I posted the few paragraphs below as a response on Facebook (modified to make more sense, without the context), but thought I would share them here as well.
A few thoughts.
I too have a higher degree than my husband, but I respect his authority as the head of our home.
Our society does not "dictate a woman's role to be submissive and play the back up role to the mighty man for the household". To me, the Bible is very clear that the MAN is the HEAD of the HOME just as CHRIST is the HEAD of the CHURCH.
I am not LESS because I CHOOSE not to teach men or work outside the home. I HAVE a HUGE responsibility that I take very seriously. My job is to HELP my husband be the BEST that he can possibly be. My job is to be his MATE and his PARTNER in the trouble of life that we face as a TEAM. My part in that TEAM is to be his safe place to fall. My part in that TEAM is to raise our family. My part in that TEAM may include making his meals and cleaning his clothes. My part in that TEAM is to encourage him and love him and prepare him to go back out there and face the world.
His job is not easy; he provides well for our large and growing family. The LEAST I can do is create an atmosphere of peace in our home.
That is my JOB and it does not make me less of a person, but MORE of a WOMAN.
I believe, and will stand by what I believe, that WOMEN should not be teaching in the church (specifically) and should apply that principle to her life in every area. That is not to say that I can not enter into discussions. I may have something that one of those men need to hear. However, my tone and my manner need to be respectful of, first and foremost, my husband and his position in the community and the church and secondly, respectful of his (and that of the other men) ego.
Yes, I said ego. Men have HUGE egos. I believe it will serve women well to stroke those egos a little more. To build our men up. We need to lift them in prayer and in our words and actions. We need to encourage them to take roles in our churches. We need to step back and allow them to lead, allow them to be in the positions GOD wants them.
Lifting men up and supporting them ("Behind every great man. . . .") makes them love us more! I want to be loved and cherished and if I have to stroke my husbands ego, what does that really "put me out"? A little time? Maybe. A little energy? Probably.
But the rewards for me ARE AMAZING. The response I receive in return for that little time and that little energy carry me through to the next day and beyond. Not only are the rewards for me directly but for my children and our community.
Now, I said I was going to agree to disagree, but this is something that I really feel strongly about as you can probably tell. And I can't and won't keep silent.
I pray that my message gets through to someone, because my message isn't MINE. I believe it is one that has been TOO long in coming, TOO long kept silent.
I would like to add, that this is not teaching coming from my parents. This is research and trial and error and trying again and reading and learning that I have done on my own. Whether my parents agree or disagree, I will leave that for them to say or not say.
And this is not pushed on me by my opinionated and strong-willed husband. We have been learning and growing through this process together. We have tried me working. We have tried me "leading". When I saw all these things not working, I went searching in God's Word and through His servants to find the answers I was looking for.
Some other questions came up too. Here is my response:
Just my brief and quick response, gut feeling, opinion.
Yes, the passage is specific to church and to men. I think there is a difference between men and boys in that as mothers we need to be instructing and teaching them. I think that men should be teaching in every setting. Strictly my opinion though. Women should be at home, raising those boys to be men, REAL men.
In a group Bible study setting, I think it’s a little different. It’s a discussion. I say contribute to the conversation, with your husband’s approval, of course. I personally tend to sit back and listen, but that’s also my personality.
The other day in church a friend (female) got up to share something God had laid on her heart. She did this, not only with the support of her husband but with the support of our pastor. She was not “preaching” or “teaching” although what she said had those qualities as well. This message that she shared was one of repentance and asking for forgiveness. I would say that this was totally acceptable.
Striving to learn and live God's purposes,
1 comment:
I can see that and how much that everyone needs to look at this.
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