Saturday, December 27, 2008

Some Frequent Concerns

*Note: I received a comment from Mrs. Milton for the post “True Power for Women”. Because many of the concerns she brought up are ones that frequently come up in relation to family integration and/or daughters at home I wanted to post her comment and my answer. I tried to ensure that I answered her concerns with the respect due an older woman (1 Timothy 5:1-2) and the love due a fellow sister in Christ.
I have taken it apart and answered it point by point. (The original comment is in black, mine in purple)

Enjoyed the post for it's call for women to remain firm in the roles set forth by the Lord, but I do have to take issue with a couple of things. One is that the family is the foundation of society. It is God who raises up and maintains societies for His purposes. We are to be obedient to His Word to bring glory to Him but God has determined the direction society will take to fulfill prophecies.

To the best of my knowledge God, in scripture, never establishes Himself as the ‘foundation’ of society as He does the church (1 Cor. 3:10-11). He establishes rulers (Rom. 13:1-4) and calls leaders to account (Ps. 2:10-12) but He never claims to be society’s foundation. By the same token I am not aware of any passage of scripture where God explicitly calls the family the ‘foundation of society’. This is rather an extra-biblical assumption based on history and logical deduction. For example, as American’s we look back over our relatively short history and see that at the beginning of our foundation we had strong families, a strong church and a strong government (not in the sense of a powerful government, but one where politicians at least were willing to take responsibility). We were a culture that understood that freedom is derived from God, that understood that the government was accountable to a ‘higher power’; where men and women understood and were dedicated to their roles as fathers/husbands and mothers/wives. We then watch as over history the family was attacked through feminism (which did not start in the 70’s and 80’s); Marxism; public, government funded education (which is by the way an unconstitutional institution) and we see the decline in the church, and the government as the next generation arises under the training of Darwin, Spock, Stanton, and others. As the say, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Men such as Hitler and Lenin understood that in order to build that order they sought (whether it be Nazism or Socialism) they had to train the next generation from a young age.
Destroy the family, you destroy the country. -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin


We must be careful not to assume that just because we maintain a right standing before the Lord that our society will remain untouched.

Neither Miss.Brodock or myself ever made this comment. However, I would remind you of passages such a Deut. 28 and the entire book of Proverbs where God says that He will bless obedience and curse disobedience, notice He does not make salvation a prerequisite for these blessings.

We live in a very important time in history where we have the joy of demonstrating to the world Christ's work in our lives. God's word calls us to live a quiet life of honor toward the Lord which speaks volumes in our society. We must always keep in mind that this life is not about our comfort, rights and privileges; but taking up our cross and following the One who paid our debt. It's not us against them, our fellow sinners. We are just privileged to have been chosen and must be about in all humility urging others to follow the way of the King of Kings and praying that He will open their eyes.

agreed, but I don’t understand your point, it was never said that we should do otherwise.

Yes, the family is very important as it is one of the institutions the Lord has used to demonstrated how authority and submission in the Godhead works, but should not be elevated as the foundation of society. Christ alone has that honor.

Nowhere in scripture has Christ given Himself this ‘honor’. See first point.

We should not be offended nor surprised that our society does not recognize the importance of the Christian woman's role, but excited when we see a glimmer that they do.

Speaking for myself, I am not offended nor surprised that neither society nor the majority of Christians for that matter, do not recognize the importance of woman’s God-given role (Gen 2:18-24, Titus 2:4-5). The purpose of my blog is to encourage young ladies who are going against the grain and seeking to be obedient to this calling.

This nation has never been "Christian" as many in the believing community purport. We are just fortunate that God, in His mercy, has allowed us the freedom to worship Him without physical persecution over the 200+ years. Yes, many came here to have that freedom, but our government has never been truly Christian; moral, yes, but not God fearing.

I don’t recall ever commenting on this blog that our nation was Christian, though I may have made the comment verbally. Perhaps this needs some explaining, this nation has never been Christian in that there was never at one point all citizens born-again believers. Even Israel can’t claim that! However, the people I know who make comments like this or similar are referring to the incredible influence of Christianity on this nation, her laws and her founding people. For instance, even men like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, who were not saved, made comments such as “I tremble for my country when I think that God is just” and requesting prayers and fasting for God’s intervention on behalf of America. So, it is true that America was never a nation where all people were born again believers, but there was a time when the majority were under the influence of the word of God.
All this to be said, I don’t see the purpose of this comment since there was no mention of America being Christian in this post.

I know this was a lengthy response, but I see many young ladies making some assumptions which go outside of Biblical teaching, and thus am genuinely concerned about the increase in legalism within the Christian community.

In this comment the word, ‘legalism’ is taken way out of context. Having been accused of this often our family has taken some time to research it. The basic definition of legalism is, “adding work based requirements to salvation.” I have never stated that a woman must be a keeper at home or else she won’t be saved. There is nothing legalistic about evaluating woman’s role in light of scripture and in contrast to our society.

