Friday, October 31, 2008

But What About Deborah?

Why the Example of Deborah Does not Support the Candidacy of Sarah Palin

by William Einwechter
October 2, 2008

[emphasis added]

[Vision Forum] Editor’s Note: [excerpts]

When it comes to the issue of how Christians should vote for a presidential ticket, there is only one question: By what ethical standard shall we select our civil magistrates? The answer to this question defines the entire debate.

And there are only two answers to this question: The first answer is that the Bible alone establishes the complete and authoritative ethical standards for selecting civil magistrates. This is the correct answer for all who claim the name of Jesus Christ as sovereign. It is the only answer that honors the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture and the Lordship of Christ over man, his Church, and the nations.

To ease the conscience of Christians and conservatives, the McCain team (with the advice of key Republican Christians like Dr. Richard Land) turned to Sarah Palin, a female governor who they would attempt to package as a conservative Evangelical to the Right and a feminist innovator to the Left in order to sanctify the candidacy of McCain for conservatives and build bridges with liberal female voters.


[ CCL Note: Dr. Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention, is a member of the NWO's Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). In the opinion of this writer, he is not to be trusted by Bible-believing Christians for biblical counsel. In the opinion of this writer, Richard Land is a "Judas goat," leading evangelical Christians astray. (Steve Lefemine)
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Membership Roster: www.stopthenorthamericanunion.com/CFRMembers.html ]


But now there was a problem for partisan leadership within the conservative Christian Church in America. How do Christians support for the second highest elective office in America, a self-avowed feminist, mother of young children who goes back to work three days after giving birth to a Down syndrome baby, who has a child with a teenage pregnancy, who clearly leads the direction of her family, while her husband (whom she formally acknowledges plays a “Mr. Mom” role) follows her and helps to advance her leadership? How do partisan, politically-active Christian leaders do this, given the fact that this is the very type of feminist lifestyle and vision they have in the past opposed as unbiblical and unwise?

Answer: Appeal to fear; downplay the facts; and whenever biblical concerns are raised, simply mention Deborah.

But now Bill Einwechter answers the question: “But What About Deborah?” Regardless of your political inclinations, you will want to read this important and historic treatise on the doctrine of Deborah and civil magistrates. This may be the most thoroughly-researched and best-reasoned article on the subject in our lifetime.

Readers will learn: (a) about the historical context of the book of Judges; (b) the function of these judges as avengers, military leaders, and deliverers, not as judges as we think of them in a modern context; (c) Deborah’s role as a prophetess who judged, but not as a civil authority, or as one of the elected elders or “judges” who defended Israel; (d) why the example of Deborah must be harmonized with the didactic portions of the Scripture; (e) why, if Deborah’s example is used to justify female civil rulers, it can be used to justify female church rulers; and much more.

Why is it critical that fathers and mothers, pastors, and students read this article and come to grips with the structure and nuances of the debate concerning the prophetess Deborah and the present elections? It is critical because conservative Christian leaders have been willing to mortgage their entire future as defenders of the family in America for a political election. And to justify this abdication of responsibility as the representatives of Gospel truth in the nation, they have resorted to theology by maxim: “Yes, but what about Deborah?”


[ CCL Note: Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family is one example of a national Christian leader who has chosen the unbiblical path of endorsing the Sarah Palin candidacy. Dobson issued a statement (8/29/08) that included: “Sen. McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is an outstanding choice that should be extremely reassuring to the conservative base of his party." www.citizenlink.org/content/A000008072.cfm ]

Long after the presidential elections of 2008 have passed, Christians will be fighting the battle for the family. But the pro-family Christians of 2008 who set aside their defense of the biblical doctrine of the family and the creation order principle to satisfy partisan political ambitions have lost something fundamental. They have lost the scriptural foundation of their cause. They have sold their birthright for a mess of politically idolatrous pottage. To win an election, they have not only embraced the ideals of feminism, but they have canonized the role models of feminism as saintly examples for the daughters of Zion to emulate.

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12).

