I will be blunt. The Danvers Statement composed by the Council on Biblical Manhood and womanhood (CBMW), and the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 are modern day tools equivalent to those used by the religious men during the Inquisition in which women were accused of being witches, heretics, and were burned at the stake.

We see how this is played out on the national level. Ralph Drollinger and his Capitol Ministries Bible Study “How to resist the schemes of the devil” is bolstered in his belief that the Devil is out to destroy civilization through your working wife by Dr. Wayne Grudem, the architect of the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that was introduced to the world of Christianity in 1987. It was accepted by all Southern Baptist seminaries, both Baptist and non-denominational churches, and other faith based entities. It is the defining statement of faith by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW).

A quick look at the website of the Bible Study shows us what Grudem thinks of this Bible Study by Ralph Drollinger: “I am happy to support the excellent work of Ralph and Danielle Drollinger and Capitol Ministries.” Well, I guess he would be glad, since it reflects what is listed on the CBMW website.

The Danvers Statement that was composed by Wayne Grudem and Baptist preachers has 10 Concerns and 10 Affirmations, all directly related to how they believe women’s desire for equality puts an unholy influence on the home, marriage, Christianity and society. Number 2 of their Concerns is:

#2. The tragic effects of this confusion in unraveling the fabric of marriage woven by God out of the beautiful and diverse strands of manhood and womanhood.

Baptists, in the same way as Drollinger does, teach that women are consorting with the Devil when they do not submit to their husbands (step out of their complementary role). For over 300 years, thousands of women died when they were accused of being witches (consorting with the Devil), and today, thousands of women suffer by that same accusation by Christian leaders, under the guise of complementarianism.

Southern Baptist pastors teach that weakness and susceptibility of women allows the Devil to influence them. A pastor of a Southern Baptist church in Texas confirms this: “The many roles of the woman, including wife and mother, can be very taxing. This is why Satan focuses his attack on the family and more importantly on the wife and mother. He knows that by destroying the family unit, he destroys part of God’s plan for man.” (Robert Crowder, The Pearl of the Epistles-Ephesians, Part 1, God’s Design for Marriage.)

Women consorting with the Devil was a strong belief in the Middle Ages, and is still a factor according to the pastor, and the statement by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and by Ralph Drollinger in his Bible Study.

If a woman becomes too strong, usurping the authority of the husband, she is guilty of inviting the Devil into the home. Baptists and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood believe that when wives submit themselves to their husbands, this enables families to withstand the Devil’s temptations and the onslaughts of the world.

The CBMW brings the Devil right inside your homes

Just as Drollinger repeats, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s website, cbmw.org, brings the Devil right inside your home by their Mission and Values.

Heavily influenced by, and comprised of Southern Baptist leaders, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood equates women to witches (listens to the Devil) on their website under Missions and Vision #2.

“If families do not structure their homes properly, in disobedience to the teachings of Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3, and Colossians 3, (submissive wives) then they will not have the proper foundation from which to withstand the temptations of the Devil and the various onslaughts of the world. This hinders the sanctification of married couples and also introduces confusion about basic parenting issues such as raising masculine sons and feminine daughters.” (CBMW.org)

Shockingly, this is the same language found in the Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch Hunter’s Bible). Wikipedia quotes Michael Bailey (Battling Demons, 2003, University Press):

“The text argues that women are more susceptible to demonic temptations through the manifold weaknesses of their gender. It was believed that they were weaker in faith and more carnal than men. Michael Bailey claims that most of the women accused as witches had strong personalities and were known to defy convention by overstepping the lines of proper female decorum.” (Such as ‘feminine daughters’ from CBMW referenced above.)

Women are often blamed for listening to the Devil

Wayne Grudem said this regarding women’s submissive role: “I still believe it will happen. Jesus Christ is building and purifying his church that he might present it to himself without spot or wrinkle. But on this issue Christ’s purification process is taking much longer than I expected.”

Grudem is specifically calling for the purification of the church by eliminating women leaders. Burning at the stake is illegal, but destroying women is still the goal, just as it was during the Inquisition, claiming that it is Jesus’ desire. I wonder how those priests who burned women could sleep at night. I wonder how they can sleep at night with the same desire.

Some religious leaders thought they were right, some knew they were wrong, but all thought it was for the good of the Roman Catholic Church. Just as some Christians today think that Christian Nationalism is good for United States of America, no matter how it affects women.

Books by Shirley Taylor
The Biblical Marriage Myth: The Devil Comes Calling
The Power of a Book: The Street Evangelist
From Wife to Widow: What I know Now
Beyond the Grave: A Christian Dilemma
Raising the Hood: A Christian Look at Manhood and Womanhood
Women Equal – No Buts: Powered by the same Source
Dethroning Male Headship: 2nd Edition