tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post9019909759745069126..comments2023-08-02T06:04:58.140-04:00Comments on ~By His Grace and For His Glory~: Question and Answer Week: Response #7Miss Rebekah Ann S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-10253306541568194182009-01-05T22:22:00.000-05:002009-01-05T22:22:00.000-05:00Rebekah,I have just stumbled upon your blog and am...Rebekah,<BR/>I have just stumbled upon your blog and am enjoying it greatly. I've been surprised to find how closely our beliefs line up. I'm 17 now and have yet to meet a single girl (other than on blogs) who hold to the same "wierd" views that I do. Your blog has been such an encouragment!<BR/><BR/>Have a great week!<BR/><BR/>~Tayler<BR/><BR/>By the way, the reason that I commented on this particular post, was that I wanted to let you know that I am amazed at the respectful, Christ-like manner you used in replying to so many comments. I am afraid that I might have lost it and just forgot about being polite. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-17187030032677518352008-08-26T10:37:00.000-04:002008-08-26T10:37:00.000-04:00It is now fixed for you, Mel! :)It is now fixed for you, Mel! :)Miss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-6331975440869155042008-08-26T10:35:00.000-04:002008-08-26T10:35:00.000-04:00Hi, Mel! Absolutely! That's the way I used to have...Hi, Mel! Absolutely! That's the way I used to have the comment section set up, but then thought that this way may be easier for those who have a lot they want to respond to in one of my posts, but (if it were a seperate page) would have to keep going back to the post to remember all they wanted to say, and then would lose their comment that they had typed up so far. Am I making any sense? :) But, I suppose those people could just bring up a seperate window themselves so that they could see the blog post itself while typing the comment.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for drawing my attention to this problem! I will absolutely change it for you. <BR/><BR/>Have a blessed day, <BR/><BR/>RebekahMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-82515812537885847382008-08-26T06:56:00.000-04:002008-08-26T06:56:00.000-04:00Hi Rebekah,Is there any chance of you changing the...Hi Rebekah,<BR/><BR/>Is there any chance of you changing the format of the comments so that they open in a new page rather than in a pop-up box?? These longer threads of comments get terribly hard to follow, esp. regarding who said what--which might be seen as important in a thread like this! ;-)<BR/><BR/>[If you're so inclined, there's a way to do this with the Settings-> Comments -> Comment Form Placement radio button.]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-18582639097226574452008-06-28T06:08:00.000-04:002008-06-28T06:08:00.000-04:00oh oops I meant to post this on your "oh, how I've...oh oops I meant to post this on your "oh, how I've missed you all" post but oh well! ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-88759297617058113332008-06-27T19:45:00.000-04:002008-06-27T19:45:00.000-04:00Rebekah,I found your blog yesterday through a link...Rebekah,<BR/><BR/>I found your blog yesterday through a link on Maidens of Honor and I have really enjoyed the articles I have read so far. I really like how in-depth they are and that you use scripture to back up what you say. From what I have read my doctrine lines up quite closely to yours so I am REALLY glad I found your website. Like a lot of girls I feel alone sometimes in what I believe.<BR/><BR/> I can’t wait to read more!!<BR/> God bless,<BR/> ~Becca A 16 yr. old Northern New YorkerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-58238303774328292312008-05-23T19:15:00.000-04:002008-05-23T19:15:00.000-04:00AnneK, If I EVER set myself up on a pedestal then ...AnneK,<BR/><BR/> If I EVER set myself up on a pedestal then I would beg the Lord to shove me off of it. And I'm not kidding!! I have no high and mighty thoughts of myself, and pray that I never will-I am only a desperately wicked, wretched sinner saved only by the abundant, merciful grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If I EVER came across as being on a pedestal, then please accept my most humble, heart-felt apology!Miss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-90513132979858190842008-05-23T19:14:00.000-04:002008-05-23T19:14:00.000-04:00AnneK, Hello! Thank you for your comment. I agree ...AnneK,<BR/><BR/> Hello! Thank you for your comment.<BR/><BR/> I agree with you-the Christian walk is a never ending mission of sanctification! We must remain humble and teachable at all times-but not so teachable that we fall for anything, obviously! :) I strive to have a teachable spirit, and I believe I do. One of my greatest desires is to learn as much as I can-especially in the area of theology. And when the Lord teaches me something, I desire to share it with others, in the desire to help them as well in their Christian walk with the Lord.<BR/><BR/> Please don't regret asking the question. I'm glad you did. I didn't set myself up as a teacher-only a defender of the faith and I defender of the doctrines and beliefs that I hold dear. That's all.<BR/><BR/> It's not simply my opinion that doing something that would cause God's Word to be blasphemed is a sin-it's Biblical fact.<BR/><BR/> All sin(in God's eyes) is on the same level of sinfulness. In our eyes, we might think that the sin of murder is more sinful than the sin of lying. But that's not the case in God's sight. So, if it's a sin to be a homemaker, then that's on the same level as the sin of lying or not believing in God(in God's eyes, anyway, because sin is sin).<BR/><BR/>A woman who has a career may be able to manage her home rather well. But she isn't a homemaker. When we ask someone what they do, and they respond that they're a homemaker, that would probably make 9 out of 10 people assume that she doesn't have an outside job. Because that's the dictionary's definition of homemaker! That, therefore, is what would immediately come to our mind.<BR/><BR/><BR/> Thank you. :)<BR/><BR/> May you be richly blessed, Ma'am!<BR/><BR/> Rebekah AnnMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-6847765107685846562008-05-23T18:20:00.000-04:002008-05-23T18:20:00.000-04:00Kathleen, Hi! :) Thanks for your comment. Welcome ...Kathleen,<BR/><BR/> Hi! :) Thanks for your comment. Welcome to my blog; I hope to see you around here more in the near future. <BR/><BR/> I will be presenting all of those Scriptures in my future article series on stay-at-home daughterhood. Be on the lookout for that! Thank you for your interest!Miss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-60047199355015906572008-05-23T16:05:00.000-04:002008-05-23T16:05:00.000-04:00Hello Rebekah,You said:"But the Scriptures show th...Hello Rebekah,<BR/><BR/>You said:<BR/><I>"But the Scriptures show that a female is to be under the protection and leadership of either her husband or father at all times. Many of these women(not all) were void of protection. And, the ends don't justify the means. If these women were doing a great thing(while disobeying something taught in Scripture in order to do that great thing), that doesn't mean that their lifestyles were perfectly Biblical."</I><BR/><BR/>Which <B>Scriptures show that a female is to be under the protection and leadership of either her husband or father at all times?</B> By God's grace and Spirit we can be doers of God's Word, and I'd like to have clarification on the verses that teach this. Thanks so much.