________________________________________________

by William Einwechter

The nomination of Sarah Palin to be the vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party has thrilled evangelicals, whether they are egalitarian [1] or semi-complementarian [2] in their views on men and women. Some have been extravagant in their praise of Mrs. Palin’s candidacy, while others have been more measured. But there has been a near unanimous agreement that Mrs. Palin is an excellent choice for vice president, and that her place on the Republican ticket enables Christians to confidently support John McCain for president, in spite of his questionable “conservative” record. Some evangelicals have even been sent into what one might call political ecstasy over Sarah Palin.

But some Christians have serious doubts and concerns about the biblical propriety of Sarah Palin’s quest for the vice presidency. Their concerns center around the biblical teaching on the great importance of the roles of a wife and mother in her home and how these roles can, in good conscience, be reconciled with Palin’s own circumstances: five children, one an infant with special needs and one a daughter facing a “crisis pregnancy.” The fact that Mrs. Palin, who professes to be a Christian, is a feminist [3] and embodies the anti-Christian feminist vision for womanhood deeply troubles those who desire to rebuild the biblical family and restore the beauty and splendor of Christian womanhood. In addition, there are a number of us who believe that God has ordained the order of male headship for every sphere of government: family, church, and state. Therefore, as we understand Scripture, it is a violation of God’s law for a woman to seek the office of civil magistrate (doubly so if she is a wife or mother), or for Christians to support her for office or vote for her.[4]

Read the remainder of this article at:
www.visionforumministries.org/issues/ballot_box/so_what_about_deborah.aspx

Article's subsequent paragraph headings: (with text for concluding paragraph)

Does the Example of Deborah Establish the Biblical Propriety of Female Civil Rulers and Sarah Palin’s Candidacy?

The Historical Context of the Book of Judges

The Functon of the “Judges” in the Book of Judges

The Role of Deborah in the Book of Judges

Deborah Was Not a “Judge” in the Sense that the Book of Judges Defines that Role


The Example of Deborah Must be Harmonized with the Didactic Portions of Scripture
"John Knox explains the hermeneutical principle we are discussing here and shows how the example of Deborah cannot be used to prove or establish a doctrine of female rulers:"

If Deborah’s Example Is Used to Justify Female Civil Rulers, It Can Also Be Used to Justify Female Church Rulers

Conclusion: The Example of Deborah Does Not Establish the Propriety of Female Rulers or the Candidacy of Sarah Palin

We conclude, on the basis of biblical exegesis and the application of sound principles of hermeneutics and logic, that the example of Deborah does not establish the biblical validity of female civil rulers. We also conclude that there will be grievous consequences from accepting the faulty argument that the story of Deborah confirms the biblical acceptance of female rulers. We, therefore, urge Christians to think biblically and not use Deborah as justification for female magistrates in general, or for the candidacy of Sarah Palin in particular; because to do so is to corrupt the Word of God, undermine the authority of God’s law, violate a critically important principle of hermeneutics, and further encourage human autonomy in Christian ethics. We must not jettison the law of God by throwing off the counsel of the Scriptures as unpopular, antiquated, or unclear. It is God’s Word that illuminates our steps; Christians must not resort to doing that which is right in their own eyes.

In addition, we believe that it is foolish (if not blasphemous; cf. Titus 2:5) to compare the feminist Sarah Palin to Deborah and to use Deborah to validate her candidacy. Deborah was a prophetess who stood for God’s law in a corrupt society. Mrs. Palin is not a prophetess, and instead of standing for the authority and truth of the law of God, she has violated God’s law by her feminist life-style and her support of public policy positions that are contrary to God’s law.[19] Deborah was a great prophetess; Sarah Palin is only another Republican politician.

Furthermore, we contend that it is presumptuous to argue that since we live in a period of history like unto the period of the book of Judges, we can assume that God has raised up Sarah Palin for us in the same way that He raised up Deborah for Israel.

How do those who make this claim justify it? How do they know that the plan of God for Israel in the days of the Deborah is the same plan that He has for America today? How do they know that Sarah Palin is a Deborah for our day?

Perhaps she is something else entirely. Perhaps she has been raised up to test the Christian church, to see if our allegiance is to the Republican party and its agenda, or to Jesus Christ and His kingdom; to see if we are willing to sacrifice the biblical doctrine of Christian womanhood, and support a woman who embodies the feminist vision of womanhood for the sake of winning an election; to see if we are willing to compromise on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture for the sake of political expediency? Perhaps she is a manifestation of God’s judgment on the church in terms similar to Isaiah 3:12 (in the context of Isaiah 3:12 the women who ruled over the men were foolish women; they were not wise and godly women of the faith and character of Deborah)?

