Examining a Gothard Book, Part 3

This post is part one of examining Chapter 3: To Inspire Mighty Men! of Bill Gothard’s book, 7 Basic Needs of a Wife. 

For some reason Gothard wants to make women a greater sex than men and he gets totally ridiculous with his “proofs.”

The Need for Mighty Men of Valor

Mighty men of valor do not  “just happen.” They need to be inspired by someone who can picture achievement for them. This is the challenge for a Godly wife, because it is for the protection of his wife and children that a man will go out to a battle and if need by, lay down his life.

pg.17

So if a man is not married, he has no one to inspire him to achievement?!?

Moses learned to be a mighty man of valor from the example of his mother and sister. As a result, he turned his back on the treasures of Egypt and freed the nation from slavery. His mother courageously but creatively placed him in the Nile River, and because Pharaoh’s daughter drew him out of the river (which Egypt worship), he was late acclaimed to be a god and also in line to be the next Pharaoh.

pg.17 sidebar.

Assuming Moses learned of his mother’s and sister’s actions, is this really what led him to become a “man of valor”? After he killed a man for beating a Jew, was he a “man of valor” when he fled from Pharaoh? Was fleeing from Pharaoh “turn[ing] his back on the treasures of Egypt? Nothing of the sort is even intimated in Scripture. Wasn’t it God who led Moses to be a “mighty man of valor”? Nor was Moses “acclaimed to be god,” rather God said he’d made Mose to be LIKE God, not a god. And where in Scripture does it say Moses was in line to be the next Pharaoh?

Most men are disabled by fear of failure. The need a courageous wife to give them a vision of what God could do in and through them… (2nd Chronicles 16:9)

pg.18

Two things here: (1) Men are disabled by fear of failure?!?!?! What men has he talked to??? Do men really NEED a wife to give them such a vision? What about men who never marry—are they to live their lives “disabled by fear of failure?!? (2) What does the Bible passage have to do with this teaching?

When a wife inspires her husband to delight in the commands of Christ and teach them to their children, they will have mighty sons and daughters as promised in Psalm 112:1-2: “Blessed is the man that ferrets the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth.”

pg.18

What if their sons and daughters decide to not heed their parents’ teachings? After all, no matter how one raises their children in the Lord, the children still have free will choices as to how they will live their lives. The Psalm is a general statement—not a promise.

The Greatness of Women

God gave a definition of greatness: “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:44) Based on this definition, women are the greatest class of people in the world. Every person has spent the first nine months of his or her life in the womb. Therefore, women have served every single person in the world.

pg.18

Every person in the world has been served by a mother, beginning in the womb. This qualifies women to be the greatest group in the world.

pg.18 sidebar.

I had to laugh at this one. First, the text is saying those want to be first among men must first be a servant/slave. This is not a definition of “greatness.” Bearing a child is not serving the child; it’s just a natural process. And as servants, neither father nor mother are servants of their children. Giving birth does not classify women as “great.”

A second criterion for greatness is being last: “So the last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16).  In God’s creation, the woman was the last to be formed.

pg.18

Let’s look at how John MacArthur explains this passage to show just how much abuse Gothard   does to it: In other words, everyone finishes in a dead heat. No matter how long each of the workers worked, they each received a full day’s wage. Similarly, the thief on the cross will enjoy the full blessings of heaven alongside those who have labored their whole lives for Christ. Such is the grace of God.

It has nothing to do with any “criterion” for “greatness.”

The Power of Women

Not only are women greater than men, but they also have more power than men, because there are two types of power. The first is power of position. The president of a company or nation would have this power, which is delegated authority. A second type of power is the power of influence. This power is exercised by those who are close to and trusted by those in authority . They are able to give opinion, counsel, and ideas that can change the mind of the leader. [What about a third type of power—strength?]

Eve used her power of influence to change the mind of Adam and the course of history. Esther also used her power of influence to change the mind of King Ahasuerus and changed the course of history. Most women have no idea how much power they have to influence men—for good or evil.

pg.19

So only women have the power of influence? Gothard apparently hasn’t studied history, let alone culture in general. Men have just as much “power of influence” as do women. 

 Stay tuned for part two of examining this chapter.