Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

10/ 31/ 2022, 11:30 A.M.

"Patriarchy is the Structure of Creation. God Created Men to be Strong."

Patriarchy Defends Us from Homosexualism, Feminism, & Cultural Marxism.

Fr. Hans Jacobse has been an Orthodox priest for over thirty years, now Pastor of St. Peter Orthodox Church in Fort Meyers, FL, he has worked extensively teaching Christian young men the value of traditional masculinity.

This is from an AMEN Retreat titled "God Created Men to be Strong." The title of this session is "Patriarchy is the Structure of Creation." His remarks are from a 2-day retreat on Friday, October 14th 2022 at St. Ignatius Orthodox Church in Franklin, TN.

He spoke on how God has woven Patriarchy in the very structure of Creation itself.

"We have talked about homosexualism, we have talked about feminism, and we have talked about cultural marxism. There's only one thing that really stands in the way of that, you know? And that is Patriarchy. You'll notice that they're all joined in a common attack on Patriarchy.

What is Patriarchy? Patriarchy is basically this - that hierarchy exists, and at the very top of the hierarchy is God the Father. And those who see and know, and have adopted it into their hearts, they are the ones who have created the culture against which the cultural barbarians, the secularists, now are trying to destroy.

And they understand that it's fundamentally a spiritual battle, because in attacking Patriarchy, in the end, they attack the Christian religion, knowing that it stands against their utopian and egalitarian dreams. . . .

The Devil tried to kill Christ. He tried to kill Christ at the crucifixion, but he failed. So all he has left - all he has left - is to remove the memory of God from the larger culture. And a way that you can remove the memory of God as Father from the larger culture is to destroy Fatherhood - the notion of Fatherhood - and in order to destroy the notion of Fatherhood, you have to destroy our understanding of manhood.

That's what it is on a fundamental, spiritual level. It all gets worked out in the culture. . . .

I think that feminism arose as a way to attack men. Feminism arose, and it's primary objective is the aborting of children. Feminism exists for two reasons:

It's kind of the mouthpiece for the abortion industry. It makes a lot of money. But it also exists on a spiritual level, to deny this:

The central, most beautiful, most prescient point about the female is that she can bear children. [Feminism] separates the child from the mother. And it reduces motherhood to a utilitarian function, thereby denigrating what woman really is, her value, and even her beauty. . . .

That a woman can create a child is a marvel of creation. That a new child, a new being, comes out of the body of a woman, is glorious. And it is a primary constituent and definition of what Woman is. . . .

Feminism - denying the value of motherhood - actually demeans the woman, and devalues her, and defaces her.

Why? Because in the end, the woman has to be destroyed, womanhood has to be distorted and even destroyed, in order to reach the man and destroy man, in order to eliminate the memory of God - as Father - from the culture. That's what's going on!"

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

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What a tangle life is today! I have read of women saying they didn't want to be a baby factory and home-keeper/servant, which appears to be the clarion call of the Feminist, along with having a meaningful career of some kind. They avoid having children. In the extreme, they need abortion as a backup. These feminists are most likely very competent and well-paid.

Some others can do all of it too; some can't. Some must work regardless, and that becomes expensive and only really affordable later on as income rises, some work till the baby comes, then they revert to baby and home efforts till the baby is years older and go back to work afterwards. A lot has to do with their financial status and the size of their take-home pay. The daughter of a friend has the option of working at home on her laptop and with conference calls. These are dedicated women to their husbands, and to their children, and one hopes they remain faithful to God. They will not be destroyed!

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

I just did an internet search on "the clarion call of the Feminist," manning, feeling quite sure that at some point in contemporary time, a mature Christian woman had rebutted Feminism's Self-Centered World of Me, Me, Me, it's all about Me!

In a world where people constantly post selfies on social media from their A.M. awakening until they retire to slumber in the P.M., where psychologists are dedicated to helping people 'find themselves', and teach their patients/clients to blame their parents, their peers, and/or their environment, for their own mishaps, but never themselves, and where we are required to showcase a plastic version of ourselves in order to achieve anything, it is sometimes very difficult to step back and refrain from taking credit for anything and everything, as if there is no God in heaven.

I found this opinion online, with which I concur:

January 26, 2014 by swimmingthedepths
A Response to Feminism’s Clarion Call to Be “Self-Made”

"I saw yet another article condemning stay-at-home moms as second class citizens. Quite frankly, the author is not worth the link in on my blog. She is worth prayers, but not a link. The argument is always the same: The self-made, individualist, materialistic, selfish woman is the REAL woman of the 21st Century. Let’s call a spade a spade shall we? Anyone who trumpets themselves as the center of the universe is struggling with selfishness. How do I know? Mainly, because like all people, I have to battle my own selfish nature. The biggest difference is that I know that my family will tear it right out of me, while rugged individualism will leave me selfish and alone.

