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A CLOSER LOOK |
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HOMEPAGE |
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BIBLE PASSAGES |
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MATTHEW 17 (JESUS AND THE TAX) |
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ROMANS 13:1-5 THE POWER OF THE STATE |
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MATTHEW 22... JESUS AND TAX TO CAESAR |
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BIBLE TOPICS |
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DID JESUS FEAR THE CROSS? |
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OUR ROCK... JESUS OR PETER |
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BIBLICAL BASIS FOR LEADERSHIP |
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CHRISTIAN LIVING |
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WIVES AND MOTHERS... THEIR HIGH CALLING |
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DRAW THE LINE |
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WIVES AND MOTHERS... THEIR HIGH CALLING
| OUTLINE FOR WIVES AND MOTHERS...THEIR HIGH CALLING DISCLAIMER I. THE PROBLEM, A SUBTLE CHANGE II. THE OVERVIEW A. TWO POINTS OF VIEW B. NO LONGER TRUE? C. MALE OR FEMALE? D. MORE THAN OUTWARD APPEARANCE E. DIFFERENT ROLES F. FOLLOWING THE WORLD III. GOD'S VIEW A. GOD'S PLAN IN THE BEGINNING B. GOD'S VERDICT ON ADAM AND EVE C. BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY? D. OUR RESPONSE TO GOD'S VIEW E. KEEPERS AT HOME 1. GOD'S CLEAR DIRECTIVE 2. HUMAN SIDETRACK 3. BENEATH THE EXTERIOR IV. THE WORLD'S VIEW A. FOUR "SCHOOLS" OF DISOBEDIENCE 1. UNSAVED 2. SINNING CHRISTIANS? (BACKSLIDERS) 3. CARNAL CHRISTIANS a. FEAR OF OTHERS b. DESIRE FOR THINGS 4. MISLED CHRISTIANS B. DECEPTIVE ROADSIGNS 1. FALSE TRAILS FOLLOWED 2. WORLDLY INFLUENCE 3. MATERIALISM AND EASE 4. A COSTLY MISTAKE 5. FEMINISM 6. MORAL BREAKDOWN 7. A LAME EXCUSE IV. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM A. FACE THE FACT B. LIVE BY FAITH |
Though this article is longer than most of my postings, it deals with a very important issue. I try to cover the subject and ask that you set aside a few minutes to focus. There is no greater personal call in life than that of a wife and mother. Anything else a wife or mother does, even in ministry, must be secondary to this. I would be interested in your response. Pastor David DISCLAIMER This article is NOT addressing the issue of single women or single mothers or wives and mothers who must work because their husbands are disabled. I know that there will be many who not only disagree with this article, they will see me as some kind of living monster from the dinasaur age. Don't stop reading now, I might surprise you. Keep in mind that I am dealing with principles of life and Scripture. This is meant to be liberating, not debilitating. It is always to our benefit to live a Biblical lifestyle. I actually care about those who are caught-up in a lifestyle which is robbing them, their families and their community. The breakdown in the family and society came about because husbands and wives, mothers and fathers have not fulfilled their God appointd calling in life. The divorce rate, the broken homes, the rejection of monogamy, the spread of Sodomy are all results of mankind not living according to God's plan. This article is a step to find and fulfill our calling. This is not saying that males are superior to females. This is not meant to demean females in their intellect, talents, strengths or any other area. This is not intended to keep women from becoming all that God designed them to be. Many wonderful and important contributions are made to society through wives and mothers. They provide ministries and services which are a great help and blessing to many others. Important work is done by wives and mothers which would be left undone if not for their skills, talents, dreams and dogged determination. However, if the ministry and service they perform is God's will, it can and should be rendered in the context of God's design for wives and mothers. God's will and call on our lives does not contradict itself. The easy way is to follow the world's agenda instead of the way of God, while the faith way is to follow God. You may find gaps in my argument, but remember, there is much more to this subject than can be covered in a short article. I will be glad to respond to those with legitimate concerns through email and even on our message board. I. THE PROBLEM, A SUBTLE CHANGE The main problem with a wife or mother working outside of the home is that it takes her away from being the keeper of the home. This is in direct violation of God's plan for wives and mothers. One of the results of a wife or mother working outside of the home is the subtle change it makes in her vision and understanding of her primary calling and responsibility. Once a woman begins to make her own money, she begins to feel her own independence. She begins to think that she does not need her husband. She does not see herself submitting to her husband. She begins to see her life as more than a wife and mother. I know there are those who are saying, "And what is wrong with that?" The wife should not feel independent from her husband, any more than the man should feel independent from the wife. ********************************* "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (Eph 5:3) ********************************* This feeling of independence is wrong for both parties. However, when the man is the responsible head of the household and is the bread winner, he is in the place which God designed for him. When the wife is in the workplace, instead of being a keeper at home, she is outside of the place God designed for her. It is easier to be the person we were meant to be and to fulfill