Womanly Dominion: More than a Gentle and Quiet Spirit by Mark Chanski
Posted by deangonzales on September 1, 2008
Mark Chanski is a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Holland, Michigan, and the professor of hermeneutics for Reformed Baptist Seminary. Below is an excerpt from his soon-to-be published Womanly Dominion: More than a Gentle and Quiet Spirit. The book is due to be available on September 12, by Calvary Press. Chapter 13 is entitled “Womanly Dominion in the Public Square.” The subheadings are: 1. A Woman President? 2. A Woman Warrior? 3. A Woman Athlete? 4. A Woman Worker?
A Woman President?
Right now, it’s January, 2008. The polls indicate that Hillary Clinton is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Past polls have shown that in a general election, pitted against any Republican candidate, Hillary would win. There’s also been talk on the Republican side of the nominee possibly choosing the present Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, as his running mate, placing a woman a “heartbeat away” from the oval office. Setting aside for the moment specific personalities and liberal vs. conservative ideology, would this be a good thing in general, for a woman to become our President? [Ed. Although Hillary and Condolezza are out of the picture at this point, John McCain has just announced Sarah Palin to be his running mate as VP. So the scenario of a woman president is still within the scope of possibility!]
Important Considerations
1. The Bible views it as a judgment and calamity upon a nation for it to be ruled by women. Isaiah 3:12 reads: “O My people! Their oppressors are children, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray, and confuse the direction of your paths.” Surely here, God views women and children as less than ideal rulers. This probably refers to an inherent constitutional weakness in womanhood (1 Peter 3:7, 1 Timothy 2:14), which generally hinders them in high-pressured leadership challenges.
2. Esther was a wise queen, but she did not rule as a monarch. Persian authority rested with her husband, King Ahasuerus. Her influence on national policy was profound, but as a bold and advising helpmeet behind the scenes (Esther 5:1-4; 7:2-6), not as a political ruler. In her we find a noble pattern for our daughters. If George W. Bush is the most powerful man in the world, his wife Laura may arguably be the second most powerful man in the world (Esther 4:14).
3. Deborah was indeed God’s appointed leader for Israel during the period of the Judges (Judges 4:1-5:31). But this was a morally dark and bleak era for Israel, and Deborah’s rise to power was actually an indictment against shameful male dereliction. (See chapter 4 of this book in explaining Deborah.) The accomplished Puritan Poet, Anne Bradstreet, (whose husband Simon Bradstreet and father Thomas Dudley served as governors of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1600’s) understood that in trying times God could use a Deborah. In a poem commending the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Bradstreet penned:
She hath wiped off th’ aspersion of her sex,
That Women wisdom lack to play the rex . . .
Was ever people better ruled than hers?”[i]
4. The Bible looks favorably on the competence of the Queen of Sheba and the legitimacy of her secular rule over her gentile nation (1 Kings 10:1-10). Such national leaders as Elizabeth I in England, Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom, and Golda Meir in Israel are examples of competent women who have admirably led their respective nations. It’s interesting how the latter two were both given the nickname “Iron Lady,” indicating that their mettle was uncharacteristically strong for their gender. Steely firm toughness, an essential trait for effective ruling, is typically more pronounced in men (1 Corinthians 16:13). It’s interesting how David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, called Mrs. Meir “the only man in his cabinet.” [ii]
5. It is difficult to imagine a high-ranking female politician’s being able to conscientiously fulfill her priority obligations as a helpmeet to her husband and a mother to her children. Golda Meir broke off her political responsibilities for four years to stay at home and raise her two children. However, upon returning to public life, her enormous workload contributed to the collapse of her marriage in 1945.[iii]
Summary Opinion
Though I would never vote for a woman as my pastor, I could, under the right circumstances, be persuaded to vote for a woman as my president.
[i] Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet, ed. Jeannine Hensley (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1967), 19.
[ii] BBC News Profile, BBC, Golda Meir, 21 April 1998.
[iii] Ibid.
Endorsements
“This book is a very helpful one that, when I first looked at it, I thought a man couldn’t write! But he did!”
Dr. Jay E. Adams,
Dean, Institure For Nouthetic Studies, Esteemed Author of over 120 books,
Father of Nouthetic Counseling, Retired Seminary Professor, Local Pastor, Worldwide Lecturer
“Finally–a book that brings together nearly everything God’s Word calls a woman to be–from within herself to her marriage and family, as well as the church and the public square. Chansk’s Womanly Dominion is Biblical Womanhood 101, a biblical, succinct, practical course that shows women how to think God’s thoughts after Him, to align themselves with their holy and awesome calling, and to free themselves from the pressures of worldly thinking about womanhood. Chanski is at times very frank and direct, at other times witty and humorous, and remarkably open and courageous, but he is always biblical and realistic, and knows how to open up the fullness of the woman’s massive calling. If women follow the advice contained in this book, they will be prayerful, joyful, content, fulfilled, and too busy exercising biblical dominion in every sphere of life to join the female murmurers and feminists of the twenty-first century!”
Dr. Joel R. Beeke
President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids, MI
“Today’s woman wants freedom and power. Mark Chanski clearly and colorfully describes how we women can be liberated from feminist ideas, to exercise womanly dominion, as outlined in Scripture by the very God who designed us. We have dominion in performing our role as a wife, in nurturing our children, in managing our home, and in reaching out to others. Singles have dominion in work and in society. Our greatest privilege is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, who humbly washed others’ feet. He said, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” In the milieu of following God’s will, we can be content, fulfilled, and honored. Womanly Dominion is a must read for women.”
