Lately I have received quiite a few emails and read over the concerns of numerous good Christian women who are measuring themselves against a lie; a false teaching. The problem is that they have believed some truly unbiblical statements made by writers of books, blogs, websites and the like. I won’t name them so don’t ask me to. These writers have published other material that is biblical and they are children of God and I am not to judge them or speak harshly of them. I have no intention of questioning their walk with Christ. I will simply present the statements being made and proclaimed as biblical truth:
- You can’t be a Christian woman if you work outside of the home; or if you don’t cook from scratch; or if you don’t act as a midwife; or if you don’t sew. The list is long. I’ll stop there.
- You can and should worship your husband.
- You can’t serve others or be in ministry if you have young children at home.
- God does not call women to do anything outside of the home and family.
Do any of you believe these statements? If so what scriptures do you have to validate it? I find many to refute it but nothing to confirm it. I am very curious to see why so many have adapted these statements as biblical truth.
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Those statements are scary. Fortunately I have no Scriptures to support these.
I have had to learn the hard way that although books are wonderful, you have to make sure it all lines up with Scripture.
I have also had to learn to read more of God's Word & let His Spirit teach me and read less books.
xo
I don’t believe those statements, but I don’t have scripture to back up either way. I do work outside the home, I don’t have small children at home, and I don’t worship my husband. (but I do try to submit to him and allow him to lead the home).
Yikes. There is so much of this stuff out there, and you can’t back it up biblically unless you take it out of context. Honestly, I believe it is laziness on our part that allows us to believe what another person says without backing it up with Scripture, plain and simple.
i don’t believe them and my husband has had a few conversations with people who believe a woman should not run for political office. i doubt he has changed any minds.
These statements strike me as more ways to keep a woman down. I mean, it really amounts to virtually the same thing as what the so-called women’s magazines and media do: make a woman feel she is not good enough the way God made her. Make her feel she is unworthy and constantly in need of change. Where do such statements come from? They are ridiculous. God equips all of us in different ways, and I believe we must do two things, as women, to combat these falsehoods: (1) Pray and LISTEN to God’s leading for YOUR life, and (2) Test all things against the Bible. I would say most of what’s out there regarding women and what they “should” do is not Biblical, healthy, or in the best interest of the woman. I feel your frustration with this issue, Amy. Thanks for letting me put my 2 cents in.
I am amazed that people can claim that these statements are of God. I am a wife and mother . I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old. My husband is disabled and I must work to help support my family. I am a school nurse and believe it is a ministry within itself. During the past 2 years as a school nurse I have helped to obtain emergency care for 2 students, whom without help could have and probably would have died. I belive I am exactly where God wants me at this time. Do I wish I could be a stay at home mom and homeschool my children, most defenietly, but that is not what God has called me to at this season in my life. Thank you for standing up and trying to break the myths of what a Godly wife and mother is.
I think it all has to do with easy beliefism. So and so said this is what I should believe, therefore I believe it. I read this in a book, therefore it’s the truth. We are refusing to search the Scritpures for ourselves allowing the Lord to mold and shape our belief system because we have chosen to occupy our time with things we deem more worthy than Jesus Christ.
Before I make my next statement let me preface it by saying, “I have by no means arrived. I am daily learning to be and growing into being the child of God that He designed me to be before the foundation of the world.” That said, Christians are failing each other. In fear of offending someone, we have chosen to sit back and keep our mouths shut instead of calling a spade a spade. Ladies we need accountable amongst us. King David had Nathan, Peter and Timothy had Paul. As believers in the Lord, we have been given the responsibility to help each other grow in our relationships with the Lord; why else would God have given us each different gifts that are to be used for the benefit of the body (1 Corinthians 12)?
Anyone and everyone can have a platform to stand upon and speak their views because that’s their freedom. While freedom is a blessed gift from the Lord; with that freedom comes a HUGE responsibility; it’s a responsibility to stand on the truths of God’s Word and in order for one to know those truths, one must be digging into them and learning. Like I said before, instead of searching the Scriptures for ourselves, because it’s time consuming and might interfere with what’s on our agenda, we’ve adpoted the ideaology of others as our own and 9 times out of 10 have NO clue what they really believe, therefore having NO clue what we say we believe.