I am not condemning women who choose to work. My mom worked part of the time we were growing up, as did most of the women in my family. No, rather, I would say that we must always prioritize properly. It is family and then career. Part of the reason I decided to stay home is because, when I enjoy my work, I am a workaholic of the worst kind. My family would suffer as my aspirations took precedence over them. I worked for 12 years before I got married. I was a workaholic. I cannot believe the hours I pulled while I was in the Navy.

What exactly does it mean to be a “self-made” woman? To own a lot of things? Make a lot of money? Promiscuity? Childlessness? Being alone? I am not sure what this phrase even means, but I hear it a lot. I think of myself as pretty “self-made”. I chose to marry my husband. I opted to stay home with our daughter. I am choosing to stay home to school her because, yes, I think that I can do better than the public schools and I assure you my daughter’s test scores will reflect that fact. This is not arrogance. It is the truth. I choose to serve my family over myself. Is it hard? You bet. I fail daily, but it is my choice. I decided that others are more important than little old me.

Let me think back to my “glorious” single days of my Twenties. I worked a lot. I had multiple careers including stints that a lot of 20 year olds could only dream of. I lived in Europe and traveled. I saw the back-stabbing, self-centered, corruption up close interning on Capitol Hill at The Heritage Foundation. I did everything that I wanted to do, but it was never enough. Why? Because “I” am never enough. I am not the center of the universe. God called me back to Him during Holy Week of 2009 and there I have stayed.

So if being a “successful” and “self-made” woman means selling my soul and my family, then I would rather keep my soul. I know what real priorities look like. There is nothing that I can buy, no men that I can date, no salary that I can make, that would take away the joy I have received in my husband and daughter. I truly feel sorry for the woman who cannot experience that joy. So you can berate women like me all you want, but we know the real secret to happiness: sacrificial love."
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Sacrificial love, by placing another persons well-being first, before one's own, develops the type of trust that holds marriages together. It's selfless, unconditional nature assists with forgiveness in arguments, respect when raising children, and uniting as a family. Sacrifice is important in any relationship, whether with your parents, siblings, spouse or anyone.

Sacrificial love, however, will not always give in to every demand placed upon it, because it will always try to satisfy God's demands in any situation, including his demands for justice and for doing what is right.

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

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A fine sentiment that woman wrote! Admirable!

This subject hits too close to home! I watched my wife struggle with the twin desires to have a career and a marriage with children. She supported me in my journeyman path through several cities and into Europe, sacrificing her best chance for a degree in psychology to go with me to Holland for 10 years.

The problem seems to be that if you are given intelligence, even what seems to be a bit more than your share, you want to use it in a broad and meaningful context, make a splash, be somebody, and garner the kudos you need, I guess. And contrasting that with the daily routine at home, which is not all roses by far, the choices are not for the fainthearted.

The "Is this all that there is, and all that it is ever going to be?" syndrome is very much in evidence. Sadly, God is not there!

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

That's very interesting, manning.

Rather than a sentiment - which is described as "based mainly on emotion instead of reason", I believe the lady of the letter made a strong mental commitment, and had the determination (with the Lord's help) to carry it thru... plus she was fulfilling the primal role for which she was created.

Yes, it does "hit close to home," which is why I deflected to the internet, rather than touch my own life.

I'm sure your wife realized she was blessed. To be a wife and mother is (or used to be) the most natural thing in the world.

Finding Self-actualization (a western concept), self-realization (roots in eastern, particularly Indian philosophical concepts), - is summarized as self-possibilities of one's potential as manifest in peak experiences... (Maslow, 1962).

God isn't in Maslow's (founder of Humanistic Psychology) psychological suppositions, however, He praises women who are self-starters, managerial, revenue producing... In Acts 16:14, "one who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati′ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul."

15 "And when she was baptized, with her household, she besought us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us."

Footnote: To "Make a splash, be somebody, and garner kudos" is not about intelligence, it satisfies the ego. ... sort of like being a large frog in a small pond.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Additional thought! In Proverbs 31, God goes into great detail about how a wife and mother could be a great mover and shaker in the community at the time of Solomon, nine hundred years before Christ:

10
"A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

Yes, you are right, sentiment wasn't the correct word, but I was tired and groping...

On the other hand, my suggestion was that intelligence breeds desire to perform somehow in an effective manner , and in performing, the kudos one receives feeds the ego. The more kudos, the more the performance to garner more kudos, etc. It is a positive feedback loop. The profession of acting has that element to it... (I love ellipses)

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

"Tired and groping" seems the appropriate response in this worldly culture to which we've all contributed...
I hope you've been able to rest.

We can all go with Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts,"

or believing that God's still in complete control of everything, and still providentially at work in His world, we can keep looking up (just don't run into anything) the world isn't out of His control.

It's all good.

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

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Yes, it is His control. I just wish I knew what the next phase will turn out to be! But, I leave it to Him.

Peace!