Oct 02 2008
some evangelicals feel Palin’s career violates biblical teachings
[LA Times]
In a white-steepled church along a stretch in picturesque canyon country, the preacher laid out the basic blueprint of a godly marriage: Husbands lead, wives submit. Speaking recently before hundreds of worshipers at Placerita Baptist Church in Newhall, guest preacher Chris Mueller affirmed the view that loving male headship and gracious wifely submission are God’s plan for spouses.
Placerita, like many conservative Christian churches, teaches that a wife’s role is to be her husband’s helpmate (Genesis), “workers at home” (Titus) and submissive to her husband in everything (Ephesians). So how do these congregants square such teachings with their support for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the conservative evangelical Christian who is aiming to become vice president while her teenage daughter is pregnant, her infant son has Down syndrome and her husband took a leave from work to serve as “Mr. Mom,” as People magazine put it?
“It’s probably presumptuous of us to figure out how she is going to balance all of this,” said Pat Ennis, a Placerita congregant who heads the home economics department at The Master’s College, a Christian institution in Santa Clarita. “The most important thing is that she can do it in God’s strength.”
“The Palin selection is the single most dangerous event in the conscience of the Christian community in the last 10 years at least,” said Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum, a Texas-based ministry. “The unabashed, unquestioning support of Sarah Palin and all she represents marks a fundamental departure from our historic position of family priorities — of moms being at home with young children, of moms being helpers to their husbands, the priority of being keepers of the home.”
Voddie Baucham, a Texas pastor who has criticized the Palin selection as anti-family in a series of blogs, said that the overwhelming evangelical support demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice biblical principles for politics. “Evangelicalism has lost its biblical perspective and its prophetic voice,” Baucham wrote. “Men who should be standing guard as the conscience of the country are instead falling in line with the feminist agenda and calling a family tragedy . . . a shining example of family values.”
Some of the debate centers on whether the Bible allows women to serve as civil leaders. Vision Forum leaders argue that it does not. They cite passages in Genesis, Isaiah, Ephesians and elsewhere that they say establishes male headship over women and are critical of female leadership.
Others counter that restrictions on female leadership apply only to church and home. They include Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky; and Randy Stinson, whose Kentucky-based Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood was established to combat growing feminism in evangelical churches.
[From me]
Wow! I tend to agree with Dr. Mohler on this subject. I don’t know anything about the Palins but it is pretty sad when a successful Christian woman is being attacked by her own. But what’s new? As far as we know Mr. Palin is the leader in their home. It is always interesting to me how many of the ultra legalistic groups want to limit what women can do and talk about the evils of working but their own Christian schools have mostly women teachers. Isn’t there some hypocrisy there? This election is getting stranger and stranger every week.
What do you think?
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29 responses so far
years ago I wondered if I would ever go for or vote for a woman becoming president, not based on “the headship of men/submission of women” thingy. But purely bias I reckon. I have come to grips with the idea that some day it may happen. If she is a good leader, holds my values and will stand up for America (perhaps better than some men will) then she will get my vote. I agree with you and Dr. Mohler and other sane people who realize that the biblical idea of headship/submission applies to the church/home. (And even that is questioned as to how much!) If Sarah Palin becomes VP and then by some act becomes Prez I will support her choice. I think all the ranting and raving is of lunatics who want to have an axe to grind.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..Taking Things for Granted
Wasn’t Deborah a powerful judge in the Bible?
I don’t know much about her, so maybe I’m shooting myself in the foot.
Michael’s last blog post..2 John
I have all the power in my home, all the power my wife lets me have!
What I would like to see some of these “religious” leaders doing is focusing more on feeding the poor, visiting the sick, and tending to those in jail. Maybe they should focus on loving their neighbor as themselves. Maybe, just maybe, their focus should be on Matthew 28:19-20 and not so much upon who is the VP choice.
Isn’t it ironic that these same people, some 40 years ago, would have claimed that Obama’s possible election wasn’t scriptural because of his skin color.
