I am aware that those of us who try to discuss the word, and what God commands, cause controversy. Dalrock has recently commented on a dual standard by some women — they demand evidence when challenged, but their very statements cannot be challenged. In the same way, Elspeth and Alte have been dealing with this. Joycalyn, one of her commentators, noted.
My friend posted this article on her FB page and asked for comments. The ladies were all over it with charges of “judgmental,” “my daughter can do anything she wants – this is just a weird Catholic dude with 5 kids being perverted,” “this is just a man trying to keep women down,” “I found this article completely offensive and misogynist,” and more such foolishness. When I pointed out that wanting things to be a certain way doesn’t make them that way and that refusing to acknowledge the reality of male/female sexual natures the next comment was “I don’t deny we have certain natures, the question is what should we do with those natures?” This was from the woman who found the article to be misogynist. Sigh. These are Christian women. Discouraging, to say the least.
Well. Patriactionarchy labeled these people correctly. As Christian Ferals.
John has some words about this.
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; 6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; 7 for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.
9 I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.
Gauius is a faithful man. He does good. He refrains from evil, he is hospitable to the workers of the church, and he respects the authority of the apostle. Demetrius does not respect authority, does not practice hospitality and does no good. Within the church, we argue, but we respect authority. Within scripture. Within the church (see below). And those who teach that we can be solo, wild, or feral Christians forget Donne’s comment that none of us are self sufficient, none is an island.
[I am fully aware that some will take this as an argument for apostolic succession, which it could be. But I am reformed, and there are no bishops, but an elder and consistory (or session). At this point it does not matter. I have a duty to pray for these people, and to respect their leadership. I also have a duty to listen carefully to their teaching, and correct if there is error... but within the church.]
We are not taught to be feral, to do what is wrong. We are told to meet, to respect authority: to be civilised, not feral. For the poison of the left leads us to some pagan form of women’s spirituality, whilt the poison of the right leads to worship of the pagan volk. We have to return to the teachings of old. There is nothing new. If we were told not to rebel during the time of the Roman Imperium (which was by no means good, noble, kind or holy) then we must remain subjects and citizens now. And part of this is submission to authority, not claiming our own.