Always remember that there is a distinct difference between the specific do's and don'ts of scripture and the preferences which we choose to set up in our personal lives to assist us in remaining holy before the Lord. These are not the same for everyone. It's really OK that the society in which we live does not embrace our choices. We need to make sure that we are not trying to impose our choices on others(this includes other believers as well). Then it becomes sin for us rather than the holiness which we desire. We must stop looking around us and strictly look up, otherwise we compare ourselves to others and elevate parts of our lives to a level where it was never intended to be... we begin to judge in ways we were never instructed to do.

Our lives must be evaluated in light of scripture rather than compared to society, I agree. By the same token it is important to hermeneutically evaluate the cultural shifts in America and it’s effects on us today. We need to know what God says and how I am to live and to also understand that our society has by and large rejected biblical truth. While we are not called to pass self righteous judgments we are called to discern.

Believe it or not, I am simply trying to encourage young ladies to make sure they are living according to the Word of God and not according to personal preference which leads to unrighteous judging of others and a critical spirit as time goes. We become like the ones who we say judge us for the choices we have made personally to serve our Lord in holiness. (Titus 2:3-5, I Corinthians 10:23-33, Romans 14: 1-15:13, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 11:1)

I believe you :) , but I think you missed the point entirely.

Thinking Biblically on these issues:1. Remember we are not the one who accepts our brothers in Christ, Christ is. (Rom 15:7)

How have we rejected our brothers? I still have fellowship with sisters who work outside the home, girls in college, etc. We still pray together and love each other. How is that a rejection? Where in Miss. Brodock’s post was there any inference to rejecting our Christian family over this issue?
I think you have misjudged us.

2. Remember we are not their Lord, Christ is. (Rom 14:4-9)
3. Remember you will not be their judge, Christ will. (Is 45:23, Romans 14:10)
Agreed.

We are to confront sin and error not the morality of the issues of conscience. We must not take pride in our convictions. We must leave room to grow to see God's Word is sufficient.
not Moses.

What about the verses like Titus 2:4-5 where God says that young women need to learn certain qualities so that the word of God is not blasphemed? That is not an issue of the conscience, that is truth, it is sufficient and it is serious!

I think you misread the post entirely. The post asked “why the inconsistencies? Why am I praised if I am out in the world and condemned if I am at home?” and then answers those very questions, “because our culture has lost sight of something it once treasured, Motherhood in the home. We once understood that a mother’s influence in her children’s lives was invaluable. Right now we’re too busy worrying if she got the right raise, how soon she can return to work after the birth of her baby, if her husband is contributing 50/50 rather than leading in love and on it goes. Our culture is decaying and becoming horrific just looking at the news reports will prove it. Yet another mother has murdered her own child-outside of the womb, a young college woman murders her roommate, children are failing in school, marriages are falling apart, young girls committing suicide and we could go on.
To be very honest, if I had to choose something to point out in this post it would have been this, the example of Moses it a very weak one. His mother nursed him for somewhere around two years and then he was raised in the pagan house of Pharaoh. Moses is, if anything, a good example of God’s divine intervention to prepare a leader for His people despite the child’s surrounding. I would have put someone else up there like maybe Benjamin West, who said, “It was my mother’s kiss that made me a painter” ie her love and support. Or Abe Lincoln or George Washington, or John Quincy Adams, but not Moses.

Monday, December 15, 2008

True Power for Women, from Miss. Brodock

Here is a beautiful post from Miss. Olivia Bodock over at "Heart of a Southerner". Before I let you read it I do have to take a moment and note that we Northeners are 'open minded' (and I say that carefully in light of it's cultural context!). I actually read several southern blogs :)
Okay, now that I've made my point, I hope that you are blessed by Miss. Olivia's
"The True Power for Women".