In light of recent things that have happened in my life and lessons taught to me by the Lord, I have come to the conclusion, through the searching of His Word, that there are false teachers among us; wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. I think some of them do have good intentions but have been mislead themselves. So what are we to do? Dig into the Word; hold each accountable; be able to defend what we say we believe with the Truth of God’s Word.
Ok, I’ll get down off of my soapbox for now. Thanks Amy for allowing us to share.
May we continue to grow us in the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord and Savior.
Jenifer
If women were to stick to such strict guidelines, I’m unsure how half the work of the church would get done. Doesn’t Titus 2 speak of women ministering to other women?
Worship our husbands? What happened to the first commandment – You shall have no other gods before Me?
I’m just stunned that anyone is teaching such nonsense. I whole-heartedly agree that women’s ministry should be first and foremost to her husband and children, but they are not excluded from ministering to others as God leads. Seems if that were the case, women would be absolved of the great commission because they could never minister to anyone outside of their home.
It’s scary the lies women believe…My thoughts on the statements above:
Being a Christian woman has nothing to do with where you work or how you cook. It’s about a relationship with the Lord. It’s called grace.
Worshipping your husband is not the same as submitting to him. God says you should have no other gods before Him.
Nurseries at church are excellent tools for serving God at church. The kids actually learn something, too.
If God never called women to do anything outside the home and family, He would have never rebuked Martha for being so busy, He would have never let the ladies who followed Him as He preached travel with them….
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” – Proverbs 31:16
How does she consider a field and buy it, and plant a vineyard from her house?
You are correct in saying that some of these women are probably taking things to an extreme. I would like to say that it has potential to go both ways though. A woman (or a man) who demands her (his) rights is a far cry from the Biblical design for a woman (man) and doesn’t have a clue of how different things were for women before Christ’s first coming up to the time before extreme modern anti-God feminism.
KEEP IN MIND there is more to being a Biblical wife than just Proverbs 31 there is also 1 Corinthians 11, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, 1 Timothy 3, and 1 Peter 3.
The only way you can protect yourself from the subtle (and not so subtle) feminism that Christian women embrace (OR the other extreme of women treated as beasts) is to take the whole counsel of God’s Words and obey it.
I know where they are getting these ideas from the Bible(like: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord – Ephesians 5:22)but to make a statement saying that those who work outside the home or don’t sew their own clothes is trying to put others into bondage of law. If a husband wants his wife to do these things and she grumbles or fights about it she is definitely being a rebel against God and needs to repent. But if what she is doing is NOT contradicting God’s Word then she is blessed of God and man.
We cannot say we love Christ and disobey Him. Faith = Obedience.
A severe warning to all women is to NEVER NEVER NEVER base truth on experiences, feelings, or circumstances. Truth is measured by God’s Word ALONE and if experiences, feelings, or circumstances contradict the teachings of God’s Word then it is rebellion against God.
Oh Ladies, I do agree. My Jesus has been blamed for these horrific statements and it just angers me. The bible clearly states otherwise in many places.
Chickadee – You know, one of the emails I recieved was about my support of said VP and I was told that instead of encouraging her shouldn’t I vote against her because she is “not adhering to the bible”.
Ha!
So, in other words, I should play God and punish her, AND THE USA, because it is of the utmost importance to teach her and other women a lesson. She is well within her biblical rights and what if God called her to this position and her husband is highly supportive?
C’mon people! We are not God and we need to seek the one who is. His word is His Word and we need to be studying it for ourselves instead of believing every thing that we hear.
Proverbs 14:15
Only simpletons believe everything they are told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.
Yedidyah,
You are so right. You are so right.
