We are caring for a young adult family member who is recovering from religious trauma and mental health issues. The more I learn about the situation, the more clearly I see how Evangelical Fundamentalists operate within frameworks of power in their relationships, parenting, marriages, etc. So much of this person's wounds seem to be the consequences of everything revolving around the men in the equation wanting power, demanding power, and requiring others to submit to power.
1) is it just me, or the proponents of (for lack of a better term) “conservative” positions in just about any sphere getting more and more brazen in expressing themselves (at least until they get called out)?
2) thanks for the reminder that I don’t miss Twitter.
If we are to be penetrated and filled by the Spirit MacArthur and Piper and co. Should advocate for more female pastors who can teach men to be more submissive and receptive to that.
This is going to be an interesting day. My 1st Substack reading this morning was on "Saint-i-ness" by Diana Butler Bass, which spoke connectedness. Certainly I wouldn't be able to predict how this letter would parallel that concept. I've always believed that sex, in it's intended context to be worship, understanding and experiencing the glory of the "other" in togetherness. I guess I'm just a different dude. There is no place in my life for anything of Josh Butler.
Thank you Kristin for putting all of this together. As I was reading, I was, once again, struck by the thought of just how hard it is to be an evangelical ... they have backed themselves into numerous corners, and rather than admitting how foolish and vain they are, they continue to defend their views, ad infinitum, ad absurdum. They are destroying themselves, but not without huge collateral damage to millions of otherwise "trusting souls" caught up in evangelical snares.
Not being on Twitter or following this closely, I may not have seen that "mob response" Denny Burk said was calling for Josh Butler's head. What I saw was many, many from all sides objecting to his approach. And those who took most serious issue with not only his phrasing, but his message, questioning how editor, publisher, staff at Gospel Coalition, those who recommended the book, all allowed him to step so thoroughly into the ugly mess they all supported through their actions and/or inactions. As for Denny Burk, he was honest that in his critique of "The Great Sex Rescue," though he claimed to know what it is primarily about he has not actually read it. What? He lives in academia. That would not pass in a basic freshman English class, much less, one would hope, in graduate school. And he and his organizations wonder why they are not trusted?
Kristin provides excellent detailed and nuanced clarification and explanations here. Reading it though, I was so angry and unsettled that my memories went back to the first time I saw the classic movie “Deliverance”. The dark, ugly, and banal nature of evil, as evidenced by the scene with Ned Beatty, haunted me at the time. That same scene, those same feelings, understanding the ancient evil of penetration and power, caused me to toss & turn last night. Jesus spoke out against this banal behavior and thinking. He spoke of love and mutuality. It appears as if some prominent male voices in the Evangelical hierarchy didn’t get the memo. That frightens me! I was so happy to hear today’s Holy Post interview with Schiess, Peeler, and Jones. They gently, but firmly rebutted the misguided thinking of the wayward male mouthpieces. It’s worth a listen.
We are caring for a young adult family member who is recovering from religious trauma and mental health issues. The more I learn about the situation, the more clearly I see how Evangelical Fundamentalists operate within frameworks of power in their relationships, parenting, marriages, etc. So much of this person's wounds seem to be the consequences of everything revolving around the men in the equation wanting power, demanding power, and requiring others to submit to power.
Lord, have mercy.
Yikes. Two thoughts:
1) is it just me, or the proponents of (for lack of a better term) “conservative” positions in just about any sphere getting more and more brazen in expressing themselves (at least until they get called out)?
2) thanks for the reminder that I don’t miss Twitter.
If we are to be penetrated and filled by the Spirit MacArthur and Piper and co. Should advocate for more female pastors who can teach men to be more submissive and receptive to that.
This is going to be an interesting day. My 1st Substack reading this morning was on "Saint-i-ness" by Diana Butler Bass, which spoke connectedness. Certainly I wouldn't be able to predict how this letter would parallel that concept. I've always believed that sex, in it's intended context to be worship, understanding and experiencing the glory of the "other" in togetherness. I guess I'm just a different dude. There is no place in my life for anything of Josh Butler.
Thank you Kristin for putting all of this together. As I was reading, I was, once again, struck by the thought of just how hard it is to be an evangelical ... they have backed themselves into numerous corners, and rather than admitting how foolish and vain they are, they continue to defend their views, ad infinitum, ad absurdum. They are destroying themselves, but not without huge collateral damage to millions of otherwise "trusting souls" caught up in evangelical snares.
Excellent scholarship. Thank you! (And also Gregoire, et al. are doing the Lord's work out there, aren't they?!)
Not being on Twitter or following this closely, I may not have seen that "mob response" Denny Burk said was calling for Josh Butler's head. What I saw was many, many from all sides objecting to his approach. And those who took most serious issue with not only his phrasing, but his message, questioning how editor, publisher, staff at Gospel Coalition, those who recommended the book, all allowed him to step so thoroughly into the ugly mess they all supported through their actions and/or inactions. As for Denny Burk, he was honest that in his critique of "The Great Sex Rescue," though he claimed to know what it is primarily about he has not actually read it. What? He lives in academia. That would not pass in a basic freshman English class, much less, one would hope, in graduate school. And he and his organizations wonder why they are not trusted?
Kristin provides excellent detailed and nuanced clarification and explanations here. Reading it though, I was so angry and unsettled that my memories went back to the first time I saw the classic movie “Deliverance”. The dark, ugly, and banal nature of evil, as evidenced by the scene with Ned Beatty, haunted me at the time. That same scene, those same feelings, understanding the ancient evil of penetration and power, caused me to toss & turn last night. Jesus spoke out against this banal behavior and thinking. He spoke of love and mutuality. It appears as if some prominent male voices in the Evangelical hierarchy didn’t get the memo. That frightens me! I was so happy to hear today’s Holy Post interview with Schiess, Peeler, and Jones. They gently, but firmly rebutted the misguided thinking of the wayward male mouthpieces. It’s worth a listen.
Thank you for amplifying and clarifying the positions. Your piece does an excellent job.