our responsibilities when we are in the place God designed for us. Remember, our lives are not our own, we are bought with a price. We are to submit to the One Who owns us. It is also easier for a woman who is the single mother to keep her focus on her responsibility while working than it is for a wife who is working simply because she wants to have things and be a modern woman. Generally, if the wife is working outside of the home, other than for basic survival, she has already turned from the call of God on her life. As was mentioned at the beginning of this article, God does not call or lead wives and mothers to neglect their responsibilities in order to pursue outside work. The problems are multiplied when the woman involved is not only a wife, but a mother. Once she has started to turn away from God's will for her life as a wife and mother, it becomes much easier to take other steps which take her further away from God. Yes, I know that some wives who have taken jobs outside of the home have not gone into an open life of sin and shame; but there are many who have. Are we willing to take the chance that our lifestyle will open the door to loss, defeat, destruction in our own life or someone else's life, such as our children? Are we willing to veer from God's norm just because we have not wandered any further into the dark realm of rebellion? It is popular today to think that there is the "SuperMom" who can do it all; she can be a loving, supportive wife, a nurturing, present mom, social butterfly, career queen, social activist, etc. God did not design the wife and mother to be all of those things. He planned for her to be the wife and mother, which is far more important than being the CEO of some corporation. Women are abandoning their husbands and children for the glitter and pleasures of personal achievement outside of the home. They may not be changing their address or filing for divorce, but they are leaving their children and husbands for the call of the workaday world. And for the most part they are not finding them. And even if they do, they are betraying those whom God has entrusted to their care. But the greatest problem is that the Christian home has been sold out for a materialistic way of life. The way of the world has always been materialistic. It has always loved pleasure, ease and comfort. Since these are things which can be obtained with money, people seek to get as much money as they possibly can. This is why the Bible says, ********************************* "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1Ti 6:10) ********************************* Mothers who are working outside of their homes are leaving their children alone. They are giving their children over to baby sitters, day care workers, school personnel, neighbors, relatives and sometimes total strangers. Regardless of the other person's credentials and capabilities, they are not as qualified as the mother to fill the role of motherhood. Babies are born to mothers, not institutions and professional child care systems. God's plan is mother/child, not mother/child care provider/child. Babies are missing the developmental relationship and input which is inherent to motherhood. Children are being neglected and abandoned for a dollar. And may I add, it has been demonstrated that the money brought in by most working wives and moms does not add to the standard of living of her family. Most people will readily say that the income brought in by the wife does benefit the material status of their family. Of course we can make numbers say anything we want them to say, but we can't make them disprove God's economy and His design for the family; but if you are determined to go to work anyway, why don't you have someone audit your status and see "how much you are making" at the expense of your family and obedience to God's word. Then come back to God's way and will. It is worth more than silver and gold. II. THE OVERVIEW A. TWO POINTS OF VIEW We either take God's perspective or satan's. God is the creator of the family and satan is the destroyer of the family. As the designer and creator of the family, God has given instructions on how we should live in order to have a successful and productive family and society. As the destroyer of the family, satan has attacked its foundation and rewritten the instruction manual. To go against God's revealed plan is to follow satan's plan of defeat and loss. B. NO LONGER TRUE? Some people tell us that the standards for family and personal life established in the Scriptures are no longer binding on modern man. Churches renowned for their stand on honoring and obeying God's Word and rich in Christian heritage are turning away from God's formula for successful home building. C. MALE OR FEMALE? One of the most destructive choices made in the Church and in the the home is the confusing of gender roles. It is no longer popular or politically correct to recognize the difference in male and female roles in the family or society at large. This article is not trying to prove the issue of gender specific roles and God given lines of authority in the home and community. The Bible is clear in its position that there is a difference between male and females and there are different roles appropriate to these two groups. This article is focusing on the need to follow what God says about this issue. D. MORE THAN OUTWARD APPEARANCE Neither can we camouflage our disobedience by wearing the right clothes and hairstyle while abandoning our place as either husband or wife, father or mother. Hair styles and clothing can appear very feminine while the inner woman is bossy, carnally ambitious, disobedient to her husband and detatched from her calling as a wife and mother. E. DIFFERENT ROLES The standard which God set for families is that the man should be the head of the home. This