A scene from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding shows the mother telling her
daughter that even though the father is the head of the family, the wife is the neck
and can move the head wherever she wants it to go. She then proceeds to use
guilt and manipulation to get him to bend to her wishes. Unfortunately, this
scenario is played out everyday in Christian homes and churches throughout the
world.
Although the scripture in 1 Corinthians 11 verse 3 has been misused and abused
by many religious people, it does not give a man or a husband the right to be a
fearsome dictator.
ìHusbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.î
Ephesians 5:25-26
A truly godly wife and mother is a blessing from the Lord, and a great gift to any
man of God.
ìWho can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above
rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that
he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.î Proverbs 31:10-12
Mama of the Congregation
In the Roman Catholic Church, the principality of the Queen of heaven operating
through the spirit of motherhood has found the perfect religious institution to
express itself in a blatantly outward form. However, mainstream Protestant
Christianity has not escaped unscathed from the onslaught of the Queen of
heaven.
ìSometimes the influence is underlying and [as] subtle
asÖthe indirect control of the wife of a pastor, deacon or
elder. In other cases the influence by certain women in the
church outwardly dominates and rules the administration
and social activities.î 3In most churches across America, there is one woman in the congregation who
holds enough clout, who knows everything about everybody, and has the pastorís
ear to such a degree, that she can change the course of a church. It could be a
wife, secretary or Sunday school teacher.
ìMany denominations have a tradition of appointing an elder
woman as ëMother of the churchí and in many instances she
exhibits an amazing amount of influential power.î 4