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Today, the word “Patriarchy” is a dirty word. We hear from the left that it is oppressive; we hear from the right that it is abused. There are websites across the internet dedicated to the downfall of patriarchy. Funny thing, normally, what the world sees as bad, the Bible sees as good. We see in the Bible that Patriarchy is sprinkled throughout. I would like to show what true Patriarchy is and why so many men and women are actually happier in a patriarchal family; the worldview that so many disdain.

“There has been 6% increase in women staying at home in the past decade as women realize what is more important; family.”

Patriarchy, or simply defined as, “Father Ruled,” is scattered all throughout the Bible. We see in Genesis that God made man first and later created a woman because, “It was not good that man was alone.” God made a beautiful woman to be a helper to the man. This role was designed and instituted by God to display an attribute of Himself. The Hebrew word for “helper” is only used again throughout the Bible in describing God Himself to His people. This is how high and lofty a woman’s calling is. When the woman sinned, God went to Adam first because the Man was the one who was primarily responsible. We see Adam, the man, being the ruler of his house. This is the quintessential prototype of the family.

Moving past creation, the use of covenants and genealogies were centered around the Men/Heads of Households (Gen 35, 36, Ex 6, 1 Chron 4, Matt 1). Yes, we also see that there are women listed in these genealogies (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah’s wife [Bathsheba], and Mary to name a few). However, everyone knows that the exception to the rule, proves there is a rule. This pattern clearly shows that familial lines transferred through the males. God established his covenants through male representatives; it was to men and their offspring. We struggle thinking this is unfair; it is important to note that this is not unfair. God is not being unjust by putting men in charge. God is not a tyrannical dictator nor is His design for this—because we are created in His image (Gen 1:26-27). If you think God is unfair, just remember, what is fair, is for God to annihilate all mankind, for we have sinned before His Holiness. Every breath we have been given is a gift; this unfairness mentality that is pervasive in this culture is childish, immature, arrogant, and sinful. Rejoice that life isn’t fair!

“Men are 40% more likely than women to be the victim of a violent crime. Patriarchy abuses women is a lie; rape culture is a lie.”

Under a patriarchal family; all of a woman’s needs are taken care of. She is freed up to take care of her precious little ones, instead of needing to worry about where the next meal will come from. When the father dies, the eldest son (typically) takes over his father’s responsibilities. This would have included caring for and protecting, his mother, brothers, sisters, and their families, as well as managing the father’s estate and possessions. In a loving Patriarchal family, the women of the family were under the caring protection of the head of the household. These women were under their responsibility; if there was abuse, the man was ultimately held responsible before God.

Men were designed to be rulers over their households. Women were designed to be man’s helper as he takes dominion. When man fulfills his role, he is satisfied; when woman fulfills her role, she is satisfied. Issues arise when the man or woman is fighting their role; men shirking responsibility or women trying to usurp man’s authority. Because of sin and this cursed world, we have people head butting, creating abuse and oppression. The 21st century mindset is the opposite of this way of living.

The essence of Patriarchy is Biblical. When it is pure and loving, women flourish. A woman is most happy when she is submitting to God, which means submission to his design. Patriarchy is the familial system that is interwoven throughout the entire Bible. It brings purpose to both men and to women. It is a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church—His Bride. What better example to give our children is there than that?

8 Huge Myths about Hell

The reality of hell and eternal punishment is not a popular topic, even among Christians. Part of the problem is that the nature of hell has been horribly distorted in our culture and portrayed as an experience that is far from what we read in the NT. When I’m asked why I believe in hell, my response is three-fold.
First, I have such unshakable and robust confidence in the inerrant truth of every word in the Bible that the matter is already settled before I even read the text. I believe, as the Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16, that “all Scripture [even texts such as Revelation 14:9-11] is breathed out by God and [is] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
Second, by God’s grace I have come to understand, at least to some degree, the immeasurable magnitude and majesty of God’s holiness and beauty and authority and the honor that is due to him from all of his creatures, including you and me.
Third, again by God’s grace I have come to understand the immeasurable horror and ugliness and self-centeredness of humanity’s sin and depravity and wickedness.

If hell strikes you as unreasonable or unfair...