is not a license for men to oppress their wives, rather, it is a management assignment given to the man by God. It should also be noted that being the head of the home places the responsibility for the provision of the family in the hands of the man. Men are to lead, feed, protect and comfort their families. F. FOLLOWING THE WORLD Unhappily, Christians have allowed the world system to set their agenda and values. The western world view blurs the distinctions which exist between males and females. Our society is becoming androgenous; women are becoming more masculine in their thinking and behavior, and the men are becoming more feminine in their thinking and behavior. This ultimately manifests itself in a society which not only allows homosexuality as an aberrant but acceptable lifestyle, but encourages it as a viable and desirable alternative. Of course this is totally against the will of God and the good of society. However, a slight deviation from God's will ends in total catastrophe. Since God wants a society with males fulfilling male roles and females fulfilling female roles, satan wants a society which confuses the roles between the genders. Much like the fact that God wants a society which abstains from sexual relations outside of marriage and one which observes purity and fidelity in marriage, satan wants a society which does not observe sexual purity and marriage commitment. Whatever God wants, satan wants the opposite. Remember, satan's name is adversary; he is adversarial to whatever God wants. III. GOD'S VIEW A. GOD'S PLAN IN THE BEGINNING The first institution which God established was that of marriage. Before there was a mother and father on the face of the earth God had said, ********************************* "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen 2:24) ********************************* You see, even before a man had a family, God had established that a man was to leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife. No other human relationship was to be more important than that of husband and wife. B. GOD'S VERDICT ON ADAM AND EVE As part of her judgment for following satan in his deception, Eve would experience sorrow in her child bearing. Another part of her suffering would be a more encompassing submission to her husband than she had experienced before she had chosen to follow satan. ********************************* "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Gen 3:16) ********************************* Keep in mind that the judgments which fell on Adam and Eve were not only personal but federal, that is, these judgments applied to her childern and all subsequent generations. C. BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY? As Christians, we believe all of God's word, both Old and New Testament. However, there are some directives given in the Old Testament which are not binding upon Christians. We must be wise and understanding concerning God's word, way and will. When there are differences in the Old Testament directives and the New Testament, we Christians are to follow and obey the New Testament. Christians believe the Old Testament but they live by the New Testament. So what does God say to us in the New Testament about wives in their relationship with their husbands? In the New Testament wives are given the same instruction as was given from the beginning, ********************************* "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Eph 5:22-24) "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." (Col 3:18) "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;" (1Pe 3:1) ********************************* Obviously, this submission is not absolute. The wife is to obey the husband only as it is in agreement with the will and word of God. Wives live under the same truth as all other Christians, they are to obey human authorities when it does not conflict with God's authority. ********************************* "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." (Act 5:29) ********************************* God has a reason for His decisions. They are not made lightly or maliciously. God's directives are for our good as well as for His glory. Humans are always trying to improve on God's order and plan, but to go against God's design brings futility and chaos. There must be order in life and the One Who knows the best order for life is the One Who designed, created and sustains life, God. God has the right to tell us what to do and how to do it. God knows us thoroughly and knows what is best for us. And because God is a loving and merciful God, He has assigned us to fulfill roles which are in our best interest. D. OUR RESPONSE TO GOD'S VIEW Marriage is a two way street. The model marriage is made up of both the husband fulfilling his God appointed role and the wife fulfilling her God appointed role. There are privileges and responsibilities which belong to both the husband and the wife. But since this article is dealing with the importance of the wife being a keeper of the home, I am not examining the place and responsibilities of the husband. I hold to the priniciple that God knows best and we do our best when we do what God tells us to do. I also hold to the principle that if God says something, we should listen; if God repeats Himself, we should listen even more intently. God has spoken to the issue of wives being "keepers at home" and husbands being the provider. And God has repeated Himself again and again. E. KEEPERS AT HOME 1. GOD'S CLEAR DIRECTIVE There are some things which are debatable in the Christian lifestyle; length of hair, style of clothes, types of entertainment and recreation and the kind of music to which we listen. This is not to say that there is not a Biblical standard, but there are different understandings concerning some issues in these areas. However, the issue