To be honest while a case for complementarianism seems strong in the Bible, I'm very skeptical of implementing it. Time and time again you hear about the spousal abuse going on in churches that really harp that kind of thing. Where wives who've been verbally or physically abused have been told to endure it, and simply pray for their husband. Its usually always, universally, with only few exceptions, in the abusers favour. They're given every chance to repent, and basically never receives real discipline from the Church.
In some cases this kind of hushing down of the abuse is technically illegal.
John Piper, who in other respects is a very good baptist teacher, had to finally after years of problems issue some clarifications... for instance that its not sinful or unbiblical for a wife to go to the authorities if her husband abuses her.
So while complementarianism is probably true in a technical sense. I'm really hesitant to see it layed out in explicit instructions the way that I see it done in many baptist churches.
My mothers own memory of it was of a neighbour whom everyone knew was violent and abusive to his wife. But he was also the member of the parish who donated the most. A big wad of bills every sunday. An elder of the parish. No one ever said boo to him about the abuse.
Cases like that... It just makes me hesitate about it a lot. If implemented I think it should be highly individual.
We should practice egalitarianism, or close to it, in practice, and encourage complementarianism individually.
In some cases this kind of hushing down of the abuse is technically illegal.
John Piper, who in other respects is a very good baptist teacher, had to finally after years of problems issue some clarifications... for instance that its not sinful or unbiblical for a wife to go to the authorities if her husband abuses her.
So while complementarianism is probably true in a technical sense. I'm really hesitant to see it layed out in explicit instructions the way that I see it done in many baptist churches.
My mothers own memory of it was of a neighbour whom everyone knew was violent and abusive to his wife. But he was also the member of the parish who donated the most. A big wad of bills every sunday. An elder of the parish. No one ever said boo to him about the abuse.
Cases like that... It just makes me hesitate about it a lot. If implemented I think it should be highly individual.
We should practice egalitarianism, or close to it, in practice, and encourage complementarianism individually.
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