For much of my life, I did not understand the Biblical priority of the local church. The idea of loving a local church was like loving a post office. You appreciated the post office and the services that it provided, but "love" was such a strong word. After some study (both from Scripture and using good books) I realized that my view of the local church was not the same as Christ's emphasis on His church.
Recently, I was thinking about why we don't see femininity very often on television or in movies (or pretty much anywhere). When I say "femininity," I'm referring to a femininity that is joyfully rooted in a woman enjoying the gift of being a woman, yet not seeking to take on the role of a man at the same time. I thought "what's missing?" Well, I think what's missing for many woman, even Christian women in their lack biblical femininity is the absence of being around other godly women.
So, what is the key biblical passage for this thinking. Titus 2:3-5. In these verses of Paul's letter, we see that older women (those who are godly ladies and probably in the same local church) are to be teaching and instructing younger women. These ladies are to pass down how a young woman is to be a wife, a mom, and be positioned toward the home for the purpose of godliness. Along with the home, the local church is the context of teaching this femininity...at least it is supposed to be. I'm thankful for the many woman in my local church who seek to pass down femininity to their daughters as well as to the younger ladies in our church. They are building into woman to help have strong marriages and strong parenting which display the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we approach Thanksgiving this week. I am thankful for these ladies who exemplify what it means to be a Christian woman. As John Piper says, they are amazingly feminine and have backbones of steal. Piper says that his church is full of them. I'm thankful that my church is too.
5 comments:
Mike, likely your idea of feminine is greatly different from mine. My great-grandmother (who was as feminine as I can imagine) could hunt, fell a tree, manage a farm (on her own), preach, manage her house (again, on her own), and raise three boys while her husband was two states away working in the coal mines. And yet, she was all woman! Courageous, strong, persevering. To be honest, most of the women I see these days are, in comparison, wimps: dependent, whiny, self-centered. Feminine isn't about how one dresses or even the activities in which one is involved. Being feminine is trusting God enough to face the challenges that each day brings and knowing that you do so in His strength!
CWwB,
Thanks for your post...
I think that is great about your great-grandmother. I agree that being feminine is about trusting God in womanhood. I think the "velvet steel" type of women are great and that is how my wife and I are raising our daughters. My daughters watch football with me and are going to know how to shoot a gun (when they get older), yet they are going to see God's design for them as their role as females is distinct and different than a husband/man.
I do disagree with the preaching thing...if you are saying that your great-grandmother preached to men.
My desire is to have biblical ladies...which means applying all of the passages of femininity...including Titus 2 as well as 1 Timothy 2. I think there is freedom when it comes to how it looks in daily life (cooking, hunting, managing a farm), but that the biblical passages set the foundation for our definition of bibilical femininity.
God bless,
mike
Mike, I also agree that biblical foundations must establish who we are as Christians. You and I likely differ in that I believe that I'm a Christian first and a woman second, while you probably believe that I am a woman first and a Christian second. The difference may seem insignificant, but I believe it is not. My great-grandmother was a Church of God pastor who accompanied my uncle to Cuba for a one-week series of evangelistic meetings. I guarantee you that the men to whom she preached (and won to the Lord) didn't oppose her preaching, but rather were thankful that this diminutive American woman was willing to be obedient to God's call on her life. You and I will continue to disagree on this issue, but fortunately we do agree on much else.
CWwB,
Thanks again for writing...
I don't think I agree with your statement:
"You and I likely differ in that I believe that I'm a Christian first and a woman second, while you probably believe that I am a woman first and a Christian second."
I don't think I disagree that you are a Christian first and a woman second. However, I do think that you are a "Christian woman" and I think that is different than being a "Christian man." Not that one is more superior or more valuable, but their is a difference. It's okay, it's the way God made us.
As Christians we are all to worship the Lord. I believe we can all equally worship the Lord. However, I believe that the bible is clear that their are certain roles. I celebrate these roles and I think they are good because they are given by God.
Do you think there are different roles for men and women?
I also have a question about your great grandmother, but I don't want to be insensative to you in asking. I am asking this with the upmost respect for her and you, so please know that I am simply asking a question that I have had a curiosity about.
So here it goes...
Do you think your great grandmother was holding the same biblical foundation that you are saying you hold when she was not meeting the qualification of a pastor as seen in 1 Timothy 3...especially the "husband of one wife" part? I'm not sure how the two can be reconciled...can you explain your thoughts or her thoughts...or both.
Thanks for the conversation.
God bless,
mike
Mike:>>I don't think I disagree that you are a Christian first and a woman second. However, I do think that you are a "Christian woman" and I think that is different than being a "Christian man." <<
You see, I would disagree with this statement in that I would say we are both Christians while you happen to be a man and I happen to be a woman. I don't see my gender as being foundational to my soul or my eternal existence. I think that perhaps you might.
Mike:>>Not that one is more superior or more valuable, but their is a difference. It's okay, it's the way God made us.<<
Yes, there are differences, but I see those differences as being mostly physical and only very slightly organic.
Mike:>>As Christians we are all to worship the Lord. I believe we can all equally worship the Lord. However, I believe that the bible is clear that their are certain roles. I celebrate these roles and I think they are good because they are given by God.<<
Yes, I know you believe this. I don't.
Mike:>>Do you think there are different roles for men and women?<<
No. I don't. And I think that often those "roles" are more firmly entrenched in one's culture than in one's salvation.
Mike:>>I also have a question about your great grandmother, but I don't want to be insensative to you in asking. I am asking this with the upmost respect for her and you, so please know that I am simply asking a question that I have had a curiosity about.<<
Not a problem. You can ask me all you want.
Mike:>>So here it goes...
Do you think your great grandmother was holding the same biblical foundation that you are saying you hold when she was not meeting the qualification of a pastor as seen in 1 Timothy 3...especially the "husband of one wife" part? I'm not sure how the two can be reconciled...can you explain your thoughts or her thoughts...or both.<<
I see two ideas here. First, the definition of "pastor" or "preacher." You referred to 1 Timothy 3. The word I find in the Greek is episkope. Likely you and I will disagree widely on what that means. I don't believe that the Bible ever teaches that (1) one person/man is to be the "head" pastor or preacher of a church; (2) one person/man oversees a "group" of believers. The literary structure of the chapter suggests that bishops and deacons served together in groups. The model from the NT suggests the same thing. So, do I think that a preacher=pastor=bishop? No, I would disagree with that.
The second idea appears to be whether or not verse 2 refers to (a man) being married to a woman. This is a Greek idiom (also found on a number of women's headstones in that error) which actually refers more to marital fidelity than to a particular marriage partner. But if we were to assume that it did mean literally "a man married to one wife," then a number of complications develop. Can a bishop be widowed and then remarry? Can a bishop be single? It would seem, using a very literal English interpretation, that only men who were married one time and remain married to that one woman would qualify. Thus, if a bishop's wife died, then he would have to immediately step down.
Based on this, no, I don't think my grandmother was doing anything wrong. (And neither did she nor my ordained uncle who took her with him to Cuba.)
Thanks for the discussion.
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