of wives being keepers at home and caring for their husbands and children is not debatable. ********************************* "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." (Tit 2:3-5) "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:" (1Pe 3:5) ********************************* God's idea of womanly beauty is to be found in her inner person, not her outward appearance. Simplicity and modesty are the standards which God has set for every area of our lives whether it is in our clothes or cars, whether in our hairdos or houses, and it applies to both males and females. It is popular in many Christian circles to attack the styles of the contemporary world as if they are all corrupt. It is easy to write off anything new and current as being from satan. It is not as popular to attack the problem of substituting man-made rules and regulations for Spirit led living. The Spirit of God is always holy and He is always up-to-date. Neither is it popular to point out the weaknesses of the established saints. Though styles may change, Biblical standards of modesty and simplicity are to guide us throughout our lives. However the issue of wives and mothers being keepers at home is settled for all time. 2. HUMAN SIDETRACK Clothing and hair styles have changed through the years. Some Christians base their clothing and hair styles on the style worn by the heroes of their movement. If, during the golden age of a movement's history, the simple clothing style for men was wearing suspenders, then suspenders became the normal and accepted attire for the males in that movement for the following generations. If a given hairstyle was the modest and simple style for women during the early days of a movement's history, that hairstyle became the normal and accepted style for females for all following generations. We all have "styles", but the question is which styles do we have. Some are quick to say that they have God's style, when what they mean is they have the style which was popular at some point in recent history but it is not contemporary today. Actually they do not dress in the styles which were popular when Jesus walked the earth, therefore their style is rather modern. Modern is not bad if it is Christlike in simplicity and modesty. Modesty and simplicity are always the standards by which Christians should live. However, the modest and simple styles of 100 years ago were really no more than that, modest and simple. To wear those same clothes styles and wear the same hairdo today may be simple and modest, but it is not the only option to simplicity and modesty in our appearance. I admire and appreciate the standards of simplicity and modesty followed by many of my brothers and sisters. I may choose a different style while at the same time following Christian standards. I do not hold others to my style and do not expect to be held to their styles. Remember, simplicity and modesty are never out of date for the Christian, regardless of what the world thinks. But human styles are not the deciding factor concerning our walk with God. I should not be required to wear a tie or not to wear a tie because of someone else's chosen style. I should not be required to button or leave unbuttoned the top button of my shirt because of someone else's chosen style. Suspenders are no more spirtual than belts. These things are not essentials. But if I am expected to don a style which is out of date by one hundred years, why shouldn't we all go back to the styles of the early church? Because that is not what God planned and it is not God's requirement. I also find it interesting that males are often allowed to be much more contemporary in their appearance than are the females in the same movements or churches. In some groups, the wearing of jewelry and ornamental attire is frowned upon or forbidden (especially for the females). The sisters are often expected to be very plain and simple, maybe even expected to make their own clothes. Certainly there is merit in this viewpoint. On the other hand, the males often have very nice and expensive suits, watches, hair cuts and other niceties. It is as if there is a double standard. I don't see this in the Scriptures. Sometimes what we call holiness is really no more than laziness. We follow in the cultural steps of our parents, grand parents and great grandparents and call it holiness. However, it may be only a smoke screen. The outside is modest and simple, but the inside is sometimes filled with anger, pride, rebellion and more. Sometimes the argument against more contemporary style is that they gender pride. There is nothing to keep a person from being proud of their "strict" style. Pride of lace is just as destructive whether the lace is from another era or contemporary. However, pride can not only be in FACE and LACE and PLACE and RACE, it can be in the most terrible of all, GRACE. Another argument against contemporary styles is that they draw attention to the person's style rather than to Jesus. It is also true that wearing styles which belong to another era draw attention to ourselves rather than to Jesus. This is not a call to trade in traditional style for contemporary style, it is pointing out that styles are not the real issues in life, but rather, obedience to Jesus. Holiness is not only seen in our modest appearance, it is seen in our modest behavior. It is seen in our loving demeanor. It is seen in our humble attitude. There are ways to live in simplicity and modesty today while still contemporary. The goal is not to look like a photograph from the past, nor to look like a model from some fashion magazine; it is to be a living and loving witness today, showing the beauty of holiness in Christ. We are not to glorify some point in our history, but rather glorify the God who transcends time. Our emphasis is not style, but Jesus. I wonder how many young people have opted out of the truth of holiness because they thought they had to live like they were in the early 1900's? There is nothing wrong with looking like the early 1900's, but it not the Biblical standard of holiness. To force a look from history is to go beyond Scripture and it is to put people in bondage to man made laws. How many youth have left the holiness movement because they were being expected to live in a camouflage world under the oppression of a rules and regulations religion rather than live in the real world by the power and vitality of the Holy Spirit? I am afraid that often people reject the true Jesus because they don't want the cardboard Jesus they are being offered. 