The Tyranny of Women

In a recent post by Samantha, she linked to an article on Perverted Patriarchy that stimulated further thoughts in my head.

The article lays out the differences between a perverted patriarchy where a man, as head of the household, views his position as one of power to coerce circumstances and people to his service, rather than the Biblical and Christ-like model of leadership, which is to serve.

As I read through the article, nodding with approval, it occurred to me that this notion of servant-leadership is not one that is restricted to men. Women, too, need to remember this in their roles. When we think of leadership in the home, the tendency is to think of it solely in terms of male leadership, forgetting that women are authorities in the home as well, namely over their children.

Christian leadership is not about someone controlling others and asserting his will over them; it is about serving them. Serving someone is the very opposite of asserting one's will over them. A slave yields his will in order to serve his master. A Christ-like leader will yield his will in order to serve those under his authority. Jesus demonstrated this style of leadership in that He gave His life for the sake of those He came to lead.

Another way of saying this is that Christian leadership is more a matter of influence than control. God's kingdom advances in this world not by God's external control of people but by His working changes within people, making them want to obey Him. Jesus could have come and established His kingdom by the sheer exertion of power, demanding obedience and enforcing it with the sword. Instead He choose to serve those over whom He was Lord and to cause them to want to submit to Him. His leadership is not an external exercise of power; it is an internal influence, leading His followers to obey Him willingly.


The article is extremely well written. If you are a woman, read it with an eye to your position as an authority over your children and see if you have areas in which you are transgressing against them.