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01181438211658110880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-16901096462849285262008-05-23T15:36:00.000-04:002008-05-23T15:36:00.000-04:00Hi Rebekah, I have nothing more I want to say to y...Hi Rebekah, I have nothing more I want to say to you. What I wanted to I already did and has been also said by women older and more mature than me. Thanks for answering my question. <BR/><BR/>I hope that the Lord will have mercy on you and make you more teachable and open to hearing what he has to say rather than accepting a party line hook, line, and sinker. The many years I have been a Christian, the Lord has been teaching me what it means to be conformed to his image. In the process, I have been made to eat humble pie many times. Being a Christian is a continuous changing and molding of the person who God wants you to be.<BR/><BR/>I kind of regret asking you the question. I never imagined you would set yourself up so high as a teacher. And I would be very very afraid Rebekah, when you compare this to lying, atheism etc. There is a HUGE difference. If you have an atheist friend, you can always share the gospel of salvation with him/her. But that is not the same as setting yourself up in a pedestal and TEACHING OLDER CHRISTIAN women (based on only your opinion) that having a career outside home is a sin. <BR/><BR/>A homemaker is a person who manages a household. Especially based on your lack of experience, it is illogical for you to say that a woman who has a career cannot manage a home.<BR/><BR/>Have a safe trip.AnneKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13625525577717414765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-87429869728992260162008-05-23T14:41:00.000-04:002008-05-23T14:41:00.000-04:00Hello, Claire! Welcome to my blog, and thank you f...Hello, Claire!<BR/><BR/> Welcome to my blog, and thank you for your comment and kind words. I hope to see you around<BR/>here in the near future.<BR/> <BR/> I agree that Titus 2 commands only older women. But, as I pointed out in an above comment<BR/>to Rebecca, that doesn't mean that a younger woman can't help train an older woman if she needs<BR/>help-we, as Christians, are to help anyone we come across who is in need. It's our Christian<BR/>duty.<BR/><BR/> When I say that you can't be a homemaker and work outside the home, what I mean is this: when<BR/>someone asks you what you do, you(I'm using the word in general here :)) say, "I'm a homemaker"<BR/>or "I'm a waitress" or "I'm a doctor". You don't say that you're a homemaker and police officer,<BR/>for instance. Either you're a homemaker or you're someone who works in some profession in<BR/>the workforce.<BR/><BR/> I was using that analogy if I was a wife. Perhaps I should use the following analogy instead:<BR/>let's say that I just learned a helpful tip on remaining emotionally and mentally chaste, but<BR/>there's an older woman that's struggling severely in this area. It's my duty to help her. You're<BR/>right that I don't truly know what it's like to be in a godly marriage. But, because I live<BR/>day in and day out with a couple that does, I'm able to view it and see and understand to some<BR/>degree(perhaps a small degree :)) what it's like. <BR/><BR/><BR/> You sort of agreed with me(or perhaps just understood more of where I'm coming from) in one<BR/>section of your comment, when you spoke of your younger sister training you in the subject<BR/>of pastry making. She's younger than you, so she's a younger women teaching an older one, but<BR/>she's doing so to help you-not to usurp your role to teach her.<BR/><BR/> You're so right about what you said about keyboards! They've cause me SO many problems. :/<BR/>I keep being accused of being disrespectful by something I said. But that's due 100% to the <BR/>keyboard, for I'm not meaning to come across as disrespectful at all!!<BR/><BR/> I do ask the Lord often to show me the areas where I may be wrong-I'm not wanting to be<BR/>called right all the time; rather, I want to be correct simply because I want to know the <BR/>Lord and His Word better. I desire to know what it truly says.<BR/><BR/> I agree that all homes are different. But if you work in the workforce you aren't a homemaker.<BR/>If you're a homemaker you don't work in the workforce, simply by the dictionary definition<BR/>of homemaker. You're right in what you said about the huge importance on being BUSY at home. <BR/>But we have to place an equally important emphasis on the fact that it says busy AT home.<BR/><BR/> I think that what those women did was very holy work for the Lord. But, if my belief is right<BR/>(which I believe it is-I'll Scripturally back it up in that future article series), then <BR/>they went about it the wrong way. That's all I was trying to say. I still have the utmost<BR/>respect for these amazing women.<BR/><BR/> May the Lord richly, richly bless you!! :)<BR/><BR/> Rebekah AnnMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-89643793336752741212008-05-23T13:42:00.000-04:002008-05-23T13:42:00.000-04:00Hi Rebekah,Firstly, I would like to say that you a...Hi Rebekah,<BR/><BR/>Firstly, I would like to say that you are a very polite young woman and your desire to study your Bible and live out God's commandments is very admirable.<BR/><BR/>I hesitate to comment because I don't want you to feel 'ganged up on', but as a wife (though not a wife who works), I do feel I need to speak up about some of your interpretations of Scripture.<BR/><BR/>Firstly, I would say that the ladies who have focussed on your young age aren't doing so to "ridicule" you, as your comment above suggests. Truly, they aren't. When we talk about age, we are only doing so because the Bible has done so, in Titus 2.<BR/><BR/>You are absolutely right that being 15 does not mean you cannot have opinions, offer advice, and even teach. You can do all those things, if you are able. However, God has already decided who should be teaching wives and homemakers. He makes it very clear in Titus 2: it's OLDER WOMEN. Not older women plus - just older women. Now, if you are looking at Titus 2 and saying that the commandment to be "busy at home" means we must not work for wages outside the home, how can you say that "let the older women teach the younger women" actually means "let the younger women teach everyone"?<BR/><BR/>But, what if you have an amazing insight? OK. Here's the thing though - there is no way that you can. Your analogy of the happily married young wife and the unhappily married older wife doesn't work, because you are NOT a wife. And (I speak from experience here!!) an unmarried girl has NO idea about what being in a Godly marriage is like. No matter how wonderful your parents are, honestly - they aren't you. You DON'T have a wonderful marriage, so you aren't qualified to give advice to married women. You are too young to work, you don't run your own house - so you just aren't allowed 'special dispensation' to be a teacher.<BR/><BR/>For example, I am a young wife. But I regularly teach and train women of all ages in sewing and embroidery. I've been sewing since I was old enough to hold a needle. I don't boss people around, but I am a teacher. Of SEWING. Not of anything else. My younger sister is an AMAZING cook. I am a decidedly average cook. But I wouldn't dream of advising her about cooking, even though I'm older. She's the expert. I have never managed to get pastry right (I think it's my warm hands, LOL!) so what possible justification could there be for me telling everybody how to make it?