Erika Smith grew up in an abusive home in which the parents claimed Christianity. She is still a follower of Jesus in spite of the way she and her siblings were treated by her parents and the casual “forgive and forget” dismissal she has received from churches where she has tried to get help. Continue reading “Did I Do All I Could for My Siblings? (Guest Post by Erika Smith)”
“The Return of the Daughters” Meets Rachael Denhollander
In 2008, the movement calling itself “Biblical patriarchy” was in its heyday.
In 2008, the beautiful Botkin sisters, paragons of the visionary daughterhood espoused by “Biblical patriarchy,” were 20 and 22 years old. Three years earlier, at 17 and 19, they had published their book So Much More: The Remarkable Influence of Visionary Daughters on the Kingdom of God which went on to influence many impressionable teen girls that their highest calling was to fulfill their father’s every whim. Continue reading ““The Return of the Daughters” Meets Rachael Denhollander”
“(Adult) Children Obey Your Parents”? Part Two, for Adults Raised in Patriarchy
Yesterday’s post presented the question from a reader and the first part of my answer, about wicked parents and how we as the body of Christ need to be teaching children to obey God rather than man. You can read Part One here.
But what about controlling parents of adults , especially those whose parents espouse some form of Patriarchal beliefs? A few months ago I made a plea to these adults in the post “To those in ‘Biblical’ Patriarchy: return to God” (link), pleading with them not to let their parents take the place of God. (This was in the section “A call to young adults under the system . . . to listen to His voice” which I hope you’ll read if you haven’t.)
So now some of these adults are looking at the “Children obey your parents” Scriptures and asking if there is any Biblical justification to do anything other than comply with everything their parents command. Continue reading ““(Adult) Children Obey Your Parents”? Part Two, for Adults Raised in Patriarchy”
To Those in “Biblical” Patriarchy: Return to God
This is Part Two. You can read Part One here, “‘Biblical’ Patriarchy: here’s how you replaced God.”
What did God say was the root problem of the Old Covenant people who were oppressing those under them? Continue reading “To Those in “Biblical” Patriarchy: Return to God”
“Biblical” Patriarchy: Here’s How You Replaced God
“Everything came to a head in my mid-twenties,” she was saying. “So that’s when I finally got out.” She balanced her child on her knee as she spoke. “I want to help others get out.”
I was having tea with a daughter of patriarchy. Continue reading ““Biblical” Patriarchy: Here’s How You Replaced God”
For Shame, Beautiful Botkins
With the very first issue of Patriarch magazine twenty years ago, my husband eschewed the Patriarchy Movement. Every since then, I’ve followed it from afar, often with concern, especially upon finding that some patriarchal churches wanted to keep unsaved people out, lest their children be tainted.
It was with grief that I saw recently that one of the Patriarchs of Patriarchy had fallen, and his organization, Vision Forum, along with it. I say grief, not because Continue reading “For Shame, Beautiful Botkins”