8 Comments
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John Wilson's avatar

Well said. I do wonder how many men are clinging to the complementarian view because of how it makes them special and essential. If you take away a man's authority, what is he left with? If men really comprehended their value in Christ. period. I think many would loosen their grip on needing to be a leader & provider, and needing to prove their worth.

I used to be a complementarian. That realization (and much soul searching) is one that stopped me cold.

kate's avatar

yes. so often - not just in this conversation - we create a false binary when almost just as often it’s actually secret answer “c.” and too often this false binary drives us to win the argument instead of trying to meet people where they are.

so often we’re much closer practically than it seems from our us/them approach.

Joshua Olson's avatar

“When we mutually and willingly submit to the other as a servant- both will be treated like royalty.”

Jen Holmes Curran's avatar

I saw the note the other day and get the same way reading this today: how have I never heard this before!?

Laura Morton's avatar

“The garden wasn’t a corporation” - exactly! I hope more and more people understand ezer kenegdo because it has been obvious to women for generations men need help. We just have been trained to pretend not to mention it because of the fragile male ego created by the expectations of patriarchy. Patriarchy hasn’t been good for men either.

Anni Ponder's avatar

Oooh, I love what you add to this conversation, Tim! Here’s a graphic I just made to illustrate this point, inspired by Sheila Wray Gregoire:

Anni Ponder's avatar

Oh, it won’t let me drop a photo here. I’ll post it and tag you.

Intents Of The heart's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful piece putting in words that hierarchy is unnecessary in the economy of love.