Patriarchal authority, not theology, united combative evangelical leaders despite doctrinal rifts

Evidence

What was remarkable was that so many notoriously combative men could find common cause. There were certainly disagreements among leaders on a variety of topics, but they were able to smooth over these differences—including rather significant theological differences—because of a common reverence for patriarchal authority. For instance, one of the most notable theological differences among leaders concerned the question of cessationism—whether the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased with the apostolic age (a view espoused by MacArthur) or continued into the present (a view expressed by charismatics and many New Calvinists, including Piper, Mahaney, and Grudem). Agreeing that “desperate times called for desperate measures,” these men could agree to disagree about speaking in tongues and the gift of prophecy because other issues—including gender complementarianism and church discipline—were more pressing. — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 457

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies cessationism (spiritual gifts ceased) vs. continuationism (gifts continue) as a live theological dividing line evangelical leaders papered over.
• XREF: This is evidence for Du Mez’s central thesis: militant masculinity / patriarchal authority as the actual organizing center overriding doctrinal difference.