Wasn’t it Paul who wrote that in God’s eyes that there are neither male nor female…oh, sorry, hate to quote Scripture to people who are convinced the Bible says something else.
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Thursday’s A+ Award of the Day
Brother Kevin,
I am NOT endorsing Voddie Baucham or what he wrote with regards to Sarah Palin’s candidacy. However, unless that quote is pulled from an article of his that I did not read (which is very possible), the point of his article was that she had a lot of “family” stuff going on… daughter that is pregnant, new child with Down’s, etc. Voddie was asking the question of how a ticket that promotes putting someone with a lot of family things happening in a job as time intensive as the vice presidency can claim the high ground with regards to family values. He also made it quite clear that the same concern would be voiced by him if her husband was the one running. Again, I am not necessarily endorsing what he said, but based upon what I have read this quote is out of context.
Peace to you,
From the Middle East
from the middle east’s last blog post..being available
I can tell you EXACTLY why Voddie Bauchaum doesn’t think it’s a good choice:
Sarah Palin is a Pentecostal believer. She embraces her “pentecostal experience” and isn ‘t ashamed of it.
If she were a Southern Baptist, or a United Methodist, Voddie probably wouldn’t have uttered a word.
And besides, “she’s HOT.”
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Five Wounds Men Must Face
Steve hit all the right points. Nothing more needs to be said…
It’s a safe bet that the pastors that preach that garbage don’t much preach about how husbands are to give themselves up, as Christ “gave Himself up for her (the church)”.
When you stand on just half that passage … wifely submission … you’re not much other than a sanctified bully.
Bob Cleveland’s last blog post..What Was Jesus’ Favorite __________ ?
This isn’t hard, it is putting career ambition in front of family.
Voddie is taking a prophetic stand, not a popular one.
Hugh,
What about taking a Biblical stand for the unborn?
I’m not sure what you mean. Are you saying that Voddie thinks its ok to kill babies?
Hugh,
No that isn’t what I’m implying. But why would a believer blast her & yet not blast her opponents for believing it is ok to kill unborn babies
Here’s what Voddie wrote:
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/8/30_Did_McCain_Make_a_Pro-Family_Pick____.html
“Unfortunately, this political pawn represents a fatal flaw worldview flaw. In an effort to win the pro-family political argument, we are sacrificing the pro-family biblical argument. In essence, the message being sent to women by conservative Christians backing McCain/Palin is, “It’s ok to sacrifice your family on the altar of your career; just don’t have an abortion.” How pro-family is that?”
I can’t belive that Palin is the only conservative in the country who opposes legal abortions. Maybe we should be blasting McCain for his lukewarm pro-life positions.
Secondly, I don’t see how vice president palin changes anything on the abortion issue. Reagan was pro-life and did nothing to change it. George Bush was pro-life and did nothing to change it. George W. Bush was pro-life and did nothing to change it. I believe that people will still be getting legal abortions after 8 years of McCain-Palin.
Hugh,
I agree with you for the most part. But I think it is wrong to judge the Palins for their choice. How do we know what goes on in their home.
I’m not excited about McCain either. As for the abortion issue, I can’t vote for anyone who is ok with killing the unborn.
No one has asked you to.
I’m not ready to give palin a medal for what she’s doing. I may not know what goes on in the home, but if putting career first is wrong for women in other fields it’s got to be wrong for a vp too.
Hugh,
Should women be teachers? Why is that OK but CEO or Pres or Gov not?
I didn’t say that a woman can’t be a vp. I just said that Voddie is right. She’s choosing her career over her family and that isn’t a triumph for family values.
Hugh,
That is pretty judgmental. If she & her husband have chosen this life who are we to judge? Why isn’t Obama being asked the same question?
I’m not about to defend Obama. But I am troubled because his wife gave up her career to devote herself to raising their kids. I thought the republicans were supposed to live up to family values.