<BR/><BR/>As I already said, I commend you for being so polite and ready to discuss your ideas with others. That is an attitude that will bring you closer to the Lord! But, and I say this with great humility, although the keyboard isn't always good at getting it across, I think that when discussing the Bible it is always best to remember that nobody is completing right in all their Scriptural interpretations. Nobody! You can't be! No sinful human, no matter how intelligent and earnest a student of the Word they are, is entirely right about every part of the Bible. Lord knows, I am wrong about lots of stuff.<BR/><BR/>I think in these kinds of discussions it's helpful to remember that 'So many of my ideas now MUST be wrong. What if this is one of them?' There's no shame in it - I absolutely am NOT saying this to shame you! - but it helps me to stay humble and to remember that I know so little of God's ways.<BR/><BR/>A final point. I have always understood the command to be 'busy at home' to mean 'not to sit about in one's pyjamas drinking tea and watching soaps while there's a mountain of washing to be done!'. As in, be BUSY at home, not LAZY at home. I think a lot of your argument that one cannot be a keeper at home if one works outside the home is predicated on YOUR house and YOUR responsibilities. Some women have small apartments and only them and their husbands in them. Some have tiny babies. Some have grown children, or older teenagers. Different circumstances mean different things that need to be done. My mother has only three big teenagers left at home, and when they have done their chores, there is very little left for her to do! When we lived in Africa, we employed many local people - to keep the garden, to cook, to clean. With such high poverty and unemployment, wealthy people are OBLIGED to help as many less fortunate people as they can. So Mum had hardly any work left to do. She didn't take a job, but she spent at least two hours a day in charity work. Similarly, some women have husbands who love helping! My father in law is an AMAZING cook. He LOVES making new things and happily spends hours making the most delicious things. Since he retired, he is happily massively expanding his repertoire and my mother in law rarely needs to cook! Do you see what I'm trying to say? Every family's home is different. Every wife and mother's chore load is different. Just because YOU (and I - I don't work at the moment, and it's just me and my husband!) couldn't run a home properly and work for wages outside the house, doesn't mean that a different woman can't.<BR/><BR/>There are some other things I'd like to say too, but I'll leave it for now. I will just say, though, that if I were you I would read back over what you said about Mary Slessor, Elisabeth Elliot, Amy Carmichael, Lottie Moon, and Betty Greene. "even the most godliest and most wonderful of Christian women sometimes still get things wrong!" I think you should pray hard over this. The women listed above are given near-universal praise for their holiness and devotion to God. Generations of men and women have praised their great achievements. If they had lived as you advise, they would not have achieved what they did. Are you REALLY saying, that in your opinion, the things which have earned these women such great praise from so many Christians over the years, those things weren't holy at all but they were actually in sin? Rebekah, though you are unfailingly polite to people who comment here, statements like these, about such well-respected and admired Christian ladies, sound terribly, terribly arrogant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-85500635248127183192008-05-23T13:28:00.000-04:002008-05-23T13:28:00.000-04:00Rebecca, In one of my most recent comments to you...Rebecca,<BR/> <BR/> In one of my most recent comments to you, I said that I suspected that my comment to you fell on deaf ears. When I wrote that, I didn't realize how disrespectful it sounded. I want to humbly apologize to you for that comment. It was indeed very out of line.<BR/><BR/> Respectfully sincere,<BR/> RebekahMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-33420515290239032282008-05-23T13:15:00.000-04:002008-05-23T13:15:00.000-04:00Rebecca, Please notice that in my e-mail address, ...Rebecca,<BR/><BR/> Please notice that in my e-mail address, there is no appostrophe in "Lords"-hotmail.com doesn't allow commas, etc. I just wanted to point that out so that your e-mail to me would go through!Miss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-1245374840322436792008-05-23T13:04:00.000-04:002008-05-23T13:04:00.000-04:00Rebecca, This last comment of yours never came thr...Rebecca,<BR/><BR/> This last comment of yours never came through to my e-mail. Thankfully, I went to your blog and saw that you posted it there, so I posted it here, using your name(since I don't have your google account, obviously!), since it was quite clear that 1. you wanted it posted and 2. you should have your voice heard.<BR/><BR/><BR/>This may come as a surprise to you, but I agree with what you said in this comment. :)<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>Rebekah<BR/><BR/>P.S. Would you please e-mail me at living_for_my_Lords_glory@hotmail.com with your e-mail address? I want to address something you said in a post of yours, but I'm pretty sure you don't want me commenting on your blog, because if I did, it would leave a link back to mine. Thanks.Miss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-80759785120164313912008-05-23T13:00:00.000-04:002008-05-23T13:00:00.000-04:00From Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things wh...From Titus 2:<BR/><BR/>1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.<BR/>6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.<BR/>9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.<BR/><BR/>While we all know, of course, that the topic headings in our Bibles are not part of the inspired Word of God, it is interesting that a number of Bibles head this passage with something along the lines of, "Duties of younger and older". This passage is addressed, as is the entire epistle, to Titus, so we can't pretend that it gives each one of us carte blanche to usurp a teaching and/or admonishing role that is not ours.<BR/><BR/>It is interesting to note that no role is given to children in this passage. The young women mentioned are assumed to be adult women, with husbands and homes. It is the responsibility of the older women to set a godly standard of behavior and to teach the younger women, both in example and in word.<BR/><BR/>The young women are to apply those lessons in their own lives. They are not given a teaching role.<BR/><BR/>The children aren't even mentionedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-46671386106602811612008-05-23T12:47:00.000-04:002008-05-23T12:47:00.000-04:00Hello, Sara! You seem like such a dear woman, and ...Hello, Sara!<BR/><BR/> You seem like such a dear woman, and it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your comment, <BR/>and welcome to my blog! I hope to see you around more in the future! :)<BR/><BR/> I'm not going to say that you're lying! Nor do I think you are. I believe you're telling the<BR/>truth. I also still believe what I believe about Titus 2. How can I reconcile those, you say?<BR/>Because as you said, our ways are not God's ways. God sometimes has plans for us that are <BR/>crazy to our thinking. God can and often does bring good out of what may very well be a sin. <BR/>And I think that's what He's doing in this instance. Perhaps there's someone at that school<BR/>to lead to Christ, who otherwise would never hear of Christ. Does this negate what Titus 2 <BR/>plainly teaches? Absolutely not. It just shows that the Lord can bring good out of what might<BR/>not be the best thing in the world. I will definitely pray for you heartily! :) I'll pray that<BR/>you will be able to lead others to Christ, that your children will not be turned astray in <BR/>any way at all(which is sometimes so easy in even the best of Christian schools), that you will<BR/>be able to go home and teach your children as soon as possible, that you would know the Lord's<BR/>will without a shadow of a doubt, and that He would bless you and refine you.