The Intelligent Christian
Elder Rule
One of the most pernicious phony teachings for a long time. Elder Rule is cutting a swathe of destruction through the church. Baptist churches are especially vulnerable because of the strong Baptist teaching and tradition of local church autonomy.
Autonomy of the local church means that if unscrupulous Elder Rule men take over, they then run everything like dictators. Often this means pushing through some changes in the church's constitution. These changes may not appear radical at first reading but these men are wolves in sheep's clothing and subtle-appearing changes, once adopted by the church in the constitution, can bring about drastic change. Recall sensitive dependence.
As in the time of the Apostle Paul and the churches in Galatia, when the men take over the first casualty is women. We can see this today all over the planet, especially when religious fundamentalists grab control.
Elder Rule is generally accompanied by a lot of proof texting. This can look convincing but don't be fooled. Before you even think of backing down to these wolves, think of the following:
- They are applying their proof texts to our inherited Constantinian structure and tradition of buildings, professional clergy, pulpits and sermons. If you hold your ground and make them attempt to justify the Constantinian structure on a biblical basis, they will begin to sound more and more clumsy - and more and more furious.
- The texts they use, such as 1 Timothy, are not well translated and in most translations appear to be slanted against women. So, their presupposition that leadership is biblically male is arrant nonsense.
- They are after total dictatorial domination of the local church. But what they don't include in their proof texting is that if they were to try this kind of game in Paul's time they would have had Paul instantly and squarely in their face! In fact, a lot of Paul's writing became necessary because of church leaders who wanted to dominate. Review Super Apostles.
When you are confronted by proof texting, think of the joke about the man who says, 'I know Judo and Karate - - - - - and three other Japanese words'. Don't be fooled by a theological shell game.
To understand what is really going on with Elder Rule, we have only to look at Paul's first letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 13, verse 11. 1 Corinthians 13:11.
I find it helpful to ask: What do little boys do? Well, one of the things little boys do is to build tree houses. And what happens then? Up goes the sign saying 'NO GIRLS ALLOWED'!
Then come the selection and initiation rites, followed by ongoing rituals and practices to ensure a 'members only' policy. Meetings in the tree house are held regularly and discussions in these meetings will 'set the world right'. They also reinforce the selection and initiation rites. Male bonding comes easy and early.
When you understand self-similarity and how it applies to social systems, it becomes instantly clear that the Elder Rule clergy and leaders are structurally and behaviorally in the same system as all the other male dominators like Free Masons, Promise Keepers, Focus on the Family or homosexuals who design women's fashions.
It has been said that the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. This is scaling. The behavior of boys in their tree house is just a younger and smaller scale version of the vast majority of adult systems. The tree house mentality of any age group always includes some form of male bonding and domination over women.
One of the major consequences of the fall was the beginning of the domination of women by power lusting men. Jesus came to overturn the effects of the fall and the Elder Rule men are working against this aspect of the Lord's work. As we have mentioned in Male and Female, the interpretation of Genesis 3:16 is the watershed. Ask the Elder Rule men how they can demonstrate that the Lord intended one of the major consequences of sin to be institutionally entrenched in the church that should reflect the life, character and teaching of its risen Lord.
Especially damaging is the prominence of male dominators in our Bible translation organizations. Male dominators understand instinctively the power of initial conditions. A Bible translation sets the initial conditions and once they have installed male dominance in translation they can walk away and the system will run all by itself.
See the tree house men for what they are. Have a good laugh and walk away.
But if they are attempting to hijack your church, fight like you've never fought anything before.
Jesus is Lord
'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.'