I used to strive to be a die-hard Proverbs 31 woman. It nearly killed me. God slowly revealed to me that the true pursuit of Proverbs 31 is the pursuit of Jesus Christ. That is what I hope to share with the women who read my blog. Instead of following every teaching that comes along that makes us “feel” better that we should be fulfilling the word of God and His call on our lives. And yes, that call falls between the extremes. I have a tendency to fall slightly to the legalistic side and I do struggle to maintain a balance but I have to say that only God has an amazing ability to stabilize me and all I’ve had to do is ask. Somehow women have lost their voice and their will to seek Him for themselves. I pray every day for that to change.
Thank you for your contribution to our discussion. It has been refreshing.
Amy, You know when I read those I think, “Lord! You have saved me out of so much legalistic thinking though I have tended to fall for it time and time again!”
Although I KNOW that none of those statements are truth and none the heart of God I can honestly say that I have been tempted to set up some of those rules (except for the worship your husband one… haven’t heard that and it’s truly scary!) for myself. But every time I have been motivated by any of those thoughts I feel the terrible weight of a heavy yoke Christ never wanted me to bear.
Where I’ve found freedom is simply in knowing Jesus, through the Spirit and the Word. The more I get to know Him, the more I realize how my tendencies towards rules and regulations that are not God’s rules and regulations are many. God my Father does have rules and regulations for me, but they are not the many, detailed, self-righteous focused ones I tend to take on.
One of the great revelations I had one day was when the Spirit spoke to my heart, “Be a homemaker Sheila. I didn’t say don’t work outside your home, I said be a homemaker. Be a homemaker wherever you are. Watch over the ways of your household, not never leave your household.”
The funny thing is, the more I see how much God treasures souls over positions or money or callings even, I desire to increasingly become a servant… even if that means being a simple homemaker to only my husband and children, and even if that means being a homemaker to those outside my home.
Because of Christ, all people, even the souls in my own family, are treasured, died-for souls, to be invested in and taught and prayed for and loved to Jesus. They are not more important than those outside my family, but they are the ones God has given me first charge to be a witness of Jesus to.
I’ve been sent out, not from my family, but from the place of salvation, to make disciples of all nations, even those in this little tribe, neighborhood, etc.
If we as Christian women were truly compelled by the love of Christ and knew Him intimately through the study of His word, prayer, and fellowship, I think we’d not have these contentions about whether a woman should bake bread, wear dresses, earn an income, minister to people other than her own children and husband, etc., because we’d just be focused on starting right where we are, with those who are in our lives, and with a moving forward, and outward, and obedient-to-whatever-and-whoever-God-would-minister-to-through-us, focus.
For me, right now, though I desire to do “big” things, and “go” places, the Spirit (as He did with Paul… see Acts 16:6-10) forbids me to. There’s a “Macedonian” (so to speak) right here in my own house that God wants me to preach the gospel to through the way I live. Right now, I am the Lord’s slave, limited to my own sort of “prison” like Paul and Silas were in Acts 16:25-27, beause there’s a “jailer” and other prisoners who need to hear and see my worshipful and prayerful life and my willingness to stay for their sakes, though my chains are gone.
Though I am a woman, wife and mom, none of my limitations are have to’s, or laws that I must perform otherwise I will not be accepted in God’s eyes. But rather because I am accepted as a son (see Galatians 3:26-29)- whether a woman or a man, a wife or a husband my mode of operation in this free life in Christ is this:
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more… Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with [them].” (1 Corinthians 9:19,23)
Sorry for the long comment. There’s potentially an entire post of thoughts going on with me here.
Let’s just stay in the Word ladies and let Christ’s love motivate us and His Spirit set our limits along with His word. We are free to serve Him wherever He places us. And wherever we are today we can be sure that’s where He wants us to serve Him.
Sheila
titus 2 tells women to be homemakers. that means staying home with our children and guiding the house ( the original language reads it as guiding the home, managing the home. how do you manage something if you aren’t there?) it doesn’t mean you can’t leave the house! but it means your job and career are your home and family.
also we are told to be in submission to our own husband- if you work outside the home you will be in submission to someone else’s husband! HE will tell when to be there and when to leave and you won’t be alowed to stay home with a sick child or leave early to fix the important dinner.
this is all backed by scripture. ephesians 5:24 and titus 2:3-5
no one said you couldn’t minister to anyone !!! that would go against what God said for us to do!
i’m really surprised at the answers here!
