I cannot counter the primary point of Francis Breidenbach’s 8/6/05 letter. Unfortunately, his description of the “abysmal” treatment of women in Christianity is supported by the historical record. In our upcoming book titled “Broken”, my co-author Dr. David Juroe chronicles some of this. Furthermore, I can’t disagree with Mr. Breidenbach’s analysis of why “men have enjoyed their superior status and role. The relationship bolsters their egos, helped satisfy their physical needs and otherwise provided a lot of free services.” I would add to this, that male domination is a defense used for men to hide from their woundedness and feelings of weakness and at the same time make excuse for their misbehavior.

      The sting of this reality not withstanding, there is a critical difference between mistreatment of women that occurs in Christianity compared to that which occurs with other religions or in the secular world (religions certainly don’t have a monopoly on exploiting women). When Christian men mistreat women, they are going directly against Christ’s teaching. There is no such contradiction in the Hindu and Islam religions. It logically follows from Hindu reincarnation doctrine that anyone born into a degraded status (the status of women in most cultures) deserves to be there due to bad karma accumulated in a previous life. Abuse of women, even to the point of death, is built into Islam, since there is support for it in the Koran for such things as a “lewd act” ((Women 4:13-16) or if husbands “fear disobedience” (“Women 4:34). Male superiority is plainly stated in the Koran (Women 4:34), and polygamy is encouraged (Women 4:21). Though polygamy and all forms of mistreatment of women are documented in the Old Testament, it is clear that such behavior was disobedient to God. When Israelite leaders misbehaved in such a manner, they paid a heavy price for it.

      Mr. Breidenbach says that the Judeo-Christian concept of male headship is an example of treating women as inferior. It is a dismal truth that men have turned this Scripture-sanctioned role into an abuse of power. Nevertheless, it is not intellectually sound to say that because a concept is carried out badly that the concept itself is wrong. The model of headship is found in our Triune God—Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is seen in other species of the animal kingdom. Though rarely seen, there are examples where it has worked beautifully in marriages.

      It would be consistent with God’s mode of operation to endow men with special capacity for this leadership role that He expects them to carry out, yet I have not seen evidence of that endowment in the general population of males. I attribute this discrepancy to the promulgation of male unaccountability that has continued through millennia and still “flourishes” today. One of the major tools of its promotion in Christianity has been the Bible verse Ephesians 5:22 “Wives, submit to your husband as to the Lord”. This verse tends to be preached in isolation, without mention of verse 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” The common interpretation of the term submission is one of control, but a more accurate definition is “the voluntary yielding in love” since we are to “submit to one another” (verse 5: 21). Verse 22 has been foisted upon Christian women with full expectation of complete submission to all manner of male dominance, without women having recourse or anyone to turn to that will hold husbands accountable for keeping the male portion of the commandment.

      Jesus Christ left for men the perfect example of the type of leader they are to aspire to being—that is, one who leads by example of holiness, wisdom, and service. Because of this, abuse of power coming from Christians can be seen as worse than from others, because Christians ought to know better. The New Testament is clear that the privilege and high calling of leadership carries with it a higher standard and stronger judgment from God. Leaders, whether they are teachers, preachers, pastors, or heads of households, must reach for the highest levels of integrity and holiness and teach others to do so. According to Scripture, God’s standard for marriage is that it be a replica of Christ’s relationship to His Church. To the extent that God’s standard for leadership has not been reached, our marriages have become a mockery of Almighty God and a scandal to His Holy Name. Though my heart aches for the women mistreated in Christianity, my deeper grieving is over the fact that their church-sanctioned abuse so hideously misrepresents the character of our perfectly glorious, just, and loving God.

Annie Bukacek MD