It was year ago that I had written about the Freedom for Christian Women Coalition.
With the ‘political’ atmosphere within the church about gender at this point? I was expecting pretty much silent from the Top Dogs, but I also realized that would encourage their mouth pieces to speak instead. Silent on that was also very telling.
To me it is a very sad sign about how ‘leadership’ skills are viewed today. I assumed they would be blown off as unbelievers, feminists, rebellious – you know the labels. What happens to people when they get labeled by the an organization – even without knowing what they are about? They don’t have to acknowledge you. Nice for them huh? Still waiting for those leadership skills to to appear though.
They have tendency when something is mentioned in a negative light about their approaches? It isn’t repented of, but silently disappears.
For example, it was less than year ago that I found out that a video I had uploaded to youtube with John Piper clearly showing his ignorance towards the abuse issue? His transcript and video vanished from the website. It was as if it never happened.
I believe my video upload is the only thing that remains – besides transcripts. I have it burnt on a DVD as well just in case, because their site clearly states you are allowed to use their work. Yep. Documented that as well.
Another tendency I find is what I call the Southern Belle Approach. They play ignorant to the issues around them on purpose, and play the ‘I don’t understand’ approach when confronted. You see a proper Southern Belle if they don’t like something or someone? They don’t say anything in order to be polite, or just play ignorant. When placed against the wall? They whip out the name calling, divert off the subject, and blow people off as ‘so confused’. In the past it was Yanks, Scoundrel, etc.
Just like the Southern Belle? We know the group isn’t confused, but it goes against the group think to admit it. If they or their mouth pieces can throw out enough labels that are packed to ignite? It helps to shut the discussion so they don’t have to deal with it at all. The points, organization, or issues brought up? They are ignored, and those that brought them to light are encouraged to hush or they are also looked upon as enemies. Ie: labels they use.
Personally? I find it very cowardly approach. Its very secular, worldly, fleshy, and unbiblical – take your pick of additional labels they use regularly.
Recently at the SBC convention Frank Page stated:
It is time to come together, he said. "It is time for Baptists to be known for what we are for and not for what we are against." Unified ministry, he said, is one aspect for which he wants Southern Baptists to be known.”Nice dream, but you have to do something to make that happen, acknowledge where you lost your way. There is way to much fear and pride to do that, and those are nice words – but meaningless unless they step up.
Then you have Al Mohler who is either playing the Southern Belle, or has what is called a convenient memory. The Associated Baptist Press ran a story about Mohler’s embarrassment of youth when it was pointed out that he didn’t believe as those within the leadership of his group did on women in the church.
"With the insouciance of youth and with the stupidity of speaking more quickly than one ought, I gave him my position," Mohler recalled. "He looked at me with a look that surprised me, and he simply said to me, 'One day this will be a matter of great embarrassment to you.'"Most good teachers if they see that there seems to be a misunderstanding (difference of opinion, doctrine, etc), and the teacher was once in their shoes? They will acknowledge it, and then show what changed their opinion. Today things have changed, and you either pretend you didn’t hear it – or as Mohler did on his twitter claim regarding his ‘old belief’ system others still feel is valid are ‘confused and not quite together'.
Mohler said that for him, the embarrassment was immediate.
"I went to the library. I looked for every book that I could possibly find on the subject," he said. "Frankly, the urgency on me was such that I didn't think I could eat or do anything until I found out why I was going to be so embarrassed. The campus was full of people who appeared to be wonderfully unembarrassed about the whole issue."
Mohler said he didn't find much, but there was a book by Stephen Clark titled Man and Woman in Christ that "led me, thankfully, into some Scripture study."
"I ended up staying up until I could figure this out," he said. "Somewhere between Carl Henry saying what he said to me and the dawn of the next day, my position had completely changed."
It also seems that Al Mohler and the CBMW didn’t read the confusing document, because it didn’t come from an Egalitarian group. Could be his dementia like memory again.
A decent person would acknowledge the letter, and it would show leadership skills even if there is a disagreement. Tweeting instead? It shows immaturity instead. Seriously. Children do that kind of stuff.
