The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s signature document The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s Affirmation #4 (paraphrased, of course. Read the actual #4 at http://www.cbmw.org).
#4. They say that The Fall messed things up between men and women. As a result, now the husband’s humble headship leads to wanting to dominating women. Wifey’s willing submission results in her trying to wrest the authority from Hubby, or she may become a sullen servant. Oh, and lets not forget – Wifey may get tired of bringing casseroles and cleaning the kitchen at church and she might want to be IN LEADERSHIP.
My Response. They indicate men are wimps and blame it on the Fall. That is school-yard bullying. And they hope no one will notice that they are the ones who give men all the power, thus feeding men’s inclination to rule over women, even though it is common knowledge that power corrupts. They say that the relationship between men and women in the church is distorted because sin makes men love power or neglect their spiritual responsibility, and causes women to resist the limits man has placed upon them.
Neither before nor after the Fall, did Adam show any spiritual responsibility! He didn’t have to because he was not given any spiritual responsibility over Eve. Go back and read the scriptures. Adam and Eve were to subdue the animals together. Adam was not instructed to subdue his wife, nor was Eve instructed to follow his lead.
They could not find a scripture that backed up what they teach, but they used those scriptures anyway thinking no one would notice.
God said “Adam, where are you?” Silence from Adam as he and Eve hunker down beneath a fig tree. Finally, Adam says, “I heard you but I was afraid and I was naked. The woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Try to find where Adam, from the time he was formed, demonstrated any spiritual responsibility. Eve did, though. She admitted to God, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” Repentance. She did not blame Adam for not showing spiritual responsibility. She did not say that his loving, humble headship did not rise to the occasion.
Because Eve was a strong woman, one who shouldered the responsibility and repented of the sin, the church has used this against her ever since. Eve took charge. That is the distortion they are talking about. Men are to model themselves after Adam who ratted out his wife, hid with her, and acted like she was something that God had foisted upon him.
They want us to believe that Eve’s sin inclines women to resist being limited in their “roles.” They are worried that women might want to use their spiritual gifts of leadership in preaching and pastoring. Their attitude diminishes both men and women. This teaching diminishes men by not holding them accountable for their actions (like Adam’s), and diminishes women by telling them that they cannot stand up and give spiritual leadership (like Eve did).
Next Blog: Affirmation #5. Adam was created first, and that is the only thing he had going for him
Shirley Taylor Books (available on Amazon in print and on Kindle)
The Biblical Marriage Myth: The Devil Comes Calling
The Power of a Book: The Street Evangelist
Raising the Hood: A Christian Look at Manhood and Womanhood
Women Equal – No Buts: Powered by the Same Source
Dethroning Male Headship: 2nd Edition
From Wife to Widow: What I Know Now