<BR/><BR/> I agree that it's wrong to put God in a box! We're finite little humans, whereas He's infinite!!<BR/><BR/>You said:"Pray for him to lead you where HE wants you -- not just where you want to be." I <BR/> had to laugh when I read this. :) I did NOT think the way I do now untl about a year<BR/>and a half ago. When the Lord began to show me various truths of Scripture, I was VERY rebellious<BR/>and sought to kick and scream and fight against Him. I didn't even know there was a Titus 2:5, I was<BR/>so ignorant! :( I was very stubborn. But the Lord kept with me and continued to break my <BR/>shell and reveal to me His Scriptural truth. So, this was(for a long time) not where I <BR/>wanted to be and this is not what I wanted to believe! But, the Lord in His grace and mercy,<BR/>stuck with me and taught this stubborn child many things. I'm still on that reforming path(as, <BR/>I believe, all Christians are). TO God alone be the glory.<BR/><BR/> I believe that if stay-at-home daughterhood and Titus 2 are true(as I firmly believe they are,<BR/>and I will show my Scriptural case for the former in an upcoming article series.), then these<BR/>women were disobeying this aspect of Scripture. But, again, the Lord brings abundant good <BR/>out of sin and hard times. The fact that these women brought so many to Christ is a WONDERFUL<BR/>thing. The fact that you're a descendant of one of these converts is a WONDERFUL thing!! It <BR/>would be absurd for the natives(the people these women were trying to reach) to refuse to <BR/>listen simply because the missionaries weren't men. But the Scriptures show that a female<BR/>is to be under the protection and leadership of either her husband or father at all times. <BR/>Many of these women(not all) were void of protection. And, the ends don't justify the means.<BR/>If these women were doing a great thing(while disobeying something taught in Scripture in order<BR/>to do that great thing), that doesn't mean that their lifestyles were perfectly Biblical. But<BR/>the Lord did bring much good from what these women did. <BR/><BR/> Thank you for desiring to understand me better, rather than just putting words in my mouth, etc.<BR/> :)<BR/><BR/>May the Lord be with you this day!<BR/><BR/> RebekahMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-1659945450502035442008-05-23T12:26:00.000-04:002008-05-23T12:26:00.000-04:00Dear Rebecca, Hello, Ma'am. Thank you for your co...Dear Rebecca,<BR/><BR/> Hello, Ma'am. Thank you for your comment.<BR/><BR/> I assure you that your words of warning did not fall on deaf ears. I am sort of wondering if<BR/>perhaps mine did, though. I understand fully what you're saying, and I understand where you're<BR/>coming from. Thank you for your concern.<BR/><BR/> I do,indeed, have great respect for my elders and thank God for them.<BR/><BR/> You claimed that God has not asked me to attempt to teach anyone anything. I must disagree <BR/>with you wholeheartedly, yet completely respectfully. God called Josiah to be King at age 8!<BR/>God called Jeremiah to be prophet to the Israelites around age 13! He obviously desired that<BR/>Jeremiah teach his elders and others the things of God! In 1 Tim. 4:12, we read that we are<BR/>to not allow anyone to despise our youth but are to be an example to the believers. The Lord often<BR/>takes the young and less experienced and used them to do great things for the sake of God's<BR/>Kingdom. I have a scenario for you, to attempt to allow you to see where I'm coming from. If<BR/>I met an atheist, because I'm young, would my responsibility from God to make disciples simply<BR/>fall by the wayside because that atheist is older than I am? Absolutely not! The Lord would<BR/>severely punish me for forsaking that opportunity to witness. I would be playing with that<BR/>person's soul and eternal destination, so to speak, because I refused to teach that person <BR/>the things of God due simply to my being younger than that atheist. Likewise, let's say I was<BR/>a newlywed and had just learned something wonderful and very helpful about loving my husband.<BR/>Let's say that there was a much older women that was struggling horribly with loving her husband.<BR/>Simply because Titus 2 specifically commands the older women to teach, does that mean that<BR/>I should not help out that Christian sister that is in desperate need? Of course not! The Lord<BR/>would rebuke me for my failure to show Christian love and help to this woman. Titus 2 specifially<BR/>commands the older women-in other words, older women: you must do this!! But this passage does<BR/>not say that younger women cannot be of help to older Christian women who are in need. It's <BR/>just saying that the older women must not fall down on their job, so to speak. Because, that's<BR/>exactly what is happening today. We have many feministic older women and non-feministic younger<BR/>women. These younger women are wondering what do I do!? Some of them don't even know how to<BR/>boil an egg. It's so crucial therefore that the older women teach, instruct and help the <BR/>younger.<BR/><BR/> I agree with you that I am to look to the older women and seek to learn from them. However, I <BR/>have another scenario for you, that I hope you will consider, to better understand what I'm <BR/>attempting to say. :) If there was an older woman(or man) that was attempting to teach me<BR/>that adultery isn't wrong, is it my responsibility to just sit under that teaching and false<BR/>exhortation? Absolutely not! It would be my job to lovingly, respectfully present to them my<BR/>view from the Scriptures themselves and seek to explain where I believe they're wrong. That<BR/>would not be out of line. <BR/><BR/> Also, in this discussion, I am not taking on the role of the older woman in Titus 2! I was <BR/>asked a question by AnneK, and so I did not ignore her, but rather answered it. Then, many<BR/>of my readers came at me with a bunch of what if questions. I simply responded to those and<BR/>defended my belief. As a Christian, I am to answer people's questions about my beliefs or doctrine<BR/>and when my beliefs are pushed down, I am to defend them. That's a Christian's duty no matter<BR/>what the age of that Christian. The difference is that the younger Christian must be oh so <BR/>very, very careful to answer in a respectful way to that person's elders. I must say that<BR/>it's really frustrating to be so ridiculed and criticized when all I did was answer people's <BR/>questions. I didn't want to ignore them! Many of the women here wanted to understand better<BR/>where I was coming from, and wanted to hear what I had to say. That's all I did, and to be<BR/>ridiculed for not ignoring these people is really disheartening to say the least. What was I<BR/>supposed to do? Simply ignore the questions? <BR/><BR/> I want you to know that I have repented. But not of answering questions. I've repented of the<BR/>possibility that at some point(perhaps without realizing it) I've been rude or disrespectful.<BR/>I've apologized many times just in case I did come across that way. And I have repented before<BR/>the Lord of that possible sin in my life. I'm an abundantly sinful person saved by only God's merciful<BR/>grace, and so I have repented of the possibility of hurting someone or being disrespectful<BR/>when I wholeheartedly did not mean to.