Tami,
I respectfully disagree on a couple of those statements. I’m unsure of the logic in them. The husband is the head of the home and does so even while at work. I can manage my home while at Co-op and while taking care of my grandmother. Numerous women in the bible worked and took care of their homes. And yes we are to submit to our husbands but we are also to submit to other people’s husbands daily in the sense of governing officials and other authority figures like police officers. I submit to my pastor and elders of the church. The bible says we are to submit to one another (1 Peter 5:5).
Not all employers are so uncaring as mentioned. I have in the past, taken jobs that allowed me to be home at certain times and also gave me freedom to be with my children as needed. I have not worked in years and I now homeschool my boys and am with them every day but I have friends who have some amazing relationships with their children and they have to work outside of the home. They are awesome women of God and He is using them in the workplace. There were also women who traveled with Jesus. He did not rebuke them and send them home.
The statements I have read clearly state that a woman should under no circumstances work outside of the home or else she can’t be a Christian. My dear friend’s husbnad has a debilitating disease and can no longer work. I have a hard time believing God would shun her for earning wages to support her family.
God looks at the heart. We can’t judge other’s hearts.
I really want to understand where these perceptions come from. I appreciate your input.
As a Christian woman within God’s will and fulfilling God’s plan for my life, I am heading to medical school next year to become a doctor – OB/GYN to be specific! I absolutely laugh in the face of anyone that would ever tell me I was outside of God’s will in pursuing this occupation, as it is was God who planned and chose this for me opening very heavy doors along the way. Not only that (SHOCKER HERE) – my HUSBAND is going to stay home with our children. Period. We’re very content with this future arrangement, and when we have children, he will quit his job and be their primary caretaker while I support our family as a physician.
Sorry to all the disagreers out there, but God is our hearts, our family unit, and in our plans, and we are in the center of His will. May God have all the glory in my acceptance to medical school this year, and I look forward to serving him as a doctor for the rest of my working career.
Allison Overmon (queenie)
PS – love your website and blog, Amy! And I definitely love that you aren’t afraid to shake up the conservative-for-no-reason logic a lot of we Southern women have been fed our entire life. It doesn’t have any Biblical basis, and for those of us with strong female Biblical role models like Esther – discussions like this are empowering! God is amazing, and He certainly doesn’t gender discriminate on how He uses you based on your sex.
I am not good at throwing out passage and verse but I will say that for me I think I am called to be at home right now. I think there are different seasons in our lives when we can do things and not do things. I don’t judge those who choose to work or feel they are led to work outside of their home. I have a hard enough time figuring out what I am supposed to be doing muchless what someone else is.
In regards to the VP I will admit honestly that I do question if this is what she is meant to do when her house is obviously under attack right now. She has a teen daughter who is pregnant and a child with down syndrome. If I were in her shoes I’d be focusing my attentions on my family. Let me just add that it is only my gut reaction and I once again have no idea what she is meant to do or not meant to do. The party will have my vote because I don’t care to live in a socialist country and I don’t agree with abortion. This was a hard vote for me because I would like to see the day when a biracial man could be President of this country, but I’m not sure this is the man. Hopefully more will follow.
I think the biggest thing we need to realize as Christian women is that we need to ENCOURAGE one another and not beat each other down. It always amazes me when people spew venom when they want to bring people to Christ. I don’t recall any verses where Jesus stoned others to bring them to Christianity. I believe he showed love and forgiveness when offering up some truths. We should all try to do that as well. We are all sinners, we all make mistakes and it is not for any of us to judge.
I am not judging Sarah by withholding my vote, but that doesn’t mean I cannot have an opinion and wonder if she doing the right thing. What I should really be doing is praying for Sarah that she WOULD do the right thing. Its a much better use of my energies and that is what we should ALL do when we feel someone is doing something “wrong”.