3. BENEATH THE EXTERIOR There are some unchanging principles which guide our outward appearance, but it takes prayer, meditation, humility, submission and Christian counsel to learn how to live godly in this present evil age. Holiness of heart and life is our goal, not laziness and regemented subjugation. Outward appearance can be deceptive. However, there is no question about the clear directive in God's word concerning the unchanging issue of the wife's place in the home; it is settled for all of time. Satan does not agree with God's position. The western world does not agree with God's position. And unhappily, Christians have been maneuvered until most of them do not agree with God's position. Wives and mothers are to be keepers at home. IV. THE WORLD'S VIEW A. FOUR "SCHOOLS" OF DISOBEDIENCE There are at least four different schools of thought on why people do not follow God's word concerning the place of wives and mothers. 1. UNSAVED Many of those who claim to be Christians are not born again believers, which is the very experience required to make someone a Christian. These are people who are nominal Christians, Christian in name only. ********************************* "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Joh 3:3) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1Co 2:14) ********************************* We should not be surprised that they do not accept God's authority over their married and family roles. 2. SINNING CHRISTIANS? (BACKSLIDERS) Then we have those who have encountered Jesus and experienced His saving power, but they have been deceived to believe that they can keep on sinning and still remain saved. Many of those who have been born again are living in disobedience to the will and word of God. They will even tell you that they sin; some will even say that they sin every day in word, thought and deed. Of course, that is an apt description of the devil. There are many sinning religions in the world, but the Christian faith (religion) stands apart from them all because Jesus did not come to accept us in our sin but to deliver us from our sin. "Christians" who continue in sin are believing the doctrine preached by their first "evangelist", satan, who told Eve that if she sinned she would not die. ********************************* "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:" (Gen 3:4) ********************************* And though this may be a popular belief among some who call themselves Christian, the fact is, ********************************* "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom 6:16) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 6:23) "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." (1Jo 3:8-9) ********************************* These people claim to be Christians but do not believe obedience to God is important or essential. We should not be surprised that these women do not obey God in fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers. 3. CARNAL CHRISTIANS On the other hand there are those who want to do that which is pleasing in His sight but find that they are weak and unable to walk in a way that is worthy of their calling. After a person comes to accept Jesus and His salvation into their lives they begin to sense an inner battle taking place. The new man or new nature within them wants to follow and obey God, while the old man or old nature rebels against the new spiritual life within. Unhappily, they have probably been taught that they cannot have victory over this inner battle and therefore they continue to give in to the wiles of the wicked one. This will bring them ruin in their own lives and in the lives of their children. ********************************* "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom 8:6-8) "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (Jam 4:4) "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." (2Pe 2:20) "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1Jo 2:15-17) ********************************* Being pleasing to God becomes secondary to the carnal Christian. Most people do not see that being a wife and mother is the highest vocational calling a woman can have and therefore they rebel against the Biblical standard. This rebellion manifests itself in two main ways. a. FEAR OF OTHERS Carnal believers do what others expect them to do because they are afraid they will not be accepted or because they fear what will happen to them if they do not go along with the crowd. We call this "peer pressure," and carnal Christians are often molded by this fear. Therefore wives and mothers allow family members, friends or society to set their spiritual agenda by abandoning their families. Since it has become the norm for Christian wives and mothers to seek fulfillment in other venues, it becomes difficult for the carnal Christian woman to go against the mainstream of society and church. They are more concerned with other people and the current situation than they are with God and eternity. b. DESIRE FOR THINGS Another main factor in wives and mothers turning their backs on God's calling is materialism. As with the rest of society, these