<BR/><BR/> Thank you, Ma'am for your input. Please know that I do understand where you're coming from, <BR/>and I ask that you please read carefully what I've typed here, that you may understand more<BR/>where I am coming from.<BR/><BR/> I pray that the Lord richly blesses you this weekend.<BR/><BR/> In Christ alone,<BR/> Rebekah<BR/> Numbers 6:24-26<BR/> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR/><BR/>Hello, Denise! Thank you for your input.<BR/><BR/> Yes, I believe that disobeying the 10 Commandments was a sin for the Gentiles at the time<BR/>they were issued to the Israelites. Because those commandments were a part of the mark that<BR/>all of us humans fall short of. Being a homemaker is not part of that mark. I did not <BR/>contradict myself. You took that comment of mine out of context. If you go back and read it,<BR/>I was speaking about Christian women who find themselves in various hard situations, where<BR/>they may find themsleves feeling as if they must go to the workforce, or women who may feel<BR/>like their working out in the workforce may somehow be bringing about much good for somebody.<BR/>It was in that context that I said a sin is a sin for everybody, no matter what. Clearly, in<BR/>the context of my comment I was referring to Christian women.<BR/><BR/> You asked how I can reconcile what I'm doing to the fact of what Titus 2 says. Please read<BR/>the above comment that I left for Rebecca. <BR/><BR/> There isn't fallacy in my argument regarding it only being a sin for Christian women to be<BR/>homemakers, because all of the other commands that are in Titus 2:5 are issued to other people elsewhere<BR/>in the Scriptures, and as part of the mark where we fall short. For instance, in the OT, <BR/>everyone was commanded to love their neighbor as themselves(this includes loving your<BR/>husband, children, parents, friends, acqauintances, extended family, pastor, etc.). Everyone<BR/>is also commanded to be good and chaste. We see in the book of Gen. that it's a sin to not<BR/>submit to your husband's leadership and to seek to rule over him. In the book of Proverbs,<BR/>we see that a woman without discretion is like a pig with a jewel in its snout. As you see,<BR/>all of these other commands and issues are issued to everyone in other places of Scripture.<BR/>But the command to be a homemaker is clearly only issued to Christian women-under the heading<BR/>in our English Bibles of "Qualities of a sound CHURCH". <BR/><BR/> I have 2 questions for you, if you don't mind answering them. First off, do you believe it's<BR/>a sin for someone to disobey one of God's commands? And secondly, do you believe it's a sin<BR/>for a Christian(or non-Christian, for that matter) to do something that would cause God's <BR/>Word to be blasphemed?<BR/><BR/> I did not say that Ruth was in sin. I said that she wasn't because that command hadn't been<BR/>issued yet.<BR/><BR/> I was asked about the women who followed Jesus before, on another person's blog, when I was<BR/>in this very same discussion. Here is what that woman said: ""The fact is, twice in the NT <BR/>we have records that Jesus had women who followed Him around on a regular basis. Meaning, <BR/>they were not home-keepers. And He didn't try to stop them---rather, they seem to be spoken<BR/> of in a positive light." <BR/><BR/> My various repsponses to this were:<BR/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR/>As to women following Christ, for one thing, when these women first started walking after<BR/> Him, they weren't Christians! And the command to be a homemaker is only given to Christian <BR/>women. Secondly, these women(such as Joanna) could have been homemakers before they followed<BR/> Him. But at that point, what's more important-acquiring salvation, or keeping the house<BR/>(something that she wasn't even commanded to do, because at the time she wouldn't have <BR/>been saved)? Of course we would agree on the answer to this. <BR/><BR/>As to Jesus' women disciple<BR/>s, we can't read into this either. For all we know, the married ones(if there were for sure<BR/> married followers) had their husbands right there with them. They may have had no real home<BR/>-they could have been nomads of sorts, when they followed Christ. We really can't read into<BR/> these different passages. <BR/><BR/>As to your arguement regarding the female followers of Christ, there's something I would <BR/>like to point out. It's very clearly a sin to lie. However, Rahab the harlot is praised in<BR/> Hebrews because of her faith and protection of the Hebrew spies. However, in the process,<BR/> she lied. At face value, we'd think ok, hang on a minute. She's not condemned for telling <BR/>that lie!! Rather, she's praised for her faith. She should have been even more full of faith<BR/>, and trusted the Lord to protect the spies and should have not lied or felt like she had to<BR/>. While all this may be true, she nonetheless is not condemned for this lie. Does that fact<BR/> somehow negate the command to not lie? Of course not!<BR/><BR/>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR/><BR/> The passages in Genesis and Matthew regarding a man leaving his father and mother teach what<BR/>I said as well as what you said, I believe. I didn't say dogmatically that men were therefore<BR/>commanded to remain under their father's roof until marriage. I said that they <I>might</I><BR/>be commanded to-I wasn't really fully sure.<BR/><BR/> I was not saying on the basis of Scripture that the father/daughter relationship is in more<BR/>need of salvaging than the mother/daughter one. I was saying that on the basis of history and<BR/>what is going on in our culture(and other cultures) today. Please read that link I gave you.<BR/><BR/> I agree that the marriage relationship is in DESPERATE need of salvaging. And I also agree<BR/>that a mother should be training her daughter to be a wife and mother and homemaker. But the<BR/>father is to train his daughter as well. Perhaps not in the are of mother or homemaker, but <BR/>definitely in the area of being a wife. That girl's father is a husband and so knows(like no mother or daughter<BR/>can) what a husband needs from his wife. This father can provide his daughter will invaluable<BR/>training and help.<BR/><BR/> Ma'am you wrote: "Sometimes it is wiser to remain silent on an issue until we are of an <BR/>age and position to qualify us to teach on it." Does that mean that I was in sin when I <BR/>answered AnneK's questions or any other woman's questions? It would have been sinful to ignore<BR/>these women! Please read the above comment I left for Rebecca, if you don't mind.<BR/><BR/> I understand that you must indeed be very busy! :) What a blessed reason for being busy, huh? :)<BR/><BR/> <BR/> You said: "Yes, I am familiar with George Mueller but suffice it to say that someday I <BR/>think age and maturity will teach you to look at the burdens of your brethren in a different<BR/>light." I would like to know(if you don't mind my asking) in what area I was wrong. I'm always<BR/>interested in becoming more educated, so would like to learn where I was perhaps wrong. <BR/><BR/> It doesn't say that she resold the field. My paraphrase that was in my head was wrong! I'm<BR/>sorry! :/ However, the text does say that out of her profits she planted a vinyard. where <BR/>could she have gotten those profits if she didn't buy the field and then sell it at a higher<BR/>rate?<BR/><BR/> Thank you for your comments, Ma'am! May you have a blessed holiday weekend.