Thread by @JennMGreenberg

In the Christian world, I've most often experienced sexism as:
- You can't have a job/career
- You can't go to college or study theology
- You can't talk or write about the Bible
- Your home must look like Joanna Gaines'
- You must cook from scratch using niche dietary rules

- You must homeschool
- You must dress like Ree Drummond
- Obey your husband without question
- Submit to all men

I heard a women's Bible study teacher say, "If your husband orders you to watch p0rn with him, you're allowed to quietly and respectfully walk out of the room."

If you don't do all these things, they'll claim you're a failure as a wife / mom and may question the authenticity of your salvation.

A pastor once told Jason, "Until Jenn can get the house clean and have dinner ready by 5PM every day, you shouldn't let her have more children."

We left that church, by the way.

These are teachings are sometimes called, "Biblical Patriarchy" theology. It's most extreme proponents practice "household voting," arranged marriages, and some husbands ground or spank their wives.

I do not believe "Biblical Patriarchy" theology enables or opens the door for abuse. I believe it *IS* abuse. It is the spiritual and psychological abuse of women who are subjugated and taught that they're made in the image of man for man's glory, and not in the image of God.

But this evil extra-Biblical teaching is often abusive to men as well. Husbands are overburdened with impossible responsibilities, including controlling and exercising spiritual authority over a person they don't have the power to save or sanctify. This is soul-crushing legalism.

Granted, men are often responsible for instigating this theology, and they become spiritual abusers when they do so. However, men who grew up with this theology are acclimated to it. Their understanding of gender roles, marriage, and salvation are warped by childhood abuse.

All the above is why you'll frequently see me calling out "Biblical Patriarchy" and it's overlapping misogynistic worldviews and ideologies. It is extremely dangerous and growing more common in many denominations and Christian circles.

Be wise. Test the spirits. Reject the lies.