Outline for a post I thank God I didn't have to finish

What follows is the skeleton for a blog post that, God be praised, I did not have to flesh out on Wednesday morning following the election. The outline shows a progression of starting with individual scriptures, using scripture to define principles, using principles to interpret biblical stories, and finally using our doctrinal statements (the least authoritative source of the four) to show the witness of the Scriptures is that a woman in authority is a sign of God's judgement. God be praised that we were spared the greater judgement by God in two of the last three election cycles. 

Thesis: A vote for a woman President is a vote for God's judgment. 

1. Biblical Admonitions

We start with specific Biblical directives.

a. God, in announcing His judgement on Judah:

Isaiah 1:7 - the current immigration crisis is a sign of judgement

Your country is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire;
Strangers devour your land in your presence;
And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Isaiah 3:12 - electing a woman ruler is a sign of judgement

As for My people, children are their oppressors,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err,
And destroy the way of your paths.”

("well akshually a different source says creditors/mockers in place of women" - if your MO is theology by proof texting minor readings your NGMI, fam.)

b. Paul to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:3 - headship is not just applicable within marriage or the Church

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God

(every man indicates Christian and non-Christian men - Lenski - this applies to all humanity not just Christians)

c. Paul to Timothy

1 Timothy 2:12-15 - more on women in authority

And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

(note it says the authority of a man, not authority over man: authentein andros, literally “to have authority of a man.”)

2. Biblical Principle

Biblical principles are threads that run through the entire Bible and are not summed up by a single proof text. These principles bring multiple passages together to develop frameworks for Christian thought.

a. orders of creation

b. the headship principle

c. the distinction between men and women 

3. Biblical Illustration

Biblical illustrations while descriptive are useful for understanding how Biblical admonitions and principles are applied.

a. Miriam's Leprosy

b. Deborah's Judging

- it was the exception and not the rule

- Deborah chastised Barak for not leading

c. Athalia's Rule

- she was overtly wicked

- she demonstrates the judgement described in Isaiah 3

4. WELS Doctrinal Statements

Finally, doctrinal statements synthesize the whole counsel of God into concrete statements of what we believe, teach and confess.

a. Man and Woman Roles – WELS  - headship is not just for marriage and the Church

"20. Christians also accept the biblical role relationship principle for their life and work in the world (1 Co 11:3; Eph 5:6-17). Christians seek to do God’s will consistently in every area of their lives. We will therefore strive to apply this role relationship principle to our life and work in the world."

"6. We reject the opinion that male headship and female submission apply only to marriage or only to marriage and the church (1 Co 11:3; 1 Ti 2:12).

7. We reject the opinion that the principle of role relationships taught in the New Testament was culturally conditioned and is not applicable today.

8. We reject the opinion that the principle of role relationships applies only to some people, only for some periods of history, or only to certain aspects of Christian life."

5. Conclusion

(You could do the parallel with polygamy, which is never explicitly rejected in the Old Testament, however the witness is that it generally ends poorly. The same argument can be made about women in leadership.)

Voting for a woman to lead our country is voting for God's judgement on our country. Such a vote ignores clear statements of scripture. Such a vote ignores Biblical principles such as the orders of creation and the headship principled. It ignores the Biblical witness to female leadership. Finally, such a vote ignores our synodical doctrinal statements (despite other synodical non-binding statements to the contrary)