<BR/><BR/> The Lord be with you,<BR/> Rebekah AnnMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-46483265726200181632008-05-23T12:17:00.000-04:002008-05-23T12:17:00.000-04:00Hi Rebekah,I have recently discovered your blog an...Hi Rebekah,<BR/><BR/>I have recently discovered your blog and am impressed that a young lady has the courage to share freely her understanding of God, even if not everyone agrees with her.<BR/><BR/>That said, I am also thinking (hoping) that in a number of years, as you have gained more experience with the various way God leads us through this world of sin and the challenges he lays in our path, and grow in greater understanding of his love and how he reaches down to us fallen sinners, you will begin to see some things from a somewhat different perspective.<BR/><BR/>For many years, seemingly for longer than you have been alive, I have longed to be a stay-at-home woman. At the first I simply looked forward to getting married. After that finally happened, and after two children came along, I've dreamed of doing what seems to be the ideal for us -- staying at home and managing my home and teaching my children. This has been a heartfelt prayer of mine.<BR/><BR/>Sound good, don't you think? Sounds exactly like what God should answer with a resounding yes? Well, to my shock, that hasn't been the answer God gave me. Instead, three times --with miraculous circumstances at each time, particularly the last -- God has made it very clear, for reasons unknown to me, that right now he wants me working as a teacher outside the home.<BR/><BR/>As my children have started growing older and I longed to teach them at home (actually, my daughter attends a Christian school on the campus of the school where I work and I do supplementary work with her at home) my prayers for the opportunity to be at home have become more heartfelt, the answer has become stronger: God says "This is where I want you right now." In fact, I have been repeatedly directed to the verse in Phillippians about being content with my circumstances in life. "But God," I cry. "I'm wanting something good. What could be better than being home with my children?" His response has taken many forms: "My ways are not your ways." "Even good things can become idols -- in fact, good things like love for family or husband can actually do more evil because no one tends to notice when they start becoming dangerous." Who would say a parent's love for her child is bad? But it can be, when it comes between her and God.<BR/><BR/>I have absolutely no delusions that I'm in my job because I'm doing a good a good job. In fact, I feel I'm failing miserably. I'm a teacher and, oh sure, I can get the material across, but I'm not reaching the students for Christ like I would like to. So again, I cry, God, why won't you let me stay home? Then I wouldn't be damaging student's relationships with you (as I fear I do by presenting a harsh and un-loving picture). And again he says, "For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances." That's so hard.<BR/><BR/>I say I don't know why he's answering my prayer with a no, but maybe that isn't quite true. I'm starting to suspect that he is working through my job to refine some terrible character traits of mine. They must be pretty stubborn ones because it's been over 18 years and I don't seem to be making any progress.<BR/><BR/>I don't know quite how you would explain my situation. I suspect your options are either to think I'm lying, mentally unstable, or just confused -- that God really hasn't been keeping me in these positions and that if I just truly wanted to, I could go home for good. If the latter is the case, as I would suspect it would be, I'd like to ask yourself why you -- who have never been in this situation -- have any foundation (other than some Bible verses that you claim mean one thing, but that many people who have had much longer relationships with God than you have, believe mean something different) to say that your understanding of my situation is right and my understanding is wrong?<BR/><BR/>It's great to stand firm for your convictions, but I want to challenge you not to put God in a box. Many people in the Bible did that and missed out on the greatest blessings because they were then unable to recognize him at work because the way he worked didn't fit what they expected. Our God is the God of the unexpected (what could be more unexpected than coming as a baby with the sole purpose of dying?). He loves us so much that he'll work with us through all sorts of crazy methods. Don't tie him down to just the ones you happen to like. He loves you so much that if he feels he can't get through to you he will be willing to try something radical to get your attention, even if it brings you pain and you think "How can this be good for me?" Remember, God looks at the bigger picture, not the short here-and-now. What are a few (from his point of view, not mine) of years of me working outside home if it brings me to a better relationship with him. I may be crying "but surely he can do that when I'm at home", but perhaps he thinks this is the best way.<BR/><BR/>Read the Bible. Pray earnestly for God to convict you if you're wrong. Pray for him to lead you where HE wants you -- not just where you want to be. Pray that you will have the courage to accept that, even if it isn't what you expected. Pray for me that I can do the same and that if it will someday be his will, I will no longer have to work outside the home.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I'd just like to clarify one point, so I don't misunderstand you. Are you saying that single female these Christian missionaries were wrong? Mistaken? That all the people whom they brought to Christ shouldn't have been brought by them? What if I were to tell you that I was a descendant of one of the people brought to Christ by one of these women and that I owe my relationship to God in large part to them? Is my relationship with God inferior because it was a woman (who happened to be working outside her home) who was the one who introduced me to Christ? I'm really struggling to understand this idea. Yes, God can use anyone, including a man, but in this case he didn't. We can't change that fact -- for myself and for many people. Should I, if I were a non-Christian living in a land where a single missionary arrived, say sorry, please don't introduce me to Christ. I must wait for a man to do so? Again, I'm trying to wrap my mind around such a concept. Maybe -- I hope -- I'm totally misunderstanding what you are saying.<BR/><BR/>May God grant you his richest blessing and may you continue to grow in his will and understanding of all that his is.<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/>SaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-81141815037003040762008-05-22T19:24:00.000-04:002008-05-22T19:24:00.000-04:00Simplegifts3, Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you! ...Simplegifts3,<BR/><BR/> Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you! :) Welcome to my blog; I hope to see you around here again soon.<BR/><BR/> Thank you for your comment.<BR/><BR/> Yes, you're exactly right in what you said about those female missionaries. But, even the most godliest and most wonderful of Christian women sometimes still get things wrong! It happens to the very best of Christian ladies.<BR/><BR/> Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for your interest in my upcoming article! :)<BR/><BR/> Many blessings,<BR/> RebekahMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-50873238905043284772008-05-22T18:11:00.000-04:002008-05-22T18:11:00.000-04:00But whether or not he is, it is Biblically clear t...<I>But whether or not he is, it is Biblically clear that a daughter is to remain under her father's protection and provision until marraige(the Biblical case for this will be presented in a future article).