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If you’re in any of the same social media circles as me you’ve certainly heard or heard about the viral video of prominent apologist for white male Evangelical patriarchy, John MacArthur, yet again, disrespecting Beth Moore and any other women who might be getting any ideas about their place in the church. Asked to say the first thing that comes to mind at the prompt “Beth Moore” MacArthur responds “go home” to his audience’s uproarious laughter and applause. He goes on to pontificate that these women don’t want equality, they really want power. In my profession of psychotherapy we call that projection. If I don’t know another person’s motivation for something the easiest, and laziest, assumption is that they want the same thing as me. Since he cannot fathom Moore hearing God call her to the ministry he assumes she is in it for the same reason he is, she wants power. Of course, since evangelicals do idolize prominent white males MacArthur does wield a great deal of power; the power to mock and humiliate others without even disguising the smirk on his face and the contempt dripping from his voice, knowing that his sycophantic audience will adore his clever choice of words. He has the power to, later in the same clip, mock the suggestion that people of color and women should be on the translation committee of the Southern Baptist Convention because only an understanding of Greek and Hebrew are necessary. We can presume that he considers it implicit that a white penis is also necessary since here and elsewhere he has mocked any suggestion that anyone but white evangelical men can interpret Scripture or even truly know Jesus.
MacArthur goes on in the video to bemoan the fact that evangelical male leaders have allowed the situation to get so out of control by “rolling over” to feminists and other liberals.
As far as the perspectives of powerful Southern Baptist men go, I have much greater respect for former president Jimmy Carter who chose to forsake power, turning in his Southern Baptist membership card over the long history of male leaders conflict of interest shown by choosing to interpret Scripture in a way that selfishly protects their power.
“Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.
I HAVE been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention's leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be "subservient" to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries”
The power of white male Evangelical patriarchy is, indeed, on display in Macarthur’s little stunt as is the reason that people are leaving evangelicalism in droves.
I hope that John MacArthur and men like him enjoy their power while it lasts. Since he has the superior training in Greek and Hebrew I will refrain from reminding him of what Jesus said about power and of those who seek it and merely ask him to refresh his memory,
if this all sounds flippant or sarcastic I merely claim the white male privilege as MacArthur has laid it out.