Hugh,
What’s wrong with a man giving up his career & taking care of “their” kids? Why does it have to fall on the women? They both conceived their children! My wife worked full time while I was in Seminary & I stayed home with our son when I wasn’t in class. Are you saying she was more career driven because she worked & I stayed home?
You’re making Voddie’s case with your questions. He makes the argument better than I can.
Hugh,
How is that?
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Virgin Mary in Doctor’s window?
Voddie makes the statement that there is no higher calling for a woman than to be a wife and mother and the priority is to be keepers of the home.
My own Southern Baptists have taken a strong stand on the bible role for women in the home. But folks are willing to be political conservatives at the expense of being bible liberals.
Its cool if you want to vote for mccain because he’s going to give lip service against abortion. Its a stretch for you to argue that she is a pro-family role model.
Hugh,
So did my wife sin by going to work and put me through Seminary?
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Virgin Mary in Doctor’s window?
I don’t see how this compares to your situation. Apples to oranges. I don’t think your question is relevant to the discussion.
But to answer it, I dont think she did. In reading your stuff, I don’t get the impression she is still the primary breadwinner. I don’t get the impression that you have taken a back seat to her career goals. It seems more likely that she worked until you got a degree, then you led the way on where you lived and what the family did. It seems like she worked so you could be a preacher. Once you got a degree, you took the lead and she stopped working to take care of your home.
In contrast, palin’s husband has had to quit working to take the mothers role. I think she has a special needs baby she’s left at home while she is trying to win one of the most demanding jobs on the planet. Voddie makes a good point. I dont see how anyone can say with a straight face that her family is taking a back seat to her ambition.
Hugh,
I’m not going to defend any party. I don’t care for McCain. But I know women who have been in my churches that were the primary bread winners and they had vibrant families. They were involved in church and the men are strong men who decided to be the ones who stayed home. But make no mistake about it the men were the leaders in their homes. The children are both parents responsibility.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Virgin Mary in Doctor’s window?
Brother Kevin & Brother Hugh,
I think you are both missing the point. Voddie said he would have the same concerns if Sarah Palin’s HUSBAND were the one running for office. His point was that neither men nor women should be absent 60+ hours/week, if at all possible, from their families at the stage that hers is in (five kids, one just a few months old). The family needs BOTH parents around. I tend to agree.
So, maybe I am making a judgment call here. I do NOT agree with Voddie on many, many things. However, I cannot understand either Barack Obama or Sarah Palin devoting the amount of time they will have to devote to the presidency at the expense of spending that time with their children. Maybe there is something going on behind the scenes that I do not see… so I do not judge their motives. I only know I could not do that to my children.
May His face shine upon you,
From the Middle East
from the middle east’s last blog post..being available
The more I read of your insane electoral circuses, the more thankful I am that religion has no part in our politics. The more I see of your heartless brand of capitalism, the more grateful I am to be living under a socialistic form of government.
Amen Fran!
Ok…I got to comment 24 before having to move away from the computer because I was angry…and that was even with some of y’all quoting dear Paul.
I have a very Godly daddy and mom. My mother has practically always made more income than my father. She went to college, and he went to technical school. I have very vivid memories of my dad making our meals, helping with homework, and sending us to bed. My parents know what Godly marriage submission is, and it has NOTHING to do with who stays with the kids and cleans the home. If parents truly have family values, then they will do what is best for the child. God may not have created Sarah to be a 1950s mother. How terrible it is that Obama isn’t caring about his two little girls by putting his career infront of them…why isn’t that a family value concern? There are choices that we make about what is best for children. I really do believe that the Palins and Obamas are making the decisions that are right for their families.
When Sarah was first nominated, I too questioned how evangelicals would handle this. It took a few weeks to start hearing these arguments. From my college peers, I heard early on that Sarah wasn’t a real woman because she isn’t liberal enough. It brings sadness to me that gender even has to be an issue to either side.