Serious students of Scripture, and of the history of Western civilization, know that the biblical position on male and female relations in society, and the position which is the most God honoring, which produces the most stable societies, and the most successful families, is patriarchy.
Patriarchy has been the norm in Christendom for nearly 2,000 times. It was only recently, in the 1920s, that it was challenged and eventually started to wane, with the rise of feminism. The success of feminist thought has been devastating on society and the family.
In recent decades, some notable Christians have been pushing a position on male and female relations called complementarianism. It is a novel and new position which is not rooted in Scripture. John Piper and Wayne Grudem have been pushing it hard. Complementarianism was created to be a compromise position or in-between position between patriarchy and egalitarianism. It is a mushy feel good position and a gateway to feminism.
Scripture is clear that men are to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. And women are to joyfully submit to their husbands.
The husband, in patriarchy, has the higher level of authority. He is responsible for the welfare of his wife and children. The wife should homeschool her children, and instruct them to be modest, to learn how to sew and cook, how to keep a house clean, and the father should lead home worship and bible study.
With the rise of feminism in the past 50 to 60 years, it has challenged patriarchy and has let loose a complete repudiation of patriarchal values. The so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s opened the flood gates of sexual immorality and the total destruction of the family. It also saw the ascendancy of the homosexual movement, which has now become normalized and is found across society.
Complementarianism developed as a via media, a middle way, that was not rooted in patriarchy, which some Christians viewed as too restrictive, unfair, and in general not in line with feminist principles. It viewed patriarchy as too extreme. And yet it liked some aspects of egalitarianism, but that also was viewed as too extreme.
So we have some major Christian authors/pastors/theologians pushing complementarianism as the most biblical position.
This is absolutely false. Patriarchy alone is the most biblical position. In my experience many who start in complementarianism eventually adopt egalitarianism.
I’ve seen the complementarian husbands, and for the most part they are milquetoast and deferential to their wives. Their wives have, in fact, the majority of authority. And it is the wife who is head of the house, not her husband. \
This is disastrous! Children raised in complementarian homes have a high likelihood of becoming feminists once they are adults. And statistics show that complementarian couples divorce at significantly higher rates than patriarchy couples.
The choice is clear, patriarchy is the biblical position. We must teach our children and grandchildren, and model it in our behavior.
Zach Uram's Blog 