Old Truths for a New Age (7) Rev. Brian Garrard
Latterly minister of Hyde Chapel, Winchester. Now a writer. Continued
from the previous issue. In this installment Mr Garrard looks at
‘Feminism’ as an important feature of the New Age movement.
He shows that this phenomenon, aiming as it does at blurring the
distinctive roles of the sexes, represents a serious challenge to the
proper order of society based upon the Bible. Even within the church
this ungodly thinking is to be found today and we need to be on guard
against it. First published in the Presbyterian Standard, Issue 26, April-June 2002. Topsy-Turvy World The dictionary defines
‘topsy-turvy’ as: “With the top where the bottom
should be, upside down; in(to) utter confusion or disorder.”(1)
This serves as a fair description of modern times, especially when we
give consideration to the role and position of women in the modern
world. One of the central tenets of the New Age movement is that of
Feminism. What is Feminism? 1. On the one hand, it is recognising the
achievements of women and seeking to address their legitimate concerns. 2. Hand in hand with this is the desire for equal rights with men. 3.
However, the movement has moved on a long way since the 60s and 70s.
The more extreme (or perhaps not so extreme?) are desiring liberation
from male, patriarchal dominance and a complete equality of person and
opportunity. 4. This has caused a revolution in the family, with the
complementary roles of father and mother, husband and wife, parents and
children becoming blurred and confused. This so-called sexual
revolution is attempting to bring about a transformation of society. 5.
The results of this revolution are beginning to show themselves, with
confusion and chaos in the minds of young and old. The absurdities of
‘political correctness’ are already in place, with the
possibility of a ‘police state’ lurking in the background.
This will be the only way to enforce these ‘new’ ideas. Factors What has brought about this social phenomenon? It is impossible
to give a full discussion of all the factors here, but we should weigh
up the following: [i] An acceptance of humanistic and secular thinking in
society as a whole. [ii] The rise of the higher critical movement, in which
the authority of God in the Bible has been rejected, plus evolutionary
theory.
[iii] The age of Reason and Enlightenment dating back from the period
of the French Revolution and the Rights of Man in the 18th century. Religious Feminism Secular feminism has its counterpart in the
professing church. There are various strands that demand our attention. Its source is undoubtedly demonic, as a clear study of the movement
will demonstrate to the discerning eye. Liberal theology has been the
channel through which religious feminism has flowed and we are in
danger of seeing it overflow its banks and swamp much of the visible
church. Feminists have adopted the pagan concepts of High Priestesses
and the female goddess. In so doing, they have rejected the God of the
Bible as expressed in male terms. Allied to all this, feminists believe
that a female deity existed before Jehovah God and that this female
goddess is the only one who should be worshipped. Almighty God is but
an invention of the ruling patriarchal society. All this is a complete
reversal of the headship of man. Woman is reckoned to be not merely the
equal of man but his superior. Much of the Bible (and also the ancient
set prayers) are being rewritten along feminist lines. To the lovers of
the Word of God, this is a major and terrible departure from the
eternal verities of the Bible. Indeed, we are left to conclude that
feminism is not just an error or aberration, but heresy. What is our
justification for saying this? In answer: (a) It is an attack upon the
very nature of the Trinity of the Godhead and the individual members of
it. Such a belief is the very basis of the christian faith. To alter
this is to radically change all that we hold dear and has been revealed
in Scripture. (b) The doctrine of the Bible’s finality and
sufficiency is also undermined, as are the very truths of the Gospel of
redemption in and through Christ. Why is the Present Thinking
Unreasonable? The christian who believes in the Bible is swimming very
much against the tide of popular opinion. This is especially true of
feminism. 1. It is against reason and nature. As we have said above,
the origins of the movement are in the fallen mind of man and paganism.
Here we see the “counsel of the ungodly” manifesting
itself. 2. Feminism is an overturning of the natural order. By nature,
man is better suited to lead in home, church and society, both
physically and psychologically. Note the order in Genesis. Woman was
made from man and her role was not be his slave or plaything, but a
helper and assistant in his work and life (see Genesis 2:18). That has
been the divine way. It is not that men are superior beings in every
respect, while women are a useless appendage. Many women are more able
than hosts of men, both in intellect, ability and character. This
however, is not the point. Their lives and talents were meant to be
dedicated towards the role of assisting the man in his God-assigned
work of having dominion over the rest of the created order (see Genesis
1:28). Thus we affirm that the mad rush for women to be fighting in the
armed forces, the police force, judging, preaching, administering the
sacraments, attempting to be the heads of families and grasping at
authority generally, is a “standing in the way of sinners”
and gross folly (see Psalm 1:1). 3. This scriptural view of things is
being met with howls of protest and derision from the world generally.
