Complementarian Confusion and Contradiction
Complementarians make extravagant promises of Divine protection, … if wives will only place themselves in subjection to husbands. They also promise disaster if wives refuse to submit to husbands.
Complementarian promise: “We need to understand what the Bible means by subjection…Then God will keep the rains from leaking into our homes!”
Wow. All wives need to do is place themselves under subjection to husbands, and all will be well. Great. Who needs anything else? The act of subjection to husbands becomes God. Husbands themselves become God. Complementarianism is idolatry.
Complementarian Advice: “…your husband is not God…but if he asks you to do something, you should answer him the same way you would answer God.”
What?!?
The above image is called “Bible Roofs,” and is supposed to portray the protection given to homes where wives are properly in subjection to husbands. The quotes (above) are from an ultra-patriarchal complementarian website that claims it is the wife who actually holds the power, … to submit.
They way they tell it, is that it is the wife who must place her husband in the position of leadership over her:
Complementarian Quote: “The wife must subject herself to her husband by placing him in the position of leadership”
What power is ascribed to mere women! What happened to the promotion men allegedly got in Genesis 3:16, where rumor has it that God gave men authority to “rule over” their wives?
The word translated as “rule over” [in Genesis 3:16] is more accurately translated as “dominate.” But the editors of the website in question, say that authority was actually given to women [as to whether they will allow themselves to be dominated or not]. I hate to break it to you, folks, but dominators don’t work that way.
Power over women was never given to men in Genesis 3:16. A sinful inclination, in men, to dominate women was prophesied by the Creator himself in Genesis 3:16. Male domination and dismissal of the autonomy of thought and action in females, is the tragic effect and consequence of sin. Genesis 3:16 was a prophecy and not a prescription.
That verse is description—not prescription.
The Bible is full of description that, to the misery of the ages, men and women who are under the influence of The Fall, love to interpret as prescription.
Regardless, the editors of said website claim it is in the wives’ power as to whether or not their homes are covered [protected] with a so-called “Bible Roof.” And if the wife chooses not to use her power to promote her husband into the position of her lord and master, then it will be her fault if her family’s roof (Divine covering) fails.
Yes. I said her lord and master. Remember: “…your husband is not God…but if he asks you to do something, you should answer him the same way you would answer God.” According to this complementarian advice, what else could he be but God to his wife?
Complementarianism teaches wives to practice husbandolatry, which is synonymous with idolatry.
The complementarian cult is a mass of confused contradictions, but, like all cults, they are also masters of manipulation, laying 100% of responsibility for the failure, success, or destruction or safety of families placed squarely on the heads of un-submissive wives.
This so-called “Bible Roof,” as some call it, is a patriarchal masterstroke of demonic genius, as it also transforms rebellious wives into scapegoats if their families suffer for any reason.
If Divine protection fails, it must be her fault for not placing her husband in the position of governance over her. The late Charles Stanley taught the same thing. I wrote about it in my book.
Complementarians claim to be unique in their model of male governance. They audaciously claim to be different from “the world.” How can they say that when their paradigm is identical to virtually every culture and religion?
They claim their male governance doctrine is of Divine origin, and that they want to live biblically. But it is not, and they do not. Traditional role religion and complementarianism is nothing more than a fulfilment of a prophecy [meant as a warning to avoid] that God gave in Genesis 3:16.
Patriarchal complementarianism is all about control. Full stop. Period.
Complementarianism is idolatry. Men want to be as gods, and women want to worship them. Complementarianism is sin. And the answer to complementarianism is repentance. Husbands, give up the control. Become as little children. Trust God. Wives, stop worshipping husbands. Be of good courage. Follow God.
Jocelyn Andersen writes and speaks on a variety of topics including Bible Prophecy, God and Women, and Christian response to domestic violence. Her work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television.
Note from the editor: I read my Bible every day, always picking up today where I left off yesterday. I call this my “on track” Bible reading. I have been doing this for over 45 years. It was the best advice I was ever given, and it changed my life. If you are not presently doing the same, I invite you to join me. How much you read on a daily basis is up to you. What matters is that you read, feeding your spirit with a prayerful dose of the living and powerful Word of God.
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