Oh PS—-I am NOT withholding my vote. Just want to make sure that came out right.
Karin,
I agree with so much of what you have said. I don’t want to turn this into politics but I too have issues with the fact that Sarah Palin was chosen but my reasons have nothing to do with the bible. I’ve discussed this with Amy S a few times. I just question whether or not she can emotionally handle the job. I have to trust that she, being a woman of God, has been called to this and is following the lead of Christ for her life. I can’t determine that because I can’t judge her heart in these matters. My point was simply to put to rest that this- and the others issues mentioned – were a scriptural issue when in fact, they aren’t.
And yes ladies, we should keep this encouraging. Sometimes I get a little wound up when opinions or convictions are stated as biblical fact but I don’t mean to. I do hope everyone understands that I am seeking understanding in these issues. In order to better serve women you have to know where they are coming from. If I have come across being judgmental then I sincerely apologize. Satan has done a good enough job of causing division between us.
I do have friends on the other side of the spectrum who believe women are sinning if they work. We disagree but still love and encourage one another. That is how it should be. Karin, you are totally right about that.
With that said, Tami, I adore you and respect your views and I hope you know that. I would love for us to be able to learn from each other.
i found this article that has a lot to say about what the scriptures say on this subject
http://www.thechristianwoman.com/christian-women-topics/should-christian-mother-work.html just copy ansd paste
also i wanted to add- in ephesians 5- when discussing who is the head of the family , as you mentioned in your comment, the husband is the head of the household. in the original language this was written using military terms , as describing a general and a colonol so to speak. a general can’t be in all the places he needs to oversee at one time so he has colonols to be in charge and oversee everything- HOWEVER the colonol is still under the general”s authority and even tho he is able to make certain decisions on his own, he still must do as the general tells him to. the same military terms used for this is used to describe a husband and wife- the dh goes to work leaving the wife in charge but she is still under his authority.
you will also note that adam was the only one given the charge to go out and work- eve was not. gen 3:19
i find it odd taht everyone else says they don’t have scripture to back up their beliefs and i do have scripture to back up mine.
Wow! You hit a hot button, Amy! Very interesting thoughts here.
These are difficult issues to dissect. A Biblical character that fascinates me is Deborah who was a judge for Israel, clearly taking a leadership role in politics, somewhat reluctantly, but did so because the men wouldn’t. God honored her work. (See Judges 4)
I don’t think we can limit God’s work or even suggest to know HOW He wants to use people. We need to pay close attention to scripture (many great ones listed here) and ask for God’s discernment for ourselves only.
GREAT discussion!
Tami,
Thanks so much for responding again. Let me begin by saying that I am not absolutely disputing that the man is the head of the house. Scripture clearly states that many times. I am more than happy to submit to my husband and most of the women I know embrace it. I personally also believe that the only place I should be is home with my children. I don’t want to be anywhere else. That is where my heart is and where I know God wants me. The reason this came up is because a friend read something that just tore her up inside because it stated she was not a Christian if she worked outside of the home. Her husband is completely disabled and she is doing everything she can to work and pay their bills and for his medical care. She asked me to find out if what she read was true. I studied and prayed and sought God and every scripture given to back up these beliefs did not indeed back them up. They were either misinterpreted or misunderstood.
I read the link you sent to me and with all due respect after seeing these lines:
1. “Let me give you exceptions for a Christian mother to work in the work place that I would permit, and I think more important God would allow, (Ask Him to be sure though):”
and
2. “Now, notice in my judgements I said nothing about needing more money as a reason for a Christian mother to leave the home and enter the workplace.”
I completely understood that this kind lady was expressing her convictions and beliefs. She stated (as seen above) that these were statements she believed. I will leave that alone as I don’t see any reason to pick apart personal thoughts she has about her life. There should be no issues with a person’s personal convictions but since the bible was used to try to reinforce it and I will address just a couple of the inaccurate uses of scripture but note that there were quite a few.
