Family Man, Family Leader

Rating:
Summary: Don't Be Pulled in by Bible--Its Reconstruction Nazism
Review: I am a homeschooler. I used to get the magazine by this author. Some of this book is based on biblical principles but some is distorted. BEWARE-- Lancaster is a follower of the anti-Semitic, racist Christian Reconstruction movement that believes the Church replaced Israel and its taking over America.

He promotes the Chalcedon Foundation, Gary North, R. J. Rushdoony--This is SERIOUS dangerous doctrine (see "The Road to Holocaust" by Hal Lindsey for a real eye opening about the Reconstruction/Dominion cult in the homeschool movement).

Christian Reconstructionism has to be one of the worse perversions of Christianity ever devised. It is the personal political opinions of its founders wrapped in a form of hyper-Calvinism totally stripped of anything Jesus ever said while preaching a society stripped of all freedoms and personal choice. Every facet of society, government, family, schools, etc, would be "reconstructed." Christian Reconstructionism is Nazism. Do your homework --learn about the enemy within the church.

Rating:
Summary: polemical patriarchalism
Review: I count myself a conservative, bible-believing Christian and am not turned off by the mere mention of "patriarchy" as many people would be. But this book is enough to make me disavow the term forever.

Lancaster quotes a whole lot of scripture, to be sure, but that's hardly enough to make his book a convincing account of biblical fatherhood. His vision of godly fathers centers on leading their dutiful, submissive households in worship and exercising the dominion mandate while still having endless hours to train and admonish anyone who dares to rebel. Oh, and they're loving servant-leaders, even when they are beating their children with sticks. This sick caricature of Christian fatherhood fulfills every stereotype of conservative Christians as autocratic abusers. Is this really what Jesus taught? Is this how Jesus treated women and children, or even the disciples?

Most annoying are Lancaster's endless, cheap potshots at "the enemy," i.e., anyone who doesn't fit his extremist mold. At-home fathers are "a perversion." Feminism - which Lancaster never bothers to define - is "a lie straight from hell." Working mothers? Forget about it. Evolution? You've got to be kidding. Public school? Get thee behind me! It's fine for inspirational writers to exhort and evoke an elevated vision of what's possible in Christ, but even readers who aren't disgusted by Lancaster's rigid notions of gender will find his narrowness and arrogance maddening.

Of even greater concern are some very questionable theological assertions. Lancaster defines God as inherently masculine, and then defines "masculine" in an idiosyncratic way that applies perfectly well to many women, and not just "the feminists" that he rails against on every other page. Last time I checked, God certainly revealed Himself as our heavenly Father and incarnated as a human male, but in His being, He is Spirit and therefore beyond gender.

Lancaster seems to be sincere in his desire to see fathers put their families first, in practice as well as in theory, and he doesn't whitewash the fact that this requires incredible self-sacrifice. Unfortunately the fathers who most need this message - the lukewarm, the broken, the selfish - will never read past the first few pages. If they do, and their hearts don't recoil at the undercurrent of violence in the book, they will all too easily come away with the message that anything less than Lancaster's vision of the perfect godly father is unacceptable - and will give up in despair. None of these scenarios builds up the Kingdom.

Thankfully, there _are_ other books that discuss masculinity seriously and even from a conservative, biblical position, without falling prey to the polemical extremes of _Family Man, Family Leader_. Stuart Scott's _The Exemplary Husband_ is the best of the bunch. Save your money, and get it. It will do you more good, as a huband, a father, and a Christian, than a whole stack of _FM, FL_.

Rating:
Summary: polemical patriarchalism
Review: I count myself a conservative, bible-believing Christian and am not turned off by the mere mention of "patriarchy" as many people would be. But this book is enough to make me disavow the term forever.

Lancaster quotes a whole lot of scripture, to be sure, but that's hardly enough to make his book a convincing account of biblical fatherhood. His vision of godly fathers centers on leading their dutiful, submissive households in worship and exercising the dominion mandate while still having endless hours to train and admonish anyone who dares to rebel. Oh, and they're loving servant-leaders, even when they are beating their children with sticks. This sick caricature of Christian fatherhood fulfills every stereotype of conservative Christians as autocratic abusers. Is this really what Jesus taught? Is this how Jesus treated women and children, or even the disciples?

Most annoying are Lancaster's endless, cheap potshots at "the enemy," i.e., anyone who doesn't fit his extremist mold. At-home fathers are "a perversion." Feminism - which Lancaster never bothers to define - is "a lie straight from hell." Working mothers? Forget about it. Evolution? You've got to be kidding. Public school? Get thee behind me! It's fine for inspirational writers to exhort and evoke an elevated vision of what's possible in Christ, but even readers who aren't disgusted by Lancaster's rigid notions of gender will find his narrowness and arrogance maddening.

Of even greater concern are some very questionable theological assertions. Lancaster defines God as inherently masculine, and then defines "masculine" in an idiosyncratic way that applies perfectly well to many women, and not just "the feminists" that he rails against on every other page. Last time I checked, God certainly revealed Himself as our heavenly Father and incarnated as a human male, but in His being, He is Spirit and therefore beyond gender.

Lancaster seems to be sincere in his desire to see fathers put their families first, in practice as well as in theory, and he doesn't whitewash the fact that this requires incredible self-sacrifice. Unfortunately the fathers who most need this message - the lukewarm, the broken, the selfish - will never read past the first few pages. If they do, and their hearts don't recoil at the undercurrent of violence in the book, they will all too easily come away with the message that anything less than Lancaster's vision of the perfect godly father is unacceptable - and will give up in despair. None of these scenarios builds up the Kingdom.