So I can honestly say that to the degree that you and I struggle with the concept of hell and eternal punishment is the degree to which we don’t understand God’s holiness and honor, on the one hand, or the horror and depravity of mankind’s sin, on the other. In other words, if hell strikes you as unreasonable or unfair or disproportionate, it can only be due to the fact that either you don’t believe the Bible is inspired and true, or you don’t believe that God is infinitely holy and just, or you don’t believe that mankind is morally depraved and has committed cosmic treason and is thus deserving of eternal condemnation.
As noted, contributing to the problem of hell are the numerous myths or false beliefs that surround it.
Here are eight of them:

Myth #1: Hell is a place to be united with unbelievers.

There is widespread belief among non-Christians that hell is a place where they will be united with their unbelieving friends and drink beer all the time in an endless party. The fact is that hell is a place of utter isolation, loneliness, and deprivation.

Myth #2: Hell is a place where Satan and his demons reign.

Another false belief is that hell is the place where Satan and his demons exercise their authority to rule and reign. The fact is that hell is the place where Satan and his demons suffer eternal punishment. Satan and his demons are inmates in hell, not its warden or guards. See Matthew 25:41 for one clear statement to that effect:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Myth #3: Satan and his demons will torment human beings in hell.

Directly related to the previous myth, there is the notion among many that in hell Satan and his demons torment human beings who also are there. No. There is not one text in the Bible that suggests Satan and his demons afflict or torment human beings. They themselves, instead, are the object of God’s punishment. There have been numerous books written by people who claim to have visited hell in which they describe a scene where demons are tormenting humans who have been consigned there. This should be the first indication to all careful, Bible-believing readers that such an experience is fabricated.

Myth #4: There are people in hell who want to reconcile with God.

Yet another misconception is that there are people in hell crying out for mercy who want to reconcile with God. Nothing in Scripture indicates this is so. Instead, those in hell are eternally defiant of God and hate him all the more with each passing moment.

Myth #5: There are people in hell who don't deserve to be there.

One of the more blasphemous notions about hell is that there are people in hell who don’t deserve to be there. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God’s justice is impeccable and he never consigns anyone to punishment in hell who does not fully deserve to suffer there.

Myth #6: There are people in hell who wanted to go to heaven.

A related myth is the notion that there are people in hell who wanted to go to heaven while they were still alive, but God wouldn’t let them. That is utterly false. Jesus himself made this clear when he said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. . . . whoever comes to me I will never cast out . . . . For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:35, John 6:37b, John 6:40).

Myth #7: Hell holds people who will one day be released.

A seventh myth is that there are people in hell who will eventually be released and granted entrance into heaven. As much as we might wish this were true, it isn’t. The Bible does not teach the doctrine of universalism, that is, the idea that everyone will eventually be saved and given eternal life in the new heaven and new earth.

Myth #8: In hell, people will be rid of God.

Finally, there is the myth that in hell people will be rid of God and have no experience of him. That is not true. It is true they will have no experience of God’s loving and gracious presence, but they will most assuredly experience his presence in justice and wrath. In fact, we read in Revelation 14:10 that they will be tormented “in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb,” that is, in the presence of Jesus Christ. As John Piper has said, Revelation 14:10is not saying that “those in hell have the privilege of seeing what they enjoy, but that they have the remorse of seeing what they rejected.”

Hell should provoke anguish and urgency.

I’ll conclude with two brief observations. First, I can’t read biblical portrayals of hell and eternal punishment or think about it without feeling a deep and unrelenting agony in my heart. We should never talk about hell without weeping, for it is real and people are going there. This is not a subject for joking or lighthearted banter. It is an issue that should provoke within us both anguish and an urgent commitment to share the gospel with those who remain in unbelief.

Hell should provoke unfathomable gratitude.

My second reaction is one of unfathomable gratitude. When I read about hell in a passage like Revelation 14:9-11 I’m reading about what I deserve. God would have been perfectly just and righteous had he chosen to consign me to eternal torment. But in mercy he has drawn me to faith in his Son. In mercy he has poured out his wrath on Jesus in my place, a wrath and judgment that Jesus lovingly and willingly embraced and endured. Every single one of us deserves damnation. God owes us nothing but justice. The fact that he has given us mercy instead, and forgiveness instead of condemnation, ought to awaken in us the most heartfelt and passionate gratitude and praise.