Here is what I want to point out about the scriptures that I’ve seen used to back up this thought that women can’t work outside of the home as well as be keepers of the home…
The word “oikouros” was said to mean “stayer at home”. I looked it up in two separate concordances and did not find that terminology. I defined it below and expanded upon the study.
Origin of “keeper of the home” –
g3626 οἰκουργός oikourgos
(caring for the house, working at home)
a) the (watch or) keeper of the house
b) keeping at home and taking care of household affairs
c) a domestic (note: domestic is defined as:
1. of or pertaining to the home, the household, household affairs, or the family: domestic pleasures.
2. devoted to home life or household affairs. )
Keeper is defined as: 1. a person who guards or watches, as at a prison or gate.
2. a person who assumes responsibility for another’s behavior: He refused to be his brother’s keeper.
3. a person who owns or operates a business (usually used in combination): a hotelkeeper.
Definition obtained from Webster’s Dictionary.
Workers at home (oikourgouß). So the oldest MSS. (from oikoß, ergou) instead of oikourouß, keepers at home (from koiso, ouroß, keeper). Rare word, found in Soranus, a medical writer, Field says. Cf. 1 Timothy 5:13. “Keepers at home” are usually “workers at home.”
A woman, especially one with school aged children, can most certainly work and be a keeper at home without sacrificing quality or heart.
I am aware of the connotation of the original Greek word it was derived from: “ouros” which means guard. That does not prove that the bible states that women cannot work outside of the home though. The way the military operates is not in one exclusive location. I come from a military family that is 19 generations strong and I know that no one stays back at the fort to organize the grenades and make up the bunks. Most times someone who is enlisted but unable to go to war will stay behind to man the phones and do paperwork but other than that they all go to war when called upon so I’m not sure how that fits.
While I agree with some of the psychology she presents, it is not backed by scripture and therefore can’t be taken as a biblical mandate. I started to respond to each and every discrepancy I found (as it pertains to this being a biblical mandate) in the article but decided that would not be beneficial to anyone. I think anyone who reads the link should follow the author’s advice:
“Please do not take my thoughts in this chapter as gospel. They are judgements I have made based on common sense and I think I have the Spirit of God. Only daily communion with the Holy Ghost can lead you for sure.”
Make sure you have a bible and concordance handy and look up the scriptures for yourself and please don’t just read them as one liners. Read the entire chapter to understand the reason and meaning.
As far as Genesis 3:19, it says, “All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return.”
This scripture does not eliminate women from the option of working. It was the result of the sin of Adam. He would now have to earn his keep. The result of Eve’s sin was listed in Genesis 3:16. We can’t assume that God meant women were forbidden to work. And yes I know that men can’t have labor pains in birth but that is physically impossible. Women are capable of working. On the same token we can be sure that women and men will both return to dust so we know women weren’t excluded from that portion of the same scripture either.
I realize that we all want to scripturally convince others to follow our own convictions but the biblical truth is that God gave us the bible and what is not explicitly written out in there is a decision between us and Him. We can’t ever judge that because we aren’t permitted to. If a woman is working outside the home and it prevents her from being the loving wife and mother that God called her to be then she must face God about that. Only God can judge the heart and actions of another.
I welcome further friendly dialogue as it pertains to the subject as long as there is no bashing. We should continue to dig deep into the word. I rather enjoy seeking to know more about Him.
Thank you, Tami for for being so kind and sincere. I appreciate your contribution to this discussion and look forward to getting to know you better! : )
well amy i must say you gave me some food to chew on this conversation should be an interesting one.:)
i checked out your profile- how cool that you were on the cover of a magazine!!!
I think those extreme opinions come from the same place that most of Christian dogma comes from–our faith in our own ability to hear the Lord speak in our lives and our faithfulness in following Him is so weak, that we try to recruit everyone to come along our path. It stems from the same insecurity that perpetuates the breast vs. formula debates, co-sleeping vs crib-sleeping, etc. Once we find what “works for us” or, more spiritually, what “God told me,” we generalize it to being the right solution for everyone.
