A Mess of Pottage. . .

While delivering her acceptance speech Sarah Palin commented:

“It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America, but it turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.”

Mr. Scott Brown posted an article that did a very good job presenting the painful reality of shattering the protective barrier that comes with living within the God ordained role of womanhood. I enjoyed the post and wanted to take some time to further develop his comment, “. . . history has proven that when women break the protective barrier that God has established for them it comes at a high cost. . .with that liberation comes a lot of blood from the falling glass.”
Mr. Brown gives a list of some of the scars that the falling glass has left, what I have done is looked at what roles/principles and/or character qualities women by and large have left and the results thereof.

“She looks well to the ways of her household. . .”
In seeking to shatter glass and earn freedom and equality women have left the role of managing their homes. Once, a woman understood and prepared from her early years to be frugal, orderly, diligent and joyful in the home duties, the majority of women now possess few, if any of these qualities. Instead of preparing to be managers of their homes women spend their lives preparing for careers and often are unable to manage a biblical household.
Proverbs 31:10-31 (esp.27); Titus 2:4-5; Phil. 2:3-4;

“. . . Keepers at Home. . .”
God has called women to be keepers at home. Within this role, under the authority of her husband, is the responsibility of guarding against the influences that can enter in. This requires discernment and diligence; unfortunately, women by and large have compromised if not completely abandoned this vital role. Children from infancy are now exposed to illicit sex, drugs, alcohol, and malicious violence. Primarily through television, music, and the moral relativism taught in public schools. We see the results in the rise of domestic violence, suicide, children murdering their parents or classmates, rape, and a willing loss of virginity at increasingly younger ages as well as a loss of innocence and a complacent attitude toward wickedness.
1 Tim. 5:14; Titus 2:4-5;

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”
The marriage relationships of our day are also suffering. Women no longer understand, let alone want or perform, the role of a helpmeet. In a “me-first” mentality, women have rejected the character of submission, substituting instead home-egalitarianism, and no longer love or truly respect and submit to their husbands the way scripture commands. They are no longer soul-mates and helpers to their husbands. Independence and neglect has lead to a rise in divorce and extra marital affairs.
1 Peter 3:1-6; 1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Cor. 14:35; 1 Cor. 7:3;


“. . . To love their children. . .”
Women are called to love their children, the love of a mother is life sacrificing and tender. It is fierce enough to defend her children with her life if need be and tender enough to kiss a boo-boo or wipe a fevered brow. It is self-sacrificing, realizing that the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of her children are time consuming and a mother is willing to make those sacrifices. Unfortunately, women now sacrifice their children for their own agendas. Unwanted babies are declared to be little more than “fetuses” and are murdered, young children (infants even!) are dropped off at day care to be watched over by strangers so that mommy can go to work. I am not criticizing single mothers who have no other options, (though in those situations I say shame on the woman’s family and on the Church for not stepping in the care for women and children!), I am talking about women who need to feel ‘fulfilled’ or need the larger wardrobe, house, 2nd car, you name it. As a result of this horrific neglect children are growing up without proper guidance and therefore make unnecessary mistakes with can lead to physical, mental and emotional scars. This also results in emotional disorders and/or intense anger toward their parents, ultimately because they do not have the love or hearts of their parents.
Titus 2:4; Prov. 6:20; Prov. 4:3; Prov 31:1;

“But I want you to know, that . . . the head of the woman is man . . .”
Scripture teaches the authority of a man in his home. He is to be the leader, protector and provider and his wife is to be his wise, willing and able helpmeet. Under his headship the family is united. However, in rebellion women have declared the leadership of the husband to be unfair and demanded equality. The results? Individualism run amuck has lead to the breakdown of the family which is an essential building block of civilization. Weak, irresponsible family units lead to unstable societies which in turn lead to too strong a federal government, which ultimately leads to loss of freedom and governments such as socialism.
Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-6

“She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.”
Women today no longer understand true biblical femininity. It has mistakenly become synonymous with weakness and ditzy character. True femininity was exemplified by the pilgrim women who left all familiar to them and followed their husbands to a foreign land, lost 48% of their number over the first winter and despite that they stayed and would not return to England. Femininity was exemplified by the pioneer women who left the comforts of the East and suffered incredible hardships alongside their husbands, but persevered and settled the West. Femininity is not weak, flimsy or ditzy; feminine women aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty and yet they still seek to balance gentleness and graciousness in the midst of it all. Unfortunately, women have traded this for androgyny and attempted masculinity which has resulted in confusion for both men and women. Feminism has told men that it is wrong for them to be manly because it stifles woman’s “independence”, evolution has told men that they are nothing more than highly evolved animals. Women have bought the lies of feminism that tell them they have the freedom to flaunt themselves and behave flirtatiously. Feminism has told women that true freedom comes from asserting their authority over men, though ‘Christianized’ feminism has decided to settle for ‘equal’ roles. The unavoidable consequences: lust is prevalent and vocalized; women are viewed and even view themselves as objects, and men are have no clue what it is to lead in their homes.
1 Peter 3:5-6; 1 Sam 25:13-35; Ester 4:16c; Proverbs 11:16;

Speaking of leadership, ever wonder why many men make excellent leaders at work but are totally lost when they are at home? I asked my father and here is his response:
“At work, whether it be at an office, in the military, etc, there is positional authority. i.e. I am the manager and regardless of whether or not you are male or female, you acknowledge and respond to my authority. At home on the other hand, men are told that everything must be ‘equal’, the chores are equally divided, the say on decision making is “equal” and men are at a loss. They were created to lead and here they are told not to.” I wonder if this is a reason for men to become work-a-holics? Granted, I have no statistical proof, but I can’t help but wonder if the work environment where leadership is expected is more preferable than the home, where there is no clear authority and leadership?

Conclusion
What is the answer to all this? To return to and embrace God’s roles for men and women, to understand that men and women are of equal value in God’s eyes but they were created to fill different positions in a complimentary manner. This world has wallowed in its own filth long enough, let’s purpose to honor Christ through obedience to His word and show the lost and dying around us what true, strong womanhood is and the abundance of blessings womanhood brings.