</I><BR/><BR/>Hi, Rebeckah. I'm Lynn, a nearly 50 year old wife and SAHM. I look forward to reading your article. It's interesting to me that there have been many single Christian missionaries who would not have agreed with this idea of yours which I placed in italics, above. The names Mary Slessor, Elisabeth Elliot, Amy Carmichael, Lottie Moon, and Betty Greene immediately came to mind, but there are many others.<BR/><BR/>They would probably say that you are taking something the Bible <I>describes</I> and giving it the force of a Biblical command that is binding on believers today. IOW, that you are saying what the Bible describes it also prescribes.<BR/><BR/>I suspect that when I read your upcoming article, that this is what I will find.<BR/><BR/>However, I commend you in placing a high value on the calling of wife and homemaker.<BR/><BR/>God bless you richly in your life.simplegifts3https://www.blogger.com/profile/08000500581749760466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-25951838192227595872008-05-22T12:35:00.000-04:002008-05-22T12:35:00.000-04:00Rebekah ~My question regarding the Israelites was ...Rebekah ~<BR/><BR/>My question regarding the Israelites was whether or not you believe God considered it sin when, at the time the Ten Commandments were first given, the surrounding Gentile nations stole, coveted, committed adultery, etc.? <BR/>(Regarding the re-issuing of the Ten Commandments in the N.T. is another debate within Christian circles [New Covenant theology vs. Covenant & Old Covenant theology] and I have no desire to branch off into that debate here. ) <BR/><BR/>I have no qualms about young people sharing God’s word, etc. But the very verse you are teaching about is specifically addressing the issue of older women teaching the younger women these things. How do you reconcile what you’re doing here with that specific command? Also, we are to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ and I’m not convinced you are doing so. The Bible also cautions in James 3:1, “My brethren, be not many masters” (teachers, instructors). Maturity and responsibility do play a part in who is qualified to teach on such issues. Titus 2:5 makes it clear that the older women are best qualified to train the younger, married wives in their responsibilities before God.<BR/><BR/>You said early in your post”<BR/><BR/>“I believe that it is a sin for Christian women to not be homemakers”<BR/><BR/>“…simply because the plain truth and sad fact is that most people are not Christians). Therefore, it's not a sin for them [unbelievers] to be in the workforce”<BR/><BR/>In a much later comment you wrote the following:<BR/><BR/>“If something is a sin, it's a sin for everybody no matter what.”<BR/><BR/>You clearly contradict yourself.<BR/><BR/>Also, Titus 2:5 commands the older women to train the younger married women to love their husbands, love their children, be self-controlled and pure... in addition to keeping their homes, all so that the word of God be not blasphemed. By your reasoning, are we to conclude that unbelieving women, who do not love their husbands, do not love their children, are not self-controlled or pure are not sinning simply because this verse was written to Christian women? Do you not see the fallacy in your argument? If you’re going to call working outside the home sin it has to be sin for all women.<BR/><BR/>You said:<BR/><BR/> “We cannot be guardians of our homes if we are guarding our workplaces out in the workforce. How can you gaurd a home if you're rarely there?”<BR/><BR/>You are implying that anyone who earns a wage away from her husband’s or father’s home is ‘rarely there’ and that she does not keep and guard her home. That is quite a stretch and simply conjecture on your part. You have no way to back up an assertion like that. <BR/><BR/>There are Christian women who author books, and then go out of the home (and even out of state) to promote their books, doing interviews and such, and yet no one claims they are in sin for not guarding and keeping their homes because they are away from them for an extended period of time. How is it any different if a woman goes down the street to work for a few hours one or two nights at her local hospital as a nurse? Both are earning a wage for their labors, both are out of the home for a limited time, and yet you claim to be able to label one in sin and the other not. <BR/><BR/>It is clear from Titus 2:5 (and my conviction, I might add) that a married woman’s center is her husband, children and home. Her first and foremost responsibilities are to them. We’re not debating guarding one’s home versus ‘careerism’. But to conclude that it is sin for a woman to earn a wage away from her home in any and all circumstances may be extrapolating more from this verse in Titus than is really there. Consider the possibility that you may be guilty of adding to God’s word.<BR/><BR/>I think in many areas you have mishandled the Scriptures. We cannot discount Biblical history because the Bible says that the sum of God’s word is truth. To infer or imply that Ruth could have been in sin for working in the fields is a claim I have never before read or heard among Christians at any time. Also, what of the many women who traveled both with Jesus and Paul. We cannot categorically claim whether or not they remained under their fathers’ roofs until they were married. <BR/><BR/>We can’t build an entire theology around conjecture. In a later comment you said:<BR/><BR/> “…in Genesis and Matthew, we read that a man is to leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife-it doesn't say he shall leave his apartment or college campus. It appears that he may be supposed to remain in his father's home until marriage as well.” <BR/><BR/>The verses teaching a man to leave and cleave are speaking of the relationships he has with his parents and his wife. The relationship with his parents changes when he takes a wife and if a husband stays tied to his parents it will cause many marriage problems. To leave and cleave is not speaking literally of moving out of one dwelling and into another, but of the breaking (of sorts) of one relationship and the joining and clinging to of another. Are you really sure you want to infer that God is commanding men to remain under their parents roof until they (or if they don’t) marry? You’re taking on an awful lot there.<BR/><BR/>I do not agree with you in regards to the father/daughter relationship being in desperate need of salvaging in comparison to the mother/daughter relationship and other relationships. You just can’t back that up with Scripture. On the contrary, in I Corinthians we read of a young man who was immorally involved with his father’s wife. Should we argue therefore, that the mother/son or father/son relationship is thus more in need of salvaging? The parent/child relationship is of crucial importance, but what is even more crucial is one’s relationship with Christ. Even for those without the benefit of a healthy parent/child relationship, all things become new in Christ and He is able to restore the years that the locust have eaten. <BR/><BR/>If we want to talk about relationships in need of salvaging a better argument would be the marriage relationship. In our country it is in dire need of salvaging. With the church’s divorce statistics mirroring those of the world there is definitely a need for salvaging this relationship and I believe that the church has dropped the ball in this regard. To build an entire teaching around the father/daughter relationship (when the verses in the N.T. that speak to the parent/child relationship address children and not daughters specifically) seems highly questionable. And again, the Bible specifically commands older women, not men, to train the women in their role as wife and mother.