Yes, God guides us through scripture–some of the very ones that have been mentioned here. But he also speaks to us in our spirit and through our husbands, ministers, spiritual mentors, friends…none of those sources knows the whole picture that God has for any of us, so none of them can be our complete authority. In the end, we answer to God alone–as do all the other believers. None of us can rightly and truly say that the working mom is “wrong” because we’ve been told to be home with our children any more than a SAHM mom can call us “wrong” when God has directed us to use our gifts to serve him in ministry or vocation.
One of my most important life lessons has been to see that God has worked in and on me for a long time. Some of the changes he brought about took a long time to get through to me. Once upon a time I used to be so excited about my new revelations, I thought everyone else ought to be on the same page right then. But when I realized that God was gracious enough to give me time to learn and grow and change, I realized he did the same for others too. And just because I’d finally caught on to a truth new to me, it didn’t mean that was his lesson for anyone else at the moment.
So, while some of those statements may be true for ME, I wouldn’t claim them to be true for womankind and I’m grateful that God sees us as unique creations with a unique purpose and a one-of-a-kind plan for living that out.
PS–after reading them again, I’d have to say that I don’t believe that any of them as written is right true for me, but God has made it plain to me that for a season my focus has been to be at home with my kids even to the exclusion of ministry opportunities for the moment. Didn’t want anyone getting the idea that I would think I am (or anyone else is) “not a Christian if…” or whatever!
hey amy! yes i am on bright and early cuz i was thinking about this a lot last nite! lol
PLEASE know i don’t think badly of your friend!! and i certainly don’t think any of these women here or your friend are not christian becuz they work outside the home!!
while i see valid points in what everyone is saying i feel God has been clear on the subject of women’s roles and i haven’t changed my opinion. for me to pick apart other commenters’ messages and tell them why i think they are wrong wouldn’t be a very nice thing to do in this type of forum but i do think they are wrong. i mean no ill will towards the friend you mentioned and i have no easy solutions in that situation but i do have some thoughts about it tho it wouldn’t come out right just typing it like this.
I think controversial topics like these are great discussion items! There are many different women, and I believe God designed us all with different purposes in mind. Amy B, thanks for looking up those Script ure references. I agree with you in that the link that the poster posted would take too long to dispute all the discrepancies, however, I do want to say that some of the language and firmness in what the author considered “absolute truths” really scared me. In like a cult-like fashion – scared me. I think Christians should be very very careful in their intepretation of the Bible. I’m not sure why, but often I see many Christians trying to add rules that weren’t given by God. Why does that happen? Do we feel more comfortable with extra rules? My life as a Christian woman is personally extremely freeing…not filled with so many absolute rules. I would encourage any woman reading this to really explore what they consider their “rules” set by God. Are they REALLY set by God, or are you just repeating conservative dogma that you aren’t sure is really correct? I live my life according to God and the Bible, and I was convicted to become a physician. CONVICTED. So part of me really does think that sometimes we feel like we need to add rules and regulations that aren’t really there in God’s word.
Great discussion, again, and Amy B – I absolutely love reading your blog. What a great peak into your heart and I love keeping up with you and your hubby this way. Although I should pick up the phone at some point!
I thought this would be interesting to post – from the same website the poster posted that frightened me about the ideas the author had about working women – is a contradiction! Here’s what the site gave as example of working women in the Bible:
According to the Bible, career women are nothing new. Already mentioned, Deborah was a judge and a military leader. Like her, Miriam, Huldah and Anna were also prophetess’, completely trusted by God to declare His word. Ruth and Naomi sold real estate, Sheerah founded two cities and Abishag was a nurse. Phoebe and Pricilla played key roles in ministry, Zeruiah built a great warrior dynasty and Lydia was a clothing designer. The daughters of Zelophehad petitioned for equality and were rewarded by God.
Interesting, don’t you think?