Thankfully, there _are_ other books that discuss masculinity seriously and even from a conservative, biblical position, without falling prey to the polemical extremes of _Family Man, Family Leader_. Stuart Scott's _The Exemplary Husband_ is the best of the bunch. Save your money, and get it. It will do you more good, as a huband, a father, and a Christian, than a whole stack of _FM, FL_.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and Biblically Based--Excellent!
Review: I have found this book to be the best comprehensive, biblically based handbook on patriarchy and the family out there. It is a must read for anyone serious about reordering their families God's way. I use it as a source book in my pastorial ministry.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book about what the Bible calls men to be in their families and in the world. Did I agree with all of it? No. Did I think all of his arguments were as incontrovertible as he asserts? No. Is this book likely to sway anyone who does not already have a very conservative view of the Bible's teaching on the role of men? No. Does the book have material that would offend probably 99+% of all Americans? Yes. But I am very much a "eat the chicken and spit out the bones" kind of reader, and if you are willing to take the material in this book that God shows you is true, and have some grace about the material that may not be, you will find it a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional and about time
Review: Kudos Mr Lancaster! This is extremely well thought out. Yes, it's true the general liberal secular population won't be enamored with your book but an open minded person of good will will find much to profit from. You bring us back to a time of foundations and an ordered world. The question is, "Do we dare walk a path that will strengthen our family if it bucks the curent trend?" You remind us of the path...it's up to us to follow your keen advice. Thanks. Great read!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Our group picked up this book hoping to gain a better understanding of the role of Fathers and Men. The title might lead one to assume that this book was going to give us a biblicaly definition of Fatherhood. Unfortunately, Philip has not been very successful in making his point biblically. This book is clearly Philips opinions, but it lacks in its biblical support.

Also, one would have difficulty ignoring the fact that this man has some personal "issues" with the "Feminists" (a term that he never satisfactorily defines). Although I may not agree with many of the official positions of the ERA I wouldn't agree with his assumptions that "All" Feminist believe exactly the same thing and that all Feminists are "hateful" people with subversive, evil agenda's, which was both stated and implied.

In addition, it would appear that Philip has some confusion about the difference between culture and bible. For instance, his assumptions early in the book are clearly White, Western-European, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant in there perspective. I suspect that the average African-American or Native-American would not likely subscribe to Philips premise that America was much more "moral" 200 years ago, and that we need to culturally and personally go back to this period. I personally found this assumption quite offensive and anti-biblical. Of course, "Biblically" speaking the fallen nature of man is the same throughout all history, not improving or becoming worse.

What I have enjoyed is that his arguements have such huge gaps that I have enjoyed arguing biblically against him. As a result I have been developing a greater understanding of God's design for men, but from a real exegetical foundation.

Rating:
Summary: Help for the Christian Father
Review: Phil Lancaster's Family Man, Family Leader is a challenge to husbands and fathers to seek God's way of loving and leading their families. Christian men are called to be "patriarchs," the leaders of their families. The book repeatedly contrasts the biblically masculine man with both feminism and the feminized church as various aspects of the Christian home are examined.

Lancaster (founder of Patriarch magazine) starts off with a lesson on what revival will look like. As the book of Malachi (4:5-6) says, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." Lancaster explains that the family will be both an indicator and a root of God's work of the revival of His people.

Then Lancaster begins a historical overview of the American Christian family detailing how far we have fallen and why. In early days of our country, the author argues, a household was synonymous with the farm or trade through which God provided for the family's needs. Family members worked together for one another's welfare. The industrial revolution was responsible for taking labor and production from the home and family and placing it in factories, so that fathers had to leave the home in order to make a living. This physical separation was disastrous to the day-to-day upbringing of children "in the fear and admonition of the Lord." Further, as children were no longer part of a household effort to produce needed materials for family life (because they were available cheaper due to mass production), they became something of an economic liability rather than an asset-placing stress on already weakened family relationships.

Following the discussion of the weakening of the American family, Lancaster reminds us that the man is responsible for his family. God's world is structured on a system of authority: "Authority is not everything. It is simply the framework in which relationships can thrive, love can blossom, and everyone can work together with one mind to the glory of God." And, "True love cannot exist outside of submission to God's authority."

Lancaster also provides teaching here that even many in family-centered movements are missing and that is simply that we must each submit to our authorities. Man as father is God's ordained authority in his home, and he also is bound to obey the authorities that God has set above him, including those in the state and in the church. Authority structured in this way is "God's very creative solution to the problem of how to mesh multiple wills in a common purpose" to accomplish His will on the earth. Retreat from submission to God's established authority is not his plan for subduing the earth.

Our Model for man as authority is, of course, God the Father. Our Model for man as a submissive servant-leader is Jesus. Following Him, we see that leadership is not bound up in living as a power-hungry tyrant. At least part of the hatred for "patriarchy" can attributed to poor modeling of leadership. A father who uses his authority for selfish ends is not only guilty of the abuse itself, but also of telling a lie about God. Instead, a father should demonstrate to his wife and children that "father" is a term for selfless, loving authority, so that they understand that those are the characteristics of Our Father.

Lancaster shows us that the father is the king in his home: leading, providing for, and protecting his family. Secondly, he shows that the father is a prophet: teaching and enforcing God's law for those under his care. Thirdly, the father is styled a priest: interceding for his family and leading in family worship. The very practical passages about family worship will prove very useful for men who are just beginning to realize this precious duty.

Phil Lancaster has crafted a book which will be valuable for men who wish to learn to rule their families with gracious authority, honoring the Father who is our Model. His writing style is clear and understandable, and sometimes bears the flavor of a passionate sermon. Men will find themselves challenged to take their job seriously and encouraged that there is hope for the future. Therefore they will be driven to their knees to seek the grace to be faithful in their calling.