I did something that I shouldn't have done. I searched "women" on a complementarian blog. I seemed fairly innocuous, most of the stuff you've heard before. But this one really cracked me up.
Here's a link to the original post Genesis 3: Curses, Consequences and Covering and the excerpt
She was also told that her husband would rule over her. The headship of the man existed before the fall, so this ruling over her is not evil in and of itself, but Eve did assert herself by taking the fruit while Adam looked on. The seed was planted for women to feel under appreciated and they would at times be rebellious to their husbands, but the men would ultimately rule over them, as God’s definition of the family can not be usurped by any act of man.
On that last phrase "God's definition of the family cannot be usurped by any act of man."
Exactly. God doesn't redefine sin because humans think that adultery is fine. However, humans go right on committing adultery. It is utterly silly to suggest that men continued to rule over their wives because if they didn't, it would mean that God's definition of the family would be redefined. If, as I anticipate, homosexuals are allowed to marry, does this redefine GOD'S definition of marriage! Of course not, that is simply illogical. Women disobeying God's supposed decree that husbands rule over their wives wouldn't redefine God's definition of marrige, anymore than homosexual marriage would.
People misuse language, but doesn't change the language. Despite humankind's redefinitions of all of God's laws and decrees, they still stand. People simply disobey them.
OK, so let's check out what Genesis says here, and I'm using the ESV, no stealthy TNIV here.
Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be for[e] your husband, and he shall rule over you."
Sounds fairly simple. However, for fun, let's make a version that makes it easier to swallow this complementarian's interpretation.
NEW COMPLEMENTARIAN VERSION! Genesis 3: 16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be for[e] your husband, and he shall rule over you and even though him ruling you isn't really evil or part of the curse, you will feel under appreciated, and you'll try to rebel against him, but he'll manage to keep you in line anyway.
Genesis seemed pretty simple.
Oh, and I love "Eve did assert herself." Oh my goodness. Even though God actually told them not to eat the fruit, the really tear-jerker for a complementarian is the idea that Eve "asserted" herself. The problem isn't that she disobeyed his husband. She disobeyed God. The problem is not that Adam obeyed his wife----the problem is that in obeying his wife, he disobeyed God.
Overall, this is an even worse argument than the "he ruled her before the fall, but now husbands would be mean rulers" one.
Sigh. I really shouldn't have. It's a guilty pleasure. And it's a pain. I should give myself a rest sometimes.
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1 comment:
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!
People forget that before Eve ate the forbidden bar of chocolate (Which is a fruit!), THERE WAS NO SIN! She wasn't rebelliously sinning if she ate the fruit while Adam was ‘looking on‘, or even if he wasn't because she went off on her own for a walk. (Which also wasn't wrong since there was still no sin).
This idea of men dominating women has consumed people's minds that they can't stop to consider that women are only subject to men in their own families- I.E. to their spouse when they’re married or their father/brother whoever is supporting them when they’re unable to support themselves independently.
But bless (some of) these people's hearts, I think they truly believe this and have every good intention in interpreting the Bible correctly without a chauvinist attitude. It's just sad that they can't see the forest through the chocolate- Er...
It's a very nice post. I really enjoyed reading it. Glad you addressed that. :-)
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