The boys over at the “Blog-that-must-not-be-named” have their shorts in a knot again over things I’ve written. Their most recent concern is a small excerpt from The Soul-numbing Dangers of Patriarchy where I write:
I believe patriarchy to be emotionally abusive because it creates an antagonistic relationship between husbands and wives, men and women.
They responded with the following:
“Patriarchy [is] emotionally abusive?” Does she mean the rule of God the Father over all His creation—that Father-Rule? Does she oppose the rule of Adam, our federal head? The rule of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
Since they are obviously reading my blog, I find it doubtful that they missed the places where I answer those very questions:
I absolutely believe that God is our Father and that He rules everything. If that’s all that’s meant by patriarchal, then I can agree. However, God is more than our Father. God is Father, Son, and Spirit. Besides being our Father, He is also our Husband, Redeemer, Creator, Savior, Teacher, Comforter. My concern is that we can limit our understanding of God by seeing Him ONLY as Father.- Is Complementarian Just Another Word for Patriarchy
And again, here:
I hold to the position mentioned above called Complementarianism. I believe that men and women are equal before God and that husbands and wives are made to complement each other. I also believe that men are called to be the spiritual leaders of their families and that women are not called to be officers in the Church. I believe that I am to submit to my husband’s leadership and that my husband is to love me sacrificially like Christ demonstrated by dying for the Church. I also believe that my husband and I are both to submit to the leadership of the elders that God has placed over us. – What’s Wrong with Biblical Patriarchy?
But this is really not about whether or not I’m an “angry feminist” who decries God’s fatherly rule over creation. This is what happens when someone dares to stand up against bullies, especially the patriarchal sort. They deny patriarchy, as practiced by today’s “Biblical Patriarchy” movement, is inherently abusive. But then they treat women who disagree with them in this way.
Of course, it’s worth noting that I’m not the only one to have experienced the impotent rage of the Bayly boys. Anyone who confronts them on anything may expect to receive similar treatment. As another recent target explains:
As you can see the Bayly Boys like to mix it up with others. But they don’t like it much when others mix it up with them.
Check out Bill Smith’s post in the link above. It’s well worth a read. I completely agree with his conclusion, “the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him.”
Maybe it would be worthwhile to consider if our behavior is more in line with this passage:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV) emphasis mine
than with this one:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24 ESV)
If it’s true that you are known by your enemies as much as your friends, then I count it a badge of honor to have been singled out by these guys. They have done nothing more than prove my point on the Gospel denying, soul-numbing dangers of patriarchy.
A Daughter of the Reformation 
Rachel – you said “This is what happens when someone dares to stand up against bullies, especially the patriarchal sort.” That is exactly what the Bayly’s are – bullies. Think about it. If a member of a local church, take mine for example, said these things about another member, we surely would censure the bully and if he does not repent, he would be put out of the church as a divisive man. Such bullies are the kind that Paul warns us about in 2 Cor 11. They are the enemies who came to the churches of Galatia, intent upon re-fitting the yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1) on those whom Christ has set free. You can bet that the people in their “churches” are wearing that yoke big time, and woe to anyone who is perceived to be trying to unlock it. For myself, I am going to use this attack on you as an example in my next sermon of the very kind of spiritual abuse and bondage that Christ’s people must beware of. Beware of the scribes. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Look inside the cup, not just the outside. Blessings on you Rachel!
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Yes, they are bullies. Having read a number of exchanges between them and other people, I have noticed they trade logic and reason for “might makes right”.
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“the impotent rage of the Bayly boys.”
I would like to join your fan club.
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Reblogged this on Literate Comments.
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Keep insulting all the right people.
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So, now that you’ve been declared an “angry feminist” is there a plaque or something? Maybe an awards ceremony?
And if you oppose the “rule of Adam, our federal head,” I’m totally okay with it. I’m generally okay with people being opposed to silly nonsense words strung together to sound important but signifying nothing.
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We are reading through the book of John for our family devotions and these guys sound very much like the pharisees and teachers of the law that Jesus encountered. They were always misunderstanding, misquoting and completely confusing what Jesus would teach. So, I suppose if it happened to Jesus, it is also going to happen to us.
As a side note, when my children were listening to it read to them, one of them would comment like this (after one of these encounters Jesus had with these guys), “Oh come on! Don’t they get it? Good grief!” Invariably, their hand found it quickly to their forehead as they commented. 🙂
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Rachel, daughter of Eve, it’s clearly your fault that they keep making themselves look so foolish. 😉
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As a Brit, having come to the USA only eight years ago, I find these discussions amazing. I had never heard of the Quiverful movement, nor experienced this emphasis on patriarchy before. I have been a Christian for 70 years, have theological degrees, and have had leadership roles of teaching and serving in conservative evangelical churches – and had thought these issues were no longer in the front row, as it were. John Stackhouse, Craig keener and others more accurately define the way Christians feel on the whole in the UK so I experienced something of a culture shock on arrival here. Of course, there are many who are complementarians in the UK but the issue is not obsessed over as it is here.
We have been happily married for 47 years, and, as egalitarians, have enjoyed serving and submitting to each other, each considering the other as more estimable….
I have not come across anyone who would want to be a patriarchialist for many years as these Bayly Brothers (who are they?) and even Russell Moore seem to wish..
Our spiritual leader (a term not found in Scripture for husbands) is the Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom we gladly and gratefully bend the knee, submitting to Him in all things, and pleading with Him to lead us, guide us, uphold us and bring us at last into His glorious Kingdom. There He reigns equal with the Father in triune glory, and not, as Wayne Grudem would have us believe, in eternal subordination…..well, that is a subject for another post.
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