No Longer Quivering
Again, I maintain that this doctrine that elevates outward signs of holiness through sexual purity above the inner righteousness that is afforded to all who believe in Jesus contributes to the continued abuse and revictimization of young women within the IFB in particular, though these same attitudes prevail in many other areas within aberrant Christianity as well. Others preach similar doctrines, however.
Though I believe that the attitudes that Ron and Patti Williams held existed in the IFB before, I also suspect that Ron Williams in particular developed his message by borrowing at least some his arguments from none other than Bill Gothard. Vision Forum affiliates teach a variation on Gothard’s own theme by arguing that women are essentially property of a man and require a male overseer as a mystical protector who affords not only spiritual protection but physical safety to women under their care. Read more HERE. If one does not dutifully oversee one’s daughters properly, they will be raped, shame the family, and a daughter’s salvific act of childbearing will be hindered if not ruined. Other homeschooling, courtship, and family integrated church pioneers (Lindvall, John Thompson, the Botkins, McDonald, etc.) have also relied upon Gothard’s arguments to varied degrees and in their own unique ways in order to promote their concepts as well. Let us also not forget Gothard’s submission doctrine, too. Women don’t make noise, float around doing housework, and dream of buttercups. John MacArthur says that women shouldn’t even share the Gospel with an unbeliever, so they are sure to remain quiet and gentle.
Dinah: One of the Old Testament’s Tainted
Because Gothard’s Christianity follows an system of works which comes primarily through meritorious acts of submission, he prefers more direct “cause and effect” explanations of meanings and applications of Scripture. While good works give the illusion that the will bring on a safe, happy and fulfilled life with limited pain through Gothard’s formulaic plan for living, the reverse is also true. Bad consequences follow from the commission of sin or some general constitutional flaw such as a “harlot’s heart.” Interpreting Scripture from an hierarchical and authoritarian premise, he maintains that Tamar’s rape and Dinah’s rape were both brought on by their own sins. (When there’s a fault to bear, it is usually the woman’s fault!) Where did Gothard find information to build this argument and his understanding? He derived them from apocryphal texts and rabbincal commentaries, putting them on par with the inspired Word of God. Consider Gothard’s history of building his Evangelical Talumud and his own ideas about unclean women and other bizarre things, borrowed from Rabbinical and apocryphal texts.
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