Executive Director's Column: Exposition of the Danvers Statement: Affirmation 7

Affirmation 7

In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin.

This affirmation is a reminder that earthly authority is not the final authority.  All of our behavior is governed by the clear instruction given by God in His Word.  When instruction by an earthly authority contradicts that of Christ, then we must obey God rather than men.  Several biblical texts bear this out.  One familiar text is found in Daniel 3.  In spite of the decree to bow down and worship the image of gold, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, issue their own decree, "we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  Although these young men were ultimately delivered from the furnace (3:26-27), it should be noted that this is not always the case and many over the years have lost their lives because they were compelled by the Spirit to disobey their earthly authorities in order to obey God. 

Another familiar passage is found in Acts 4.  Peter and John, after being reprimanded by the Sanhedrin and ordered to cease from speaking in the name of Jesus, gave this well known reply, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  Indeed, the Bible says that after they were released, they prayed with their "own people" and went right back to speaking the Word of God "boldly," in direct disobedience of their earthly authorities.  In another instance, shortly after this, the high priest angrily chastises the Apostles for teaching in the name of Jesus in spite of his command to cease this activity.  Once again, their reply underscores the priority of God's Word over the ungodly rules of earthly authorities: "We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)."

Sometimes those in authority have a tendency to over-extend their reach and end up abusing those under their auspices.  This is not a natural by-product of the having a clear structure of authority; rather it is the result of the effects of sin on the human heart.  Affirmation 4 of the Danvers Statement teaches that in the home, one of the sinful perversions of male leadership is a tendency to want to dominate.  In the church, this same sinful perversion manifests itself by a worldly love of power. 

So, the Danvers Statement follows the pattern of the Bible in giving clear instruction for the headship of men in the home and the church, while at the same time giving clear warnings about men misusing their authority.  One example of this is found in 1 Peter 3:1-7 where wives are exhorted to be submissive to their husbands who are in turn warned about mistreating their wives.  In fact, poor treatment of wives results in the hindrance of the prayers of the husband.

CBMW is greatly concerned about the upsurge of physical and emotional abuse and believes that the Bible speaks clearly and forthrightly on the differing responsibilities of men and women in marriage, while at the same time, it speaks with equal clarity against abuse.  The biblical teachings on male headship in marriage do not authorize a man's domination or abuse of his wife.

Because many egalitarians claim that the teachings regarding male headship encourage abuse in the home, and also because we adamantly oppose abuse wherever it occurs, CBMW issued a formal "Statement on Abuse" in November 1994. Its key affirmations are as follows:

We understand abuse to mean the cruel use of power or authority to harm another person emotionally, physically, or sexually.

We are against all forms of physical, sexual and/or verbal abuse.

We believe that the biblical teaching on relationships between men and women does not support, but condemns abuse.

We believe that abuse is sin.  It is destructive and evil.  Abuse is the hallmark of the devil and is in direct opposition to the purposes of God.  Abuse ought not be tolerated in the Christian community.

We believe that the Christian community is responsible for the well-being of its members.  It has a responsibility to lovingly confront the abusers and protect the abused.

We believe that both the abusers and the abused are in need of emotional and spiritual healing.

We believe that god extends healing to those who earnestly seek him.

We are confident of the power of God's healing love to restore relationships fractured by abuse, but we realize that repentance, forgiveness, wholeness, and reconciliation is a process.  Both abusers and abused are in need of on-going counseling, support, and accountability.

In instances where abusers are unrepentant and/or unwilling to make significant steps toward change, we believe that the Christian community must respond with firm discipline of the abuser and advocacy, support, and protection of the abused.

We believe that by the power of God's Spirit, the Christian community can be an instrument of god's love and healing for those involved in abusive relationships and an example of wholeness in a fractured, broken world.