Whatever the case, this much is clear: We cannot presume to know the secret will of God, and then act on our
presumptions and say we are doing God’s will. Rather, we are commanded to obey the revealed will of God by
doing all the words written in the law of God (Deut. 29:29). It is only by obeying God’s law (Deut. 1:13) that we
can know how to vote (or not vote) in this or in any election.

Finally, we reject the perspective of those who say that even though it is normal for men to rule in the civil sphere, we have to be willing to allow for an exception from time to time and not cling so tenaciously to God’s created order for men and women, or to His commandments. This sounds like pure sophistry to us. Where in Scripture is such a thing taught? If we must be willing to make exceptions in regard to female magistrates, then we must also be willing to do the same in regard to God’s appointed order for the church and the family.

But they seriously err who use the example of Deborah to argue that Sarah Palin is an exception that we need to embrace. The fact is that Sarah Palin is not an exception in our current political circumstances in America. She is part of a host of women who have moved into high positions of leadership in American civil government. To support Sarah Palin is not to yield to a Deborah-like anomaly, but to validate the whole feminist agenda of women ruling over men in the civil sphere.

Copyright © 2001-2008 Vision Forum Ministries®

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Related articles, sermons:


Biblical Standards for Choosing Civil Magistrates
by William Einwechter, July 7, 2004
www.visionforumministries.org/issues/ballot_box/biblical_standards_for_choosin.aspx
William Einwechter (Th.M.) is an ordained minister and an elder at Immanuel Free Reformed Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Linda, are the homeschooling parents of ten children.


Pro-Aborts, Pro-Sodomites Schwarzenegger and Giuliani endorse Pro-Abort McCain
CFR wolf-in-sheep's clothing Dr. Richard Land, Southern Baptist Convention says:
CFR Pro-Abort John McCain "is strongly pro-life."
Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family says:
"I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances"
http://lefemineforlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/pro-aborts-pro-sodomites-schwarzenegger.html
Dr. Richard Land,
wolf-in-sheep's clothing and false leader "Judas Goat" (Isaiah 3:12, Isaiah 9:16) is a member of the Illuminati Establishment's pro-North American Union (NAU), one-worlder Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)


Sarah Palin and the Complementarian Compromise
by William Einwechter, September 8, 2008
http://lefemineforlife.blogspot.com/2008/10/sarah-palin-and-complementarian.html


CovenantNews.com - 'Feminists for Life' as VP Candidate?
John McCain Picks Mother of Five and Member of 'Feminists for Life' as VP Candidate
By Doug Phillips / The Vision Forum
www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/08/4273.aspx
www.covenantnews.com/abortion/archives/045928.html
http://lefemineforlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/covenantnewscom-feminists-for-life-as.html


"Palin and America's Manhood Deficiency" - by Mr. Matt Trewhella, pastor
"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.
O' My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths." - Isaiah 3:12
http://lefemineforlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/palin-and-americas-manhood-deficiency.html


A Refutation of the Debased Theology of a Monstrous Regiment of Christian Feminists
Sermon by Mr. Matt Trewhella, pastor
Mercy Seat Christian Church
www.covenantnews.com/blog/archives/046252.html
http://mercyseatchurch.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/a-refutation-of-the-debased-theology-of-a-monstrous-regiment-of-christian-feminists/
Christian Feminism theology has made deep inroads in American Christianity both in the academic and poplular realms. This sermon takes the exegetical and interpretive work of Christian Feminism theology to task. This is a no-holds barred sermon which leaves Christian Feminism theology bloodied and lying where it belongs - in the trash heap of heresy. This sermon covers much Scripture.


Sermon: Another Monstrous Regiment of Women
7/6/2008 (Sunday) - Isaiah 3:12
Sermon by Mr. Ralph Ovadal, pastor
Pilgrims Covenant Church
www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=7908165636


Should Christians Support a Woman for the Office of Civil Magistrate?
by William Einwechter, July 8, 2004
www.visionforumministries.org/issues/ballot_box/should_christians_support_a_wo.aspx
William Einwechter (Th.M.) is an ordained minister and an elder at Immanuel Free Reformed Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Linda, are the homeschooling parents of ten children.