Jumping in here— I think the reason many Christian women believe these things is because that is what they know are comfortable with. Someone along the lines taught them this, and it is black and white to them.
I have been and am a stay at home, homeschooling mom. However, I have worked in the summer at the local park and recreation department. My husband was perfectly fine with it, and since that is who I am to submit then that’s what matters. Even when I was at work my husband was still my covering, not my boss. Yes, I did things the job required but it is no different then teaching a Sunday school class and having someone over you.
As for the election, I have to believe that Sarah Palin and her husband have discussed the issues. If he is okay with her being VP, then that is great!! :0) Once again, he is her covering.
Thanks Amy for the open and honest discussion. :0)
i will quote nancy campbell of above rubies- i have no trouble with women working, it’s where they are working that matters.
desining clothes doesn’t take you out of your home away from your family. being a prophtress doesn’t either. nursing was different back then than now. these women worked from their homes, not in a hospital.
deborah is repeated so often! it was a shame that she was placed in that position- that is what the story is about- shame becuz the men weren’t doing their jobs! here is an article that clarifies that – http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/10/4431.aspx
not every person who did something in the bible was doing God’s will! they weren’t perfect. paul murdered christians for years and yet went on to write great books of scripture!
why does anyone think that i don’t think women are equal just becuz i believe they should be keepers at home? i most certainly do think women are equal.
i really am surprised that i am the only one here with this opinion becuz on my blog most everyone agrees with this thought , as well as on many of the blogs i read. maybe i should post for some help lol
Mr. Einwhecter who wrote the articles pertaining to women in office that has been pushed on the vision forum blogs as well as others has also written articles on why stoning children per scripture in Deuteronomy is also still bibilical and relevant. That really sounds like saying what the muslims do with honor killings is ok…
Also, bouncing off the selection in Titus 2 that Amy referenced (which really is house keepers) is found in the Bible ONE time. I believe God has many great things for women to accomplish and it is shameful that people use a scripture that is found once to say that is the ONLY thing we should do.
Have a blessed evening…
I was just asked to write a devo on Romans 7:1-6. We have died to legalism, folks, pure and simple. If you feel like the Bible is asking you to stay home and be a homemaker, do it, but do it out of your love for Him. If you believe God has called you outside the home or to serve in the church, do it, but do it for Him. Fat chance we’ll ever completely agree on these matters, because we can only see things from our own grids. I think the Scripture not to judge one another covers that. Also, no matter which side of the fence we sit on, we can do so confidently because of Colossians 2:16-17:
“16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
I could go on and on about what I learned when I was called to write on Romans 7. It was one of the most difficult writing assignments I have ever been given. Amy, the Lord is working and moving in your ministry. That I am sure of. I hope that those who would believe or speak the truth you mentioned in your opening points would strongly consider praying about it. Not only that, that they would think twice before condemning another believer, whether you or me or a politician. We have to examine our lives and our doctrine closely:
1 Timothy 4:10-16 (NIV)
10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
11Command and teach these things. 12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
I don’t believe them for a minute. I don’t have scripture to back it up, but I just KNOW in my heart that doing those things you listed won’t get me to heaven any easier than women who do that.
You know I have to come back to this post. I received a call yesterday from one of the most Godly gals I know. She was having a meltdown because someone told her that the reason her child was misbehaving in church was because she didn’t stay home with him during the week. This “well-meaning” SS teacher had no idea of course that she is working to pay the bills while her husband is struggling to find a new job. They couldn’t sell their house and downgrade right now if they wanted to, and they can’t afford to move, so they’re stuck. We just need to be so careful what we say to Moms. Not everyone has the luxury of staying home or even feels led to. WE should not condemn them. And I know some moms at home that yell at their kids and watch tv half the day too. They might do their kids more good by going back to work.
Anyway, I was so upset for her, prayed for her and sent her the link to this post. Amy, I just love your heart spilled out to all women at all season with all different callings. God has made each one so unique. I think the timing of this posting is no accident. WE, sisters in Christ, need to come together…not condemn.