Cheryl

Tiro3 (#89),

You said:

“Patriarchalists such as the ones on CARM regularly teach that women are ONLY required to be of a submissive attitude to their own husbands, their own fathers, and their own pastors. This leaves it acceptable to behave in an unsubmissive manner to ALL the rest of the body of Christ. So, out goes Ephesians 5:21 and a host of other Scriptures about loving the brethren and considering them and their needs above self.”

This is also one of the most amazing things that I have seen. It is women who push submission to the leaders but who refuse to give their submission to anyone else. On CARM, I have seen Diane be one of the most unsubmissive people ever and that is just amazing! She loves to state that egalitarians are egalitarians because they want to control people and to control men and they do not want to be submissive. But Diane and other strong complementarian women around the blogosphere have no sense of submission to the body of Christ in general. If there isn’t a “chain of command” that they are under, they won’t submit. I don’t see this in egalitarian women. I have been privileged to come to “know” many of you through this blog and through private emails and your attitude is so Christ-like and submissive that I just LOVE you guys! Okay, you boy guys too are submissive and respectful to the teaching of one who has no authority over you, has no “chain of command”, doesn’t demand that you obey or listen to me, but you have given me respect and are willing to consider what I have to say. That just blows my mind! Why is it that egalitarians are painted with the term “unsubmissive” but in reality they are submissive in practice, while hierarchist women pride themselves as submissive but in practice you rarely see any submission outside the “chain of command” group they are in? I also have been grateful for those of you who have given me counsel and have given me your wisdom when I really needed it. It is so easy to submit to those of you who have way more wisdom that I do and way more life experiences and who have an attitude of love. Submission draws us together because it really does treat the other person as being worthy of respect. This is the “way of the master”.