"The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women"
by John Knox, 1558
edited by Edward Arber, 1878

The Preface
"I am assured that GOD hath revealed unto some in this our age, that it is more than a monster in nature that a Woman shall reign and have empire above Man."

"THE ADMONITION - And now to put an end to the First Blast. Seeing that by the Order of Nature; by the malediction and curse pronounced against Woman; by the mouth of Saint PAUL, the interpreter of GOD's sentence; by the example of that Commonwealth in which GOD by His word planted order and policy; and finally, by the judgment of the most godly writers: GOD hath dejected women from rule, dominion, empire and authority above man."

[ The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women (Paperback) ] [ John Knox (Author) and Edward Arber (Editor) ]
www.tower.com/help/help_home.cfm

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

What does the Word of God say about the God-ordained roles of men and women ?

God's creation-order design is for men to be the heads of households (e.g., Ephesians 5:22-33), to be the elders and pastors of churches (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), and to serve as civil ministers / magistrates in civil government. It is not God's perfect will for women to rule over men in the family, church, or civil government (including the armed forces - and it is not God's will for women to be the warriors-soldiers in a society). When women are in headship / rulership positions over men, it is a sign, judgment, and indictment against the men, who are failing to fulfill their God-ordained roles. It is a curse upon everyone, men and women. It is a curse upon a nation (e.g., Isaiah 3:12).


"America repent" (music video)
"Contemporary Christian Artist: Tim Juillet"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvu6hHLSpzk


"If My people [Christians], which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways [sins of commission and omission]; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land [America, or any nation]."
2 Chronicles 7:14

A message to Christian "blacks" and to Christian "whites" : REPENT !!!

To Vote for Pro-Abort, Pro-Sodomite, NWO Globalist, Marxist, Barack "Citizen of the World" Obama, is to SIN AGAINST GOD.
To Vote for Pro-Abort, Pro-Sodomite, NWO Globalist, CFR-member, John "McAmnesty" McCain, is to SIN AGAINST GOD.


Neither McCain nor Obama is a co-sponsor of S.3111 ( see http://thomas.loc.gov ) to end child-murder in America -

Sanctity of Life Voter Guide (Vision Forum)
October 30, 2008
www.visionforumministries.org/issues/ballot_box/sanctity_of_life_voter_guide_1.aspx


Christians, demonstrate your repentance to God by not voting for Pro-Abort John McCain or Pro-Abort Barack Obama on November 4, 2008. There is a "pro-personhood" pro-life Christian constitutionalist for whom you can vote: Florida Baptist pastor and presidential candidate for the Constitution Party, Dr. Chuck Baldwin. http://baldwin08.com/ (assuming Skull and Bones Illuminati NWO puppet President George W. Bush doesn't declare a "National Emergency," suspend the U.S. Constitution, declare Martial Law, and suspend / postpone / cancel the November 4, 2008 elections !).

Dr. Chuck Baldwin has repeatedly, publicly, expressed his support of the "pro-personhood" pro-life position:

If I Were President
By Chuck Baldwin
May 2, 2008
www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2008/cbarchive_20080502.html

"Pro-Life" Candidates Should Put Up Or Shut Up
by Chuck Baldwin
November 30, 2007
www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20071130.html

Sanctity of Life Act - HR 2597, sponsored by Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) Ending Pro-Abortion Judicial Tyranny
Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution states: "The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make."
www.prolifealliance.com/sanctity%20of%20life%20act.html


"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17, KJB

"But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it." Psalm 94:15, KJB


No King but King Jesus! (Yeshua Messiah)
Declarations and Evidences of Christian Faith in America’s Colonial Charters, State Constitutions, and other Historical Documents during over 375 Years of American History: 1606 to 1982
www.christianlifeandliberty.net/NoKingbutKingJesus.doc


"... I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Yeshua Messiah


Hallelu-Yah !

Steve Lefemine, pro-life missionary
dir., Columbia Christians for Life
PO Box 50358
Columbia, SC
(803) 765-0916
http://www.christianlifeandliberty.net/
http://www.righttolifeactofsc.net/
http://www.lefemineforlife.net/
October 31, 2008

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