<BR/><BR/>I do not have time to go over all of the things you said in your reply. But I am concerned that you have taken it upon yourself to proclaim your sisters in Christ to be in sin when the Lord Himself does not. I really have to agree with the other Rebecca when she wrote:<BR/><BR/>“One of the things He had to do in my life was to show me that it was simply flat out wrong (excuse me for being blunt) for a young thing to try to usurp the Titus 2:3-5 role that God clearly gave to the older women. There is a reason for that. As you grow older, and begin to live for God in a more real and mature way, as you leave behind childish things and thoughts, it will suddenly become clear to you why God never intended for young girls to attempt to tell older, wiser women how to be homemakers --- or even to judge whether or not they were homemakers!”<BR/><BR/>“I think her last statement, “God never intended for young girls to attempt to tell older, wiser women how to be homemakers --- or even to judge whether or not they were homemakers!” is appropriate.”<BR/><BR/>Sometimes it is wiser to remain silent on an issue until we are of an age and position to qualify us to teach on it. I think this is one of those issues. It isn’t wrong to hold to your convictions but the number of young, unmarried ladies teaching on this subject in direct contradiction to the command of scripture for older women to do so is disconcerting.<BR/><BR/>Remember, no one is arguing against the roles of wife, mother and home keeper in favor of selfish careerism. It’s one thing to be against the teachings of radical feminism and altogether a different thing to proclaim all Christian women who work in any capacity outside of the home to be in sin. I think you’re in danger of sowing discord among the brethren and laying burdens on your Christian sisters that the Lord and His word do not. I do not in any way believe that is what you’re aim or desire is, but I do think that time and more study on your part would benefit you greatly. <BR/><BR/>I’ll look forward to your post where you plan to biblically back up your assertions. Until then I must refrain from anymore discourse. I’m a busy wife, mother and home guardian <BR/>, and time constraints keep me from further debating it at this time. I also am finding it a bit futile because we obviously aren’t going to change each other’s mind at this point in time.<BR/><BR/>All the best! <BR/><BR/>PS – A few clarifications:<BR/><BR/>>Yes, I am familiar with George Mueller but suffice it to say that someday I think age and maturity will teach you to look at the burdens of your brethren in a different light. <BR/>>Proverbs 7 is speaking about the crafty harlot but she is a married woman. I agree that the Lord is not pleased with women who aren’t busy in there homes but my point was that we have no reason to believe that this woman worked outside the home in any capacity and yet she was rebellious. My point was that just because a woman doesn’t work outside the home doesn’t automatically mean she is keeping and guarding the home. (For the record I haven’t in any way thought you were putting forth that all women who work outside the home are harlots. By the same measure, I am not saying that a woman who guards and keeps her home can never set foot outside her home. Both are absurd views as you pointed out.) <BR/><BR/>>As for the Proverbs 31 woman I don’t see where she re-sold the field she purchased. I read that she considered a field and bought it and planted a vineyard.)<BR/><BR/>Minor points but just wanted to clarify.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-37644123441915379592008-05-22T08:50:00.000-04:002008-05-22T08:50:00.000-04:00At the same time, regardless of my age, as a Chris...<I>At the same time, regardless of my age, as a Christian, I am commanded to speak the truth in love. If someone is in sin(by God's standards, not man-made standards) then it is my God-given responsibility to point that out, to exhort and edify that brother or sister in Christ, and to seek to see them go back on the right path.</I><BR/><BR/>My dear young girl, perhaps I need to speak more bluntly with you because it is obvious that my words of warning to you fell on deaf ears, as have the words of others.<BR/><BR/>God inspired the author of Titus 2:3-5 to write those words, did He not? And you are how old, fifteen?<BR/><BR/>You are obviously not an "aged woman" or even, by any stretch of the imagination, an older woman. God has not asked you to attempt to teach anyone anything. God, in fact, command that you respect those that are older, especially those with grey hair.<BR/><BR/>He has wisely ordained it that older women are to teach younger women the very things that you are attempting to expound, very dogmatically, here on your blog. You are out of line. God never anywhere in His word suggested that precocious young girls, no matter how clever and bold they are, no matter how cute and sweet, no matter how full of themselves they are, no matter whether or not they are good mommy's helpers and homemakers-in-training, should ever be expounding on homemaking, loving husbands, or the ways of godly women to anyone. You, my dear, should be sitting at the feet of older women, and learning from them in all meekness and quietness and reverence. Your role, at this stage in your very young life, is not to exhort and edify. It is to learn. It is to be exhorted and edified.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, I fear for you. Talk about the Word of God being blasphemed!<BR/><BR/>Normally I do not speak so harshly to children, but it is obvious that you did not listen to others who have warned you in much milder terms. Please repent. Let the older women teach. Do not usurp their role. Live about 30 more years, and then --- should you have proven yourself --- God may want to use you in this way.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01847552432061325769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105226992849497642.post-74018836465673175792008-05-21T22:32:00.000-04:002008-05-21T22:32:00.000-04:00USA, What in the world did I do between the time w...USA,<BR/><BR/> What in the world did I do between the time when you left your next to last comment and this one? In the other one you told me that you respected my opinion, and in this one you said that you're disgusted with me. What have I done? In my most recent comment with you, all I did was ask you 2 questions, so I can't understand why you're all the sudden so furious with me. You're continuing in your beliefs, but that doesn't mean that I'm disgusted with you. It's not fair to be disgusted with someone simply because they still hold to their beliefs. I've strived to be nothing but kind and loving throughout this whole conversation-I've even said that if at anytime I come across as rude, that I was very sorry. I wish you would tell me what I did all of the sudden. I really want to know so that I can apologize appropriately. You and I may disagree(as do I and many others on here) but we're still sisters in Christ, and I still desire Christian fellowship with all of you.<BR/><BR/> If I hurt you in any way at all, then please accept my apology. I have to say, I'm baffled by your change in attitude. I don't want to lose you as a blog reader or as a friend, so I pray that this can be resolved.<BR/><BR/> May the Lord be with you,<BR/><BR/> RebekahMiss Rebekah Ann S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04269150765888375195noreply@blogger.com