However, what is more disturbing is the strength of feeling against the
Bible’s teaching that is encountered in the church. Even the
walls of evangelicalism are crumbling before the onslaught of militant
feminism. The old picture of father as the head of the household and
wife as the ‘home-maker’, mother, carer, etc as well as the
assistant to her husband is in danger of being swept away (see Titus
2:4,5). The Wisdom of the Divine Appointment In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we read:
“the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is
the man; and the head of Christ is God.” A divine principle
governs our thinking here. “That principle is, that order and
subordination pervade the whole universe, and is essential to its
being.”(2) Plainly stated: [i] Christ, in respect of his office as
Mediator, is subordinate to God the Father. [ii] The male is subordinate
to Christ. [iii] The woman is to submit to the headship of man upon the
earth. A word of caution is needed however. “The subordination of
the woman to the man is something entirely different from that of the
man to Christ; and that again is at an infinite degree more complete
than the subordination of Christ to God.”(3) The Doctrine of
Man’s Headship in Scripture Man had a priority in creation
(Genesis 2:7). The woman was then made from the man (Genesis 2:21ff).
The headship manifested there was reckoned to be gentle and kindly. At
the fall of man (Genesis 3), Eve was deceived by Satan acting through
the serpent. Consequently, both she and Adam sinned. From then on, this
headship became more definite (see Genesis 3:16). It is a headship that
covers family, church and society. Regrettably, man still in a state of
sin does not always act as he should in respect to the woman. He either
neglects to take the lead and care for the woman, or else treats her
with extreme cruelty and callousness. Objections Objections are
levelled at this Scriptural position on various grounds: 1. All these
concepts were patriarchal. Times have changed and God has revealed new
truths to us now. We answer and say: God’s Word has not changed.
The truths he gave those many years ago are still applicable today.
There is no new revelation. Indeed, this is how all false religions and
cults have started. A claim is made to fresh revelation from God and
then chaos and dreadful error is the result. 2. The gospel has
cancelled the headship of man. We are all now one in Christ. In answer
we would say: Christ’s redemption through his blood has not
cancelled normal experiences. We still are born, live and die. We are
ill and become weak and tired. There is need for proper order and
behaviour. None are free to live as they please. Indeed, the gospel
establishes all this. Note also the following: In 1 Timothy 2:12 we
read that man is to preach and teach and that the woman is not
“to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
The reason is given in verses 13 & 14. Adam had priority in
creation and was not deceived at the fall but the woman was. Such a
prohibition is also seen in 1 Corinthians 14:34. 3. The Apostle Paul is
often regarded as a ‘woman hater’. This is far from the
truth. Could the man who wrote Ephesians 5:22-33 or Philippians 4:3 be
a true woman hater? We think not! 4. Incompetent men require women to
take the lead. We reply: It is a great and terrible shame that many men
fall into this category, but ought a sin be followed by a worse evil?
Women should encourage and help weak men to become the leaders they
were designed to be. 5. What about the women who were prophetesses in
the Bible? Answer: They were raised up to meet the needs of the times.
Men had become corrupted and as Calvin says, the women shamed the men.
Nowhere do we read that they had authority over males. As such, they
were exceptions which did not make the rule. There is enough in
Scripture to see that women are forbidden to be heads over men. These
difficult passages should always be interpreted in the light of clearer
sections and not the other way around. 6. Man’s headship is based
upon a false assumption that God is male. Our reply: We do not believe
that God is male. Neither is he female. When he is spoken of as male in
Scripture, it is but an accommodation to our weak and finite minds. We
are helped to see God in terms of power and strength and therefore,
well able to save and deliver us. At the same time, God also describes
himself here and there in the Bible, as a nursing mother etc. Dangers
and Blessings The dangers of feminism: (1) Chaos and the
disintegration of society. (2) God’s stern disapproval of the
rejection and overturning of the natural and divine order. Blessings: (1) God will bless the nation, society, the church, our homes and
families with good order and peace. (2) Godly women, following the role
that God ordained for them, do far more lasting good than high powered
and motivated women in the workplace or positions of authority. (3) God
grant a return to biblical ways again. Who knows whether this might not
bring about the longed-for revival? (4) What better praise than that of
Proverbs 31:28: “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praiseth her.” (To be continued, D.V.) Notes 1. Oxford Illustrated
Dictionary, 1970 edition. 2. Charles Hodge, Commentary on 1 & 2
Corinthians. See page 206. 3. Ibid. |