Are equality and authority in competition?

Photo by Megapixelstock on Pexels.com

I recently saw a comment relating to the debate on complementarian marriage that it is not possible to have permanent authority over someone and be equal to them?  Is that right?  On the surface it seems obviously true, especially from a post modern perspective. However, I just want to get us to push our thinking… Continue reading Are equality and authority in competition?

Is Empathy a feminist thing?

In the penultimate chapter of “The Sin of Empathy”, Joe Rigney writes: “We can’t adequately address the dangers of empathy without considering feminism and its impact on the church.”[1] He quotes from a speech that Calvin Robinson made in 2024 where he argued that: Generally speaking, men tend to be more theologically rigid, whereas women… Continue reading Is Empathy a feminist thing?

Concluding my interactions with Andrew Bartlett and his book “Men and Women in Christ”

I’ve decided that this is as good a place as any to conclude the debate/conversation I’ve been having with Andrew Bartlett.  It’s not a conversation that continue indefinitely and I am at a stage where I need to give my time to other matters that are more my priority here on Faithroots, specifically I’ve got… Continue reading Concluding my interactions with Andrew Bartlett and his book “Men and Women in Christ”

Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to

Photo by Megapixelstock on Pexels.com

A lot of the debate about complementarianism in marriage focuses on two questions. I have argued that yes, Ephesians 5:21 does describe mutual submission and that this flows into Paul’s instructions for marriage. So, my approach is that husbands and wives do submit to one an other in marriage, within the context of the husband’s… Continue reading Headship and submission, sacrificial love and entrusting to

Marriage at work in Ephesians

Photo by Jeremy Wong on Pexels.com

In my detailed engagement with Andrew Bartlett’s book, “Men and Women in Christ, we’ve got to the bit where he engages with Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3.  You will probably have picked up that I think he should have made this his starting point   Now, you might think that maybe this reflects my own bias,… Continue reading Marriage at work in Ephesians

Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home

Photo by Jeremy Wong on Pexels.com

I’m a complementarian in regard to church leadership because I believe two things, first that this label best describes the pattern for relationships between husbands and wives in the home.  Secondly, that the local church is mean to function as an extended family. Let me expand on that a little.  First, complementarianism is based on… Continue reading Church leadership should reflect not mitigate the home

Rare words: Absence of evidence and evidence of absence

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

In recent weeks I’ve been enjoying a conversation with author Andrew Bartlett on complementarianism and egalitarianism.  I picked up the other day that he has also put some work into another conversation on the subject, this time with YouTuber Mike Winger. Just on 1 Timothy 2, Mike Winger apparently spent a year researching the subject… Continue reading Rare words: Absence of evidence and evidence of absence

Responding to Andrew Bartlett on Complementarian novelty

Andrew Bartlett has responded to my article questioning whether or not Complementarianism is novel.   I thought it was worth a little response back.  I think the crucial thing to say here is that I think Andrew misses the point.  It’s important to be clar about what is being argued and what is not being argued,… Continue reading Responding to Andrew Bartlett on Complementarian novelty

1 Corinthians 7 and strawmen (Andrew Bartlett’s response)

This is a guest post. As promised, here is the first of Andrew Bartlett’s responses to my critique and engagement with his book. I will respond in a further article to his comments here. I don’t intend there to be a lenthy back and forth on each topic but there are some things worth picking… Continue reading 1 Corinthians 7 and strawmen (Andrew Bartlett’s response)