women are wanting the things which the world has to offer. They want the prestige, power, wealth and independence that supposedly goes with an outside vocation or career. This is often cloaked in the garb of "need" but it comes back to "greed." A warped part of this "desire" problem is that they desire that which passes away while they pass by their families which God designed to last forever. They invest their lives, talents, energies and time in things beneath them while neglecting those in their family who really need them. 4. MISLED CHRISTIANS But then there are those who are going the wrong way because they do not know the truth of God's word. Many of those who are Christians are very shallow in their knowledge of the Bible and their walk with God. Pastors and other Christian leaders have not taught the word of God in this vital area, therefore women have been slowly led away from Biblical living, little by little until it is almost impossible to get them back to what God requires. For the most part, they do not even know that they have left the path which God ordained for them. It has been slow and long in coming, but the ensnaring of the wife and mother has led them into destruction. It has always been satan's plan to destroy the family. He started long ago and has been easing unsuspecting believers into his trap. With this being true, how did the Christian community get to the point where it is the norm for Christian wives and mothers to abandon their God given call to be keepers at home and go out into the workaday world instead? B. DECEPTIVE ROADSIGNS There are many different tools used to mislead Christians. 1. FALSE TRAILS FOLLOWED We have left the word of God. Its teaching has never changed but we have refused to hear it and obey it. Though there are other issues which have influenced Christians to follow the ways of the world, leaving the word of God is the fundamental problem. While claiming to follow God's word, they have selected to delete those portions which do not agree with their own way. 2. WORLDLY INFLUENCE A society which is basing its choices on Hedonism has declared that a woman does not have to follow the old fashioned teachings of the Bible. Christians have chosen to listen to those who say the Bible was written by males who sought to shape society and religion for the benefit of males and the oppression of females. They follow those who say that the Biblical writers were narrow and unenlightened. Christians have been intimidated into exchanging God's revelation for demonic but popular feminism. 3. MATERIALISM AND EASE The western world has enjoyed a high standard of living. Most of our people who live in "poverty" have been richer than many of the "wealthy" in other societies. However, our society is greed driven and it now takes more money to maintain our standard of living. The procuring of this extra money has required more time spent on the worksite. This has become part of the Christian lifestyle as well. Since it costs so much to have it all, wives and mothers have entered the workforce to have the things which "make life better." We were given an empty promise. In the 1950's we were being told that Americans would be working less and having more time and material wealth in the next decade or so. As it has turned out, men are often having to work two jobs and wives have gone into the workforce in order to help feed the family and keep a roof over their families head. Most of the problems stems from a materialistic mindset rather than the cost of living. 4. A COSTLY MISTAKE Though it is true that the cost of living has sky rocketed, the problem for many people is found in their wants rather than their needs. Our forefathers lived by Biblical directives which condemned both debt and pampered living. Having become spoiled with our affluence we found it too easy to compromise what our parents had taught us and what the Bible declares. We became so involved in making a living we quit making a life. Fathers followed the pied piper of empty dreams, which promised them wealth and pleasure, only to find they had left home and family behind, never to be found again. Our society swallowed the economist's lie which tells us, "debt is healthy." We bought on credit, we incurred interest obligations, we mortgaged our homes. Then we had to become wage slaves to fulfill our obligations. 5. FEMINISM With more women, single and married, entering the workforce, there were fewer jobs for men and this has also contributed to the imbalance in the economy and the social structure. Employers could hire women at a cut rate and sometimes have been forced to hire women in order to meet federal guidelines. As a result, heads of households have often been moved from the workforce and have been hindered in their ability to provide for their families. Anti-Christ viewpoints have inundated our society and overwhelmed our children through public schools, media, communications, entertainment, advertisements and peer pressure. Plus the fact that they have seen the previous generation surrender the holy terrain of womanhood to the new age idolization of the female to the goddess image. They have seen the church become a supporter for wives and mothers who want to abandon their calling and assignment. 