Abuse: SBC P/7

                                                            Read Part One HERE

Here is my second post on Paige Patterson.

Patterson has attracted interest because of his stance on the role of women in church and his opposition to ordaining women as ministers. According to Patterson, "the highest and noblest calling of God" for women is that of "mother and grandmother." Additionally, Patterson's interpretation of the Bible includes "an assignment from God, in this case that a woman not be involved in a teaching or ruling capacity over men."

Patterson has compared female submissiveness to submissiveness to a police officer. Although the police officer and Patterson would be equal before God, "He is above me," Patterson wrote. Just as "God gave him an assignment that affects me and made him a minister of God to correct my evil ways," so he believed women should submit to men."

Patterson has never recommended or prescribed divorce. Instead he has recommended temporary separation in cases of extreme spousal abuse.

In 2000 Patterson's advise to an abused woman was for her to pray every night for her husband after he had gone to sleep even though that may well cause her to be abused more. This was indeed the case with this woman for she came to church the next Sunday with two black eyes. Patterson decided that was ok, since, in her case, her husband came to church to say he was sorry for what he had done....

Patterson has suggested the following in a sermon in 2013
 "Women who have a problem in their home should not bring the case to a judge because it could get in the way of that judge becoming a Christian. Settle it within the church of God. And if you suffer for it, and if you were misused and if you were abused, and if you are not represented properly, it's ok. You can trust it to God who judges justly."

He then prayed, "Lord, may we make up our minds that we won't take our troubles to the press, we won't take our troubles to the government, we won't take our troubles anywhere except to the people of God and beyond that to the Lord Jesus."

 

My Comment

Dr Patterson's suggestions are unbiblical and put women in danger of extreme harm. They should be avoided.

 

Read Part Eight HERE