This
post is part of a series examining the “strange woman” doctrine.
The
concept of a “strange woman” is an unofficial
doctrine**
held by some Independent Fundamental Baptists concerning sexually
abused girls: They become human garbage and things to be used, to be
dispensed with in whatever way is convenient to those who have charge
over them. Note that many doctrines in a high demand group are not
formally documented but become part of the oral tradition or the
hidden
curriculum**
of their culture and are often more powerful rules than the formally
stated ones.
Ron
Williams of Hephzibah House offers a very lengthy sermon about this
insidiously taught doctrine causing pastors confront occurrences of
sexual abuse in their congregations and in educational settings.
(Full sermon transcript available HERE.
Audio available HERE.)
According
to Williams, marriage must be entirely pragmatic, based on the
dispassionate benefits of joining families, not on love or attraction
at all.
™
QUOTE:
Part I Selecting Marriage Partners
And
what I mean by that is *uh* their basis for marriage is not God's
best but rather what appeals to my senses, what appeals to my flesh,
what appeals to my feelings and emotions. . . And all of these
indescribable, emotional, sensual-type things that really are more
accurately described as being hormones, and glands, and flesh, and
lower nature.
[.
. .]
You
know, when you marry, you're not just joining two individuals. You're
joining two families. . . In other words, spiritual considerations
ought to be primary instead of fleshly ones. Because if you once
allow feelings and flesh to become involved . . . you will no longer
listen to logic, or principle, or reason.
™
QUOTE:
Part I, Jacob
Selects a Wife
[H]er
name was Leah. She was, uh, you might call her the 'Plain Jane.' You
wouldn't pick her out of a crowd. . . . Now Rachel on the other hand,
Wowww! Whew! Man! Whoo! She was bea-uuu-tiful and well favored.
[.
. .]
And
he started looking at Rachel through eyes of flesh.
Genesis
29:10-11(ESV) Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of
Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's
brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth
and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Then Jacob
kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
When a young man wants nothing but sex, does he weep after he kisses a girl for the first time? Does he immediately go to her father and ask for her hand in marriage? Or does he try to have sex with her without marrying her, using her for his own gratification only? What here attests that he only wanted Rachel for sex? Nothing does.
The fact
that he focuses on the fact that they are kin when speaking to both
Rachel and Laban indicates that he was seeking God and what was best
for their families. He also finds Laban's interest and favor. The
interactions among all of them depict the opposite of what rebellious
teenagers do when they marry a mate of whom their parents do not
approve. Williams' use of this example and his dramatics have no
support in Scripture.