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The True Power for Women
If I cook great dishes, make them into literal works of art as I work them up in a commercial kitchen, and serve them to people I've never met, or will ever meet again, I am called a chef, an artist!
But, if I cook those same dishes for the ones I love most and I nourish my family in the realm of my fathers home, it is said that I am wasting my talent.
If I go to school for years, become a CPA, and manage books for other people that I have absolutely no ties with; I'm a career woman, I'm independent, I am a woman of the twenty first century!!!!
But if I, after years of studying, keep my dad's books, I am then wasting MY life, all that training down the drain!
If I take care of a other people's children, I become their nanny, I am then a childcare professional, I am valuable and important!!!
But, if I take care of and nurture children GOD gives me, then I am old-fashion. I am repressed by a sexist society of dominate males! I am told I am WASTING MY LIFE!
If I care for rooms, homes or offices that belongs to strangers; I'm a housekeeper, a cleaning professional.
But, if I remove dust bunnies out of my own home and make it clean and orderly for my family; It is thought that I am a house wife and am wasting my life with coupons and soap operas! (who has time for soap operas???)
What is the difference between the examples above? Why is nanny-hood OK, but motherhood frowned upon? Why is professional respected and domestic criticized? Why is going through a secular college an assumed event in every high school graduate's life, but simply learning at home and continuing education in many mediums highly disregarded?
The answer is clear. Karl Marx saw it plain and simple. Feminism. If we as a culture can get Mom out of the home, make her feel that she has to bring in a paycheck or other wise she is useless, then we can easily destroy the family. When you destroy the family, you will then destroy the local church. If the churches are destroyed what is stopping the destruction of communities and countries?
Everything... EVERYTHING has a foundation. The foundation for society is family. God gave us this order for governing:
Self-Government
Mother & Father
Church Elders
Government Officials ( Police\Judges etc..)
GOD HIMSELF
In the end we end up answering to God. This is the pecking order so-to-speak, plainly laid out before us. If we can destroy this order by neglecting self-government (personal responsibility), remove parental athority, reject church athority, believe ourselves above the civil law, then God help us as we place ourselves in the hand of an angry God. If you think God is not serious about His principles and precepts, I suggest you read what happen to the Israelites.
To sum it up, we as women cannot listen to the ridiculous lies of the Feminist society. Period. Our culture KNOWS the power of a strong, Biblical woman. The problem is, I don't think we as Christian women realize the power we possess!!!
The power we possess is not a corporate power, not a power in the sense that we are as physically strong as men, but it is a deep power that determines the culture of tomorrow. The power Moses' Mom knew she possessed. By raising that baby, she helped lead Israel out of slavery into the PROMISED LAND!! The power of Moms, who for centuries have rocked the cradles of the men WHO CHANGED THE WORLD!!!
The feminist idea of power has taken that true power away from us and we MUST get it back. No one else can do what God has designed us as women to do.
Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;Psalm 144:12

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Subdue the Earth?

"And God blessed them and said unto them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the face of the earth."
~Genesis 1:28

Jasmine posted a wonderful entry on her blog, "The Environment" and along those lines I had a thought to share. I was reading a book on theology recently when I came across this comment, "(during the time of the Noahic covenant). . . The command to subdue the earth (cf. Gen.1:28, 9:1) is no longer present; that was forfeited through sin." The word 'subdue' means: 1) to conquer and bring into subjection. . . 3)to bring under cultivation. Some synonyms for subdue are:
1)tame
2)subjugate
3)discipline

Keep that in mind as we continue.

Another word used along side subdue in Gen. 1:28 is dominion. Dominion means, 1)domain (i.e. a sphere of influence or activity) 2)supreme authority. Synonyms for dominion are:
1)power
2)authority
3)control
4)command

Now then, according to the author of the theology book I was reading we (mankind) no longer are commanded by God to subdue the earth and exercise dominion over it as His representatives. I think he draws this conclusion based on the fact that when God is talking with Noah after the flood, He commands Noah to 'fill the earth' but does not reaffirm the task to subdue or exercise dominion. Does this really mean that we have forfeited the responsibility and priviledge of being representative caretakers of the earth?

I don't think so. Psalm 8:3-8 clarifies this:

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than the angles,
and You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas."
So, why did God not reiterate His command to subdue and have dominion? I think it was because it was understood that is was a command already given to mankind and God had not given any reason for man to think that it was no longer his duty.
This task of taking dominion and subduing is truly an awesome one! Think of all that we have learned in the process of harnessing some of the forces of creation: electricity, nuclear power, medicine, gardens, air conditioning, paper, pens and ink. . . Science is a facinating study of creation and ways that we are and can exercise our dominion for the glory of God and the good of mankind! We cannot be wasteful of this creation if we truly understand that we derive the responsibility/authority to care for creation from God and if we opperate in a true fear of Him.
And yet, I love that in the midst of all we have learned and all we can do, God is still ultimately soveriegn over His creation. Think of the wonder and terror of hurricanes and tsunamis, volcanoes and ice storms and think of the wonder of the One who can calm a storm (Matt. 8:26-27) and cares for His children (Matt. 6:25-34). Think of the blessing of being redeemed and loved by the God of Creation!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Blogging Awards!

Jasmine Baucham very graciously passed this award on to myself and several other young ladies and I want to take a moment to do the same.

The qualifications for this award:
You give this award to five bloggers who:
1. Inspire you
2. Make you smile and laugh
3. Give amazing information
4. Are a great read
5. Have an amazing design
6. And any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!


The rules for the distribution of the award are as follows:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing! ***if you don't have 5 that's okay.***
3. Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

There are three blogs that I have found edifying and encouraging and I whole heartedly recommend them to you, my readers!
I nominate:

~The Lady Tai over at Beggarly Bouquet
~Mrs. Anna T. from Domestic Felicity
~Miss. Karla and Miss. Nancy from Maiden Waiting for Her Beloved.

Congratulations ladies!


Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”