Do they train people at seminary on how to divert in order to show followers they are wrong, and make it sound like you aren’t doing something deceptive, deceitful, etc?
What happened to all this ‘trust’ that organizations realize has been broken, but say they want to change that…yet you have leaders that play these games.
I believe this was the only response out of all the organizations that were contacted. A tweet to ridicule. Nice.
This response and the attitude is rude and very disrespectful. It’s a prime example of what people within the church speak about when they feel stone walled or ignored.
It’s the same attitude no matter what the subject is, and honestly doesn’t even have to do with the Freedom for Christian Women Coalition.
It’s a pattern when they don’t like something. Strange how a church leader feels its acceptable behavior to openly mock others isn’t it? As others would say, “Scripture Please!”
Some have learned accepted principals of human dignity, and others still refuse to accept or acknowledge them. They tend to get legalistic, or come up with exceptions to the rule. If you read a newspaper about a church scandal? You see the church speak parroted as they were taught.
For years individuals and groups have tried the soft approach – you get more flies with honey than vinegar type of the thing. Extremism and stereotypes was the response. Equality has always meant the same thing in history. It’s a principal most understand.
Some individuals now show responses that ignore the meaning in the past. Let’s try to apply the approach to other circumstances in history that asked for a sense of equality! Lets see if their approach works shall we? I mean most look at the term ‘equality’, and understand the universal meaning. Does their approach show this?
- Did the African Americans get ‘skin confused’ and want sameness?
- What about the American Indian? While they were being unfairly persecuted at the beginning of American History their rights were a dirty word. We realize now the error, and we know why. I mean were they just looking to usurp the white man?
Doesn’t seem to apply does it? Why does it make sense towards others? WELL it doesn’t there either. They just pretend it does.
Sadly certain groups of people are just trying to confuse its meaning. It has always meant the thing same, and today’s rhetoric that is based in fear doesn’t change the meaning no matter how hard they try to show you differently.
These concepts aren’t as complicated as some may wish you to think. They are about principals of dignity and respect as a fellow human. Nothing has changed from that definition, and yet you have groups that write articles, books, seminars, sermons, etc all trying to redefine the concept to create fear.
Sadly, the more they talk the more they sound like this is about competition compared to being ‘complementary’ in nature. The radicals they speak of from the pulpit aren’t in their churches. Its strange how they claim they run into them all the time. The attempt to talk about issues of dignity shouldn’t be approached as if you are opening Pandora's box. The statements of how if we accept women in a certain fashion – what’s next homosexuals? Its degrading and please don’t whine when you are called a bigot. It is what it is.
I pray that by the time my grandchildren come into this world? History will play the role it always has when it comes to this kind of thing. They will look like fools for the attitudes and their propaganda. Yes, the children will be able to acknowledge the radicals did exist but they were far from the majority within the church. They will scratch their heads, because who knows what they meant by ‘seeing it all the time’. They will also see the games they played to make others see things the way they want them to. That is how propaganda works. The fact they state they are speaking from Christian point of view? Where is the truth they will ask!
Will they acknowledge the ridicule they dish out? I doubt it. If they do people will ask for more. It might be sexual abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, child abuse, spiritual abuse! They would have to acknowledge the stone walling and deceit that was present as well. Their careers maybe in jeopardy, because asking for that much repentance is TOO much to ask. How dare the helpmeet require so much from them!
The disrespect towards one gender is acceptable, but darn it all don’t you dare emasculate the other!
Join me in breaking the silence, and stopping the lies and spiritual pixie dust! If they are ignored they would call it what it is. Disrespect. Why is it any different for anyone else?
It's First Anniversary of the Freedom For Christian Women's Demand for an Apology from CBMW Make sure you go and click on the tweet in question on her site!
A Year Ago This Coming Sunday...
Discussion about Apology Demand – Part 1
FIVE SMOOTH STONES
When biblical means Shut up
If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you subscribe to my regular Email Updates.
Subscribe Now!Thanks For Making This Possible! Kindly Bookmark and Share it:
0 comments:
Post a Comment