Patriarchs or Patri-tyrants ?
Patriarchs or Patri-tyrants ?
I am -- philosophy & in practice -- firmly in the much derided "Patriarchy" camp. We have believed, taught, and lived this way for over 15 years.
However, I think that often many men who hold to this same worldview & espose its principles bring shame on the movement -- and upon Christ -- by the way they put this into practice. ( I am sure I have been guilty of the same, but I have tried to both guard against this and repent when I realised I was slipping).
In dealing with children and even sometimes wives, Christian men --who would never buy into feministic or worldly philosophies -- are guilty of being guided & shaped by our godless culture by overreacting and acting as anti-feminist husbands and fathers rather than Biblical, Christ-honouring servant-leaders.
We are not to be wimps or pushovers or form our opinions on pseodo-Christian psyco-babble drivel. However, the answer is not to brow-beat our wives or children. It is not to rule with a iron rod. It is not to weary our children with tedious rules and unrealistic demands. Nor are we to humiliate & belittle our wives .
To do so is to invite the wrath of God, the resentment of our families, rank rebellion, driving our children away and earning the "see-I-told-you-so" ridcule of those who are skeptical of the Patriarchy movement.
Rather, we are to place our wives on a pedistal and win their joyful submission and respect with our love and self-denial.
Often men resent their wives refusal to follow when the real problem is failing to lead; but on the other hand, we are not called to lead them in a patronizing, smug manner. We are not called to rule them as we would a dog. We are to treasure them and love them as Christ loved the church. I have seen men tell their wives to do things in front of people just to prove a point.
[i]THIS IS NOT CHRIST-LIKE LOVE OR SERVANT LEADERSHIP.[/i]
Likewise, our children can be driven away from us and into rebellion if we misuse the authority we have over them. We want their hearts. We do not want them to be robots or trained bears to show off with.
To do so is to invite them to either run into the arms of the world or become little Pharisees who do not love Christ and will not build His Kingdom.
May He have mercy !
Leslie
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