6. MORAL BREAKDOWN There is another problem springing from women in the workforce which is affecting the family today. The unrestrained relationships between men and women have taken their toll on home life. The fault is to be found in both the men and the women. Wherever there are unsaved people there is going to be unsavory behavior. As bad as this may be, it is magnified when it is in a co-ed work scene. Don't go "holy" on me now. You know what I am talking about. You know that people often show less personal restraint and dignity at work than they do in many other places of social interaction. It is like being away from Momma or Daddy and pushing the limit of their morals. It isn't that the person is less like him/her self at work, they are actually more like their real self. They can be less inhibited because there are less restraints. A woman should not have to face the indignities of sexism or profanity, or vulgarity or degradation of any kind. But if we pretend that it is not in the workplace today we are bigger fools than we admit to being. There is no excuse for a Christian woman being part of that which is unBiblical and demeaning. Concerning Christian families, wives and daughters, should not be in those situations. And NO, neither should husbands or sons. But as it is, Christians do not refuse to work in hostile and corrupt environments. For the most part, they simply become part of it. And over the long haul it takes its toll on the individual and the family. The more we allow the barriers between us and corruption to be pulled down, the more corruption we will find in our lives. 7. A LAME EXCUSE I can hear some of you saying now, "But we are supposed to be witnessess to the world." YES, but let's face it, the vast majority of those in these situations are not witnessing, while some who are witnessing with their lips are actually following the crowd in their corrupt behavior. Being a witness does not always mean being a part of someone else's situation. The need to evangelize a wicked society is not reason enough to become "yokefellows" with them. The Bible is clear when it says, ********************************* "Bad company (evil communications) corrupts good morals (manners)." 1Cor.15:33 ********************************* Before we start defending what has become the acceptable way of life, ask yourself this question, "Is this change in the modern workforce worth the damage that has been dealt to the home and community at large?" Now we have Christian women in the workplace being exposed to the insults and abuse of fellow workers who are unsaved, both men and women. They face tempatations and pressures with which they should not have to contend. The problem with this is not because she is frail and weak, but because this is not the life which God intended for her to have. V. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM A. FACE THE FACT Christians have turned from God's will concerning wives and mothers being keepers of the home, and have gone out into the worlds workforce. Christians have chosen to live by the same standards and the same values as the worldly system which we are actually sent to convert. They are living by the flesh, not by faith. Remember the passage we just looked at? ********************************* "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1Ti 6:10) ********************************* Most Christians would say that they do not love money. However, their lives are far removed from the life of faith which God has called them to live. This passage not only tells us the underlying root of all evil, it tells us what the result of that evil is; it is erring or straying from the faith and piercing oneself through with many sorrows. While it is true that the comfort and pleasure are bought with an unBiblical lifestyle, it is a short lived comfort and pleasure. This is what is happening with wives and mothers in the worlds workforce instead of being keepers at home. B. LIVE BY FAITH It has always been a conflict between the flesh and faith. Christians have always been confronted with a choice on how to live their lives. We will either live by the flesh or by faith. Living by the flesh means that we trust in what we can do for ourselves or what some other person can do for us. Living by faith means that we trust God to supply all of our need according to His riches in glory. Living by the flesh means spending our energy in the now and the material. Living by faith means spending our lives for the things which do not fade away. Living by the flesh means disobeying God's word and living by the bread that this world affords. Living by faith means obeying God's word and living by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. Living by the flesh means leaving our calling and pursuing something aside from the will of God. Living by faith means leaving the world and its allurement and following God fully. To leave the life being lived in the flesh will take courage and wisdom. It will take faith. It will take a living and vital relationship with God. It will take surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It will take faith in the One Who has power over death and sin, Jesus, the true and living God. There will need to be sacrifice and a major change of mind about what is important in life. There will need to be a willingness and to be ridiculed by family, friends and foes. There will need to be clear thinking and Spirit led planning to escape the snare of satan. It will take time to get back into a Christian lifestyle after having lived an unChristian lifestyle for an extended period of time. It will take study of the word of God. It will take a reevaluation of one's finances, living conditions, vocation, expenditures, plans. It will not be easy. Forgiveness is instantaneous, but moving into a Biblical lifestyle will take determination and follow through. This article is not a road map out of unBiblical living into Biblical living. It is a call to come to the realization that we have been robbed and we are being destroyed. It is a call to come back to God's call and economy. If you see that you are not where God wants you should be, do not fear, do not be discouraged. Do not lose heart. Your deliverance is in Jesus. He is your strength, your wisdom, your courage, your answer. Trust in the Lord and do good. God will deliver you. |
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