Mary Beeke
Wife of Dr. Joel Beeke
Author of The Law of Kindness
“Too many Christians, men and women, have bought into secular and even pagan notions of godly womanhood. Godly womanhood is not simply having the right ideas, or even simply the right doctrine. We do not need a generation of evangelical Stepford Wives, nor do we need a generation of Proverbs 31 Ann Coulters. Instead, the Scripture calls us to Christ-honoring heroic women with a gentle and quiet Spirit that is beautiful in the sight of the Lord. Mark Chanski calls us to this vision with grace, clarity, and conviction. This book will help women to grow in Christ. It will also help older women to mentor younger women. And it will help parents to raise daughters of dominion.”
Dr. Russell D. Moore
Vice-President and Dean
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
Frequent Guest Host on The Albert Mohler Radio Program
“Womanly Dominion is biblical, practical and compelling. Mark Chanski provides the church with a presentation of biblical womanhood that has the rare combination of winsomeness and theological clarity. If you care about the home and church you need to read this book.”
Randy L. Stinson, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Leadership and Church Ministry
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
President, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
“This is a fine book that lifts Christian women to their queenly province–which reigns far above the mythical sovereignties of feminism. Read this book and be liberated! We highly recommend it.”
Kent and Barbara Hughes
Retired Pastor of College Church, Wheaton, IL;
Authors of Disciplines of a Godly Man and Disciplines of a Godly Woman
September 1st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[...] Here is Pastor Mark Chanski, author of Manly Dominion and (soon to be available) Womanly Dominion on a woman in the White House. Thanks to Professor Robert Gonzales for his editorial comments. [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 2:20 pm
We had been praying and fasting for this country. The book of Isaiah compelling us to do so.
And its ironic, how this woman is suddenly, unexpectantly thrust into the limelight – and of all people – by McCain.
I would agree to the summary opinion.
Also, I married an Idaho girl. And I do know what courageous western girls are capable of for special, difficult times.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
[...] vote for a ticket that has a woman in the second highest office? One Reformed Baptist pastor has weighted in on the negative. I disagree. Here’s my [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Bob, thank you for your gentle correction. I have modified my blog post to hopefully better reflect Mark’s intent.
I am sorry for not taking better care with my words.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Tim Etherington, author of the blog, By Farther Steps, has expressed overall disagreement with the excerpt of Chanski’s book cited above. In a blog entitled “Of Queens, Vessels and Alaska,” Tim offers some suggestions on how the passages cited by Pastor Chanski might yield other conclusions. He begins his post, however, by apparently ignoring Chanski’s own conclusion. Chanski queries, “Setting aside for the moment specific personalities and liberal vs. conservative ideology, would this be a good thing in general, for a woman to become our President?” Although he does not believe it’s God’s general norm for women to serve as political sovereigns, Chanski concludes, “Though I would never vote for a woman as my pastor, I could, under the right circumstances, be persuaded to vote for a woman as my president.” Similarly, Tim asks, “Can we American, Bible believing Christians vote for a ticket that has a woman in the second highest office?” Then he assert, “One Reformed Baptist pastor has weighted [sic] in on the negative. I disagree.” Tim concludes, “Women may not lead in the home or the church but the nation is an entirely different matter.” Apart from some differences in exegetical conclusions and perhaps in emphasis, both writers seem to arrive at similar conclusions. Thus, for Tim to assert that Pastor Chanski has “weighed in on the negative” despite the fact that he concludes his article with the statement, “I could, under the right circumstances, be persuaded to vote for a woman as my president,” does not appear, at least to me, entirely accurate.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Bob,
I may just need to read the entire book (feel free to say so if that’s the case), but I don’t see how Chanski’s 5 points would result in his summary conclusion? I can see why Tim Etherington would misunderstand the conclusion.
I’m just not connecting the dots there. Particularly based on #5, I’m having a hard time understanding the conclusion he comes to.
Jeremiah
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Jeremiah,
I think you’ve raised a good question. It’s true that Pastor Chanski’s five points would seem to incline the reader toward a negative conclusion. Perhaps, what Pastor Chanski intends to say is that as a general rule the Scriptures would encourage male leadership and discourage female leadership. Nevertheless, the Scriptures don’t seem to draw a sharp line here as they do when we think of ecclesiastical leadership. Hence, there may be exceptions or “right circumstances” that would render female leadership in the political sphere permissible and appropriate. As you suggest, we may have to wait till the book is published to gain a fuller picture. I’ll invite Pastor Chanski to offer a response if he has the time.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
In light of some of the questions related to the excerpt from Pastor Chanski’s upcoming book Womanly Dominion, I’m posting two more excerpts from the book with Pastor Chanski’s permission. These should help situate the excerpt above in its proper context:
The first excerpt provides an overview of the book’s theme:
The second excerpt comes from the introduction to chapter 13, “Womanly Dominion in the Public Square”:
Hopefully, these extra excerpts will provide a fuller picture of the thrust of Chanski’s thesis.
Your servant,
Bob Gonzales
February 19th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
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