No Longer Quivering
by Suzanne Titkemeyer
Here we are again, in another chapter of Debi Pearl’s new book ‘The Hidden Help Meet – Stand By Your Man’. This chapter is called ‘God’s Purpose For Women’ At least this book wasn’t written by equally insane Quiverfull female cultural enforcer Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies because it would be all about having babies. The message here is to do all the grunt work smiling so that the big man does not have to strain himself and has plenty of time to read the Bible.
Again, the chapter is in two different fonts. Girly italics for Debi and plain text for deceased pastor Denny Kenaston.
There’s a whole lot of quoting of John and Susanna Wesley from an author who has open disdain for any main stream Christian church, like the United Methodist Church. At my old create your own rules Quiverfull non denominational church, like that church run by Debi and her husband Michael Pearl, there was great disdain and lies about what Methodists believe. I was told before leaving that old church that the United Methodist Church is filled with homosexual loving abortionists. No such thing.
I have noticed that certain fundamentalists will gladly use the words of more mainstream Christians and churches to make a point supporting their own beliefs five seconds after bashing the church and it’s members. What type of mental and theological gyrations have to be performed to justify going from denigrating to using their theology to back up your own ideas.
“The role of a godly women is a paradox. It doesn’t make sense; that is the way paradoxes are. The role of a godly women is to be supportive. That means it is often hidden and unknown to others.”
We get it. Weak, wimpy good Patriarchs need their enormous egos propped up and massaged by their woman all the time. That’s when she’s not cooking, cleaning and birthing enough babies to make up a major league baseball team.
“Remember Susanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, two of the most famous men of God of their times”
Aha! A disclaimer about why it’s acceptable to quote the founders of the Methodist church, but also just peachy keen to bash the denomination now, because they were in ‘that time’.
“They are the fathers of the Methodist movement. Both men gave their mother credit for having raised them to love and honor God Susanna Wesley’s influence changed millions of people’s lives, yet she was simply a wife and mother, a hidden women”
Not that hidden, even in those times, which is why there is a plethora of quotes attributed to Susanna Welsey.
Debi transcription of Denny’s taped sermon mentions Jesus washing folks feet and claims that the angel are hidden helpers meant to to prop up the ego of God by making sure that God gets all the kudos and atta boys for them doing all the grunt work of heaven. Then the focus shifts to Joshua as the guy doing the grunt work behind Moses all that time they were wandering in the desert, eating manna and refusing to ask for directions to the nearest Promised Land.
“God’s ordained purpose for the woman is to be for the man.”
I don’t recall Jesus ever saying that. You’d think if it was an important Ms. Pearl thinks it is then why didn’t rate a mention it in the Beatitudes?
Kenny and Debi make claims about service in the military, something I do not think that either of them have actually had experiences of. Like the soldiers serving up you-know-what on a shingle in the mess tent or providing guns, grits or gas to the front line guys. They both go on to say that the behind the scenes military support people are more important that those fighting the war.
Then they trot out the poor misunderstood Proverbs 31 woman to make further claims of support of women behind men.
What do you think? Is it really possible that Michael Pearl has never washed a dish or whipped up a quick meal in his entire married like?
“The God ordained role of a woman is the foundation stone that must be laid if you are going to have a peaceful, godly home. It is God’s revealed purpose for woman, plain and simple. The only way you will ever see your children grow to love and honor God with wisdom and confidence is by hiding yourself in the beautiful purpose for which you were made.”
The unspoken threat there is that if you are not toeing the line perfectly that your home will be filled with disagreements and back-sliding children. Not true. Raising children, running a household and being your husband’s cheerleader and ego-stroker in chief does not guarantee a perfect outcome. There are so many differing things that influence the emotional temperature of the home. People are all different and there are no magic formulas.
Another short chapter in HUGE type so we’re done. A final quote:
“I think you all know that these statements stand on the assumption that the husband is not bodily harming his wife or failing to act as a natural sex partner for her, or neglecting to provide necessary provision for her and the children.”
I am guessing old Denny didn’t know the Pearls very well or he would know about the animal feed that Debi served to the family back when Michael was too busy visiting prisons and studying the Bible to earn an adequate salary.
Next week Chapter 3 with the title ‘Your Hand in His Hand’ It looks like a big old bunch of blaming Jezebel for evil feminist behavior. Oh joy!
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Suzanne Titkemeyer is the admin at No Longer Quivering. She’s been out of the Quiverfull Evangelical world for nine years now and lives in the beautiful Piedmont section of Virginia for now with her retired husband and assorted creatures. She blogs at Every Breaking Wave and True Love Doesn’t Rape
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