Have you ever encountered an ex-husband who keeps sending his ex-wife angry text messages and keeps complaining to wider family members about how awful his ex-wife is, how everybody should hate her and shun her, because, you know she left him? The fact that he did not treat her kindly is beside the point, she left him, and so she should never have to stop paying for it. Yes, it is sadly all too common.
This disturbing story echoes the opening chapter of the book of Esther where we read that Vashti’s “No” to appearing before drunken men to show off her beauty triggered an over-the-top response by insecure men who feared the power of women. Memucan, one of the king’s officials, advised that Vashti’s defiance would cause “all women” in the Persian Empire to “look with contempt on their husbands” and “the noble ladies of Persia and Media to rebel against the king’s officials” causing “no end of contempt and wrath!” He proposed that the king issue a decree that mandated that “all women give honor to their husbands, high and low alike” and that “every man should be master in his own house.” We now know that the only women invited to ancient drinking banquets were prostitutes and dancing girls; wives were not welcome. I applaud the Vashti-like courage of women like Aimee Byrd and men like Michael Bird who support them.
It all seems very "inside baseball" to me, but in the Evangelical or Reformed milieu, this is obviously upsetting some big cheeses. I don't have much idea how big the teapot for this tempest is, although the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the denomination Mrs. Byrd left, is tiny, with around 30,000 total congregants.
I've been reading Aimee Byrd's articles and books for years. She has a lot of interesting things to say.
Yes indeed! Another call for civility in Evangelicalism where we can lovingly disagree on secondary issues, indeed on any issue. Strident, vindictive, abusive, inaccurate, inflammatory attacks on sisters in Christ is at the least a bad testimony to the lost and a burning of bridges within the body. No one has the final word in this theological debate. So, for the Kingdoms sake, let us march forward uplifting, yes, cheering on these indispensable servants of God. What I have read of Aimee Byrd is a testimony to her godly character and careful exegesis. We need more like her, not less!
This disturbing story echoes the opening chapter of the book of Esther where we read that Vashti’s “No” to appearing before drunken men to show off her beauty triggered an over-the-top response by insecure men who feared the power of women. Memucan, one of the king’s officials, advised that Vashti’s defiance would cause “all women” in the Persian Empire to “look with contempt on their husbands” and “the noble ladies of Persia and Media to rebel against the king’s officials” causing “no end of contempt and wrath!” He proposed that the king issue a decree that mandated that “all women give honor to their husbands, high and low alike” and that “every man should be master in his own house.” We now know that the only women invited to ancient drinking banquets were prostitutes and dancing girls; wives were not welcome. I applaud the Vashti-like courage of women like Aimee Byrd and men like Michael Bird who support them.
It all seems very "inside baseball" to me, but in the Evangelical or Reformed milieu, this is obviously upsetting some big cheeses. I don't have much idea how big the teapot for this tempest is, although the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the denomination Mrs. Byrd left, is tiny, with around 30,000 total congregants.
I've been reading Aimee Byrd's articles and books for years. She has a lot of interesting things to say.
Yes indeed! Another call for civility in Evangelicalism where we can lovingly disagree on secondary issues, indeed on any issue. Strident, vindictive, abusive, inaccurate, inflammatory attacks on sisters in Christ is at the least a bad testimony to the lost and a burning of bridges within the body. No one has the final word in this theological debate. So, for the Kingdoms sake, let us march forward uplifting, yes, cheering on these indispensable servants of God. What I have read of Aimee Byrd is a testimony to her godly character and careful exegesis. We need more like her, not less!
Let any man who thinks he stands, take heed, let’s he fall.
God raises up the humble, and brings down the haughty.
Great analysis! Thank you.