Lisa Sharon Harper slays Christian patriarchy in this epic Twitter thread!

From 2015–before #metoo #churchtoo #silenceisnotspiritual. #THIS is most white-male-centered narcissistic drivel I have ever read in my entire life. @JohnPiper claims scripture is his authority then offers no exegesis of any text. “Principles” instead. 1/ https://t.co/COheMDNhoW

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

What .@JohnPiper did here was unbelievably manipulative. Demonstrated #ZERO submissiveness to scripture. Has nerve to guilt/shame women into “submission to scripture” then offers #NONE. Only offers his own “principles,” which scripture would drop-kick. 3/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

And because “White” men have had actual institutional power (US Govt, Business, Church Denominations, Parachurch) they have been able to literally play God, By speaking policy into being…and so it DID define the world for all else. 5/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Immigration Act of 1790 declared only Free (non-indentured) White men could b/c naturalized citizens. Naturalization gives write to vote. Theologically, this was declaration that only White men divinely called to exercise dominion on this land—only White men fully human. #SIN 7/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

“At the heart of mature manhood is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for, and protect women…” #NOTICE how .@JohnPiper’s “definition” of #manhood offers abundant space for the male self to flourish. 9/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

“Now in the home, the Bible makes plain that these definitions imply a leadership role for men that bear the burden of loving and leading his wife like Christ. In the church, men bear the responsibility to lead the church as elders.” #No. It doesn’t, @JohnPiper. 11/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Plus, .@JohnPiper #omits all evidence of Jesus’ liberation of women from his “principles.” #silenceisnotspiritual #churchtoo #thread 13/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Genesis 1 makes revolutionary declaration in time/culture when women were NOT believed to bear image of God or to be created to exercise dominion. “…in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to THEM…have dominion.” 15/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” Word “man” (Heb. adam) DOES NOT mean male. It means human. Also NOT name. Means human. Period. It is gender-neutral. 17/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Genesis 2:22-23. First gendered language occurs AFTER rib taken from the human. Human (Heb. adam) becomes man (Heb. iysh) and woman (Heb. ishshah). Male and female genders created at exact same moment in the text. Mirrors equal dominion of Genesis 1. 19/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

What about Mary, @JohnPiper @desiringGod .@TGC? She’s 1st theologian in New Testament. What about Samaritan woman—1st evangelist in The Bible? What about woman with the alabaster jar? Not worried about catching a husband. Pours out her life over #bodyofChrist. #immaturewomen 21/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

What about Galatians 3:28 @JohnPiper @desiringGod @TGC? “…there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” In baptism, we no longer see fallen gendered distinctions of dominion; only the image of God and equal call to exercise dominion in all. 23/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Antebellum AND Jim Crow South trumpeted .@JohnPiper brand white womanhood; 100% focused on affirming, nurturing, submitting to the leadership of White men. White femininity seen as fragile, needed protection. White manhood defined by capacity to “protect” white woman. BUT… 25/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

… and all the while Southern White women in Southern church pews were absolutely POWERLESS to do anything about any of it. White women watched their husband rape and name—powerless. They were literally the property of their husbands, existing for their husbands’ pleasure. 27/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

Thus, in submission to the scripture and in light of the truth of history, I reject @JohnPiper’s @desiringGod .@tgc White-male centered view of #maturewomanhood and #maturemanhood. I find Piper’s “principles” untethered from both scripture and reality. 29/

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018

To Beth, whose inquiry to .@JohnPiper sparked this #thread: Exercise ur divine call/capacity to exercise dominion. Serve protect steward the world. Do this in the likeness of the dominion of God—with humility and love for all. #maturewomanhood #silenceisnotspiritual #thread 30/30

— Lisa Sharon Harper (@lisasharper) April 22, 2018