand for Purity / Dispensing of Existence– Sacred Science / Doctrine over PersonSacred Science / Doctrine over Person– Milieu Control (neo-tribal fear of culture)Milieu Control (neo-tribal fear of culture)

Objectification of Women & ChildrenObjectification of Women & Children– Inappropriate use of family members to meet Inappropriate use of family members to meet

emotional and religious needs emotional and religious needs (gender-related and emotional(gender-related and emotional non-sexual “incest” per Mellody non-sexual “incest” per Mellody

))

CourtshipCourtship (Robin Phillips’ counter argument)(Robin Phillips’ counter argument)

PTSD: Lost ability to PTSD: Lost ability to differentiate between praise differentiate between praise

and shame/threatand shame/threat

Bessel Van Der KolkBessel Van Der Kolk (SPECT and f MRI)(SPECT and f MRI)

Part of the brain that identifies positive Part of the brain that identifies positive messages of “self” does not activatemessages of “self” does not activate

**Positive messages Positive messages are interpreted as threat and shameare interpreted as threat and shame**

– Posterior Cingulate CortexPosterior Cingulate Cortex does not perfuse does not perfuse

(Broadman’s Area 23)(Broadman’s Area 23)– Prefrontal Cortex Trauma ResponsePrefrontal Cortex Trauma Response (suppression of critical thought)(suppression of critical thought)– Activation of the AmygdalaActivation of the Amygdala (anxiety/fear) (anxiety/fear)

PTSD: PTSD: Lost ability to Lost ability to differentiate between praise differentiate between praise

and shame/threatand shame/threat NormalNormal brain listening to brain listening to positive self-oriented messagespositive self-oriented messages

PTSDPTSD brain listening brain listening to positive self-to positive self-messagesmessages– No association No association

with selfwith self““Yes, that’s me”Yes, that’s me”(never engages)(never engages)

– Suppressed Suppressed critical thoughtcritical thought

– Anxiety center Anxiety center activationactivation

PTSD: Praise = ThreatPTSD: Praise = Threat Normal brain Normal brain (response during (response during

praise)praise)

PTSD: Praise = ThreatPTSD: Praise = Threat PTSD brainPTSD brain: :

(during praise, praise does not apply to self) (during praise, praise does not apply to self)

Implications of Implications of PatriarchyPatriarchy

SPIRITUAL ABUSESPIRITUAL ABUSE

Church divisions and splitsChurch divisions and splits

Terrorizes criticsTerrorizes critics

Do as I say… Do as I say… Ethical issuesEthical issues

concerning leadership,concerning leadership,

too numerous to mentiontoo numerous to mention