Tuesday, 24 June 2008
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God's Purpose for Christian Women
I know a pastor's wife (who shall remain unnamed) who believes that her role is to be a homemaker/housewife. She used to have a good job for a major fortune 500 company, but decided that God was calling her to be at home. So the other day, she spoke to my newlywed sister about what she believes is the role of women. She thinks that women are supposed to be housewives at home while the man goes out and works to provide for his family. She also believes in homeschooling and doesn't think the public school system is the right way to go. (my sister teaches 5th grade at a public school.) So she proceeds to ask my sister if she's considered all of this and suggests that perhaps my sister doesn't know or understand her role as a wife. She also goes on to say that she feels that her ministry at home often has priority over her husband's ministry in the church (he's a youth pastor).
Anyway, it got me thinking about the woman's role in our society today and whether or not it coincides with God's purpose for women. I would not label myself a feminist by any means; however, I don't think that my place is in a home for the rest of my life. I will no doubt take care of my family, but I don't think God is calling me to be a stay at home mom. God gave me gifts to use and I would like to be able to use those talents to serve Him in and outside my home. Likewise, one day when I have children, I want to teach them to use their gifts to go out and serve God the way He has called them to.
I wonder what the pastor's wife thinks about the young women in our church who are going to school to receive higher degrees. I sometimes think she sees us as feminists or anti-God, as if going to school to get an education made us seem like we wanted a role reversal in the home. On the contrary, I want to marry a man of God who will lead the home and I will be his support.
What do you think? Is God's purpose for women to be housewives?
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Comments (134)
@leadworshipper82 - Heh, I was raised in a Christian household and my mother never acted as though my dad was the high and mighty head of the house and she was one step below him. They headed the house as a team. Both of my parents worked and it helped me become independent because I wasnt constantly around a family member.
I LOVE my fiance throughout all the obstacles we have endured, but I will never be lesser than him. We are equals and I have no set place other than being by his side, just as he has no set place other than to be by mine.
Men thinking they are above women isnt acting like Jesus. ALL Christians should act like Jesus, not just men. And yes, saying that women should act a certain way and be submissive to their husbands is saying that men are above women. Why cant men be submissive to their wives?
This way of thinking is what causes a lot of domestic violence. Women are trying to be themselves and be a human being with rights and the freedom to achieve their goals, and the men theyre with wont stand for it. They want their dinner NOW and they want the bed made NOW.
Women have so much on their plates. They are the ones that go through 9 months of child bearing and then a painful birth. They are the ones who are supposed to take care of the children, make sure the family is happy, make dinner, clean the house, do laundry, and in a world where one spouses income isnt enough, they need to make extra money as well. ESPECIALLY single moms. Its like women have to be both parents at once. What does the husband have to do? Work and come home to get his feet massaged by his wife? No. I will never be that wife and I dont know many men that want a wife that has no mind other than to obey him. Sorry.
@Thirteenhearts@xanga - not above...there is a reason why God made eve out of Adam's rib... but leadership is in fact leadership nonetheless... i hope you recall what I said about the differences men and women have in regards to submission... the woman is and will always be the valuable one in the marriage, but the leadership and the execution of the leadership comes solely on the man... and God will the man responsibility on the man...
remember... Sin didn't come from a woman... sin came from one MAN, Adam... not Eve... all that painful birth stuff... yea... blame the man, not women... God places the fullness of the responsibility upon the man and holds the man responsible for the ramifications of such action or inaction...
that is the idea of the roles between men and women...
what you are saying is an egalitarianistic philosophy... and quite frankly... if I'm to be like Jesus in my marriage... I come home from work and will massage my wife's feet to be quite honest... due in part because I would love her and want to be with her so badly that I'd do anything to be close to the woman I want to spend my life with... whether or not she gives me one is irrelevant because i have to give her a massage... why? CUZ I'M THE MAN AND WHAT I SAY GOES...
The reason why I say men are to be like Jesus is because it's a corollary between Christ and the Church... marriage is to be a portrait of Jesus and His Bride the Church.... the Church submits regardless to the authority of Jesus as Jesus won His bride when He gave up his life for her... a man is to do the exact same thing to his wife... lay down his life for her for her survival and her very best... cuz that's what Jesus did for His Bride... so us men are to do the same... and then lead cuz Jesus leads the Church and the Church submits to His authority....
that's the role of men and women...
If all women were houswives who would do the jobs women do in the cmmunity? (nurses, etc..)
@leadworshipper82 - I dont blame men for what Adam did, that was Adam, not every man. And if Adam and Eve really existed, that was a loooong time ago. It can be compared to African Americans being angry with white people for what our ancestors did to them many years ago. We have nothing to do with it.
Egalitarianistic, yes I am. I believe in equal rights for all living beings regardless of gender, sexuality, color, or personal choice. I am a humanitarian and will live the life I choose. If God isnt accepting of that, is he really the loving and forgiving God then? Why did He give me a mind if Im not supposed to use it? And what about my dreams and ambitions?
Women that choose that sort of lifestyle can do whatever they like, but that doesnt mean all women have to be that way.
I think God places unique desires in our hearts, desires that are meant to be fulfilled. And so I think if He wanted women to all be housewives, he would have placed that in our hearts.
responding to the actual post itself not the comments-
i've heard some very similar things to what your pastors wife said at a church i used to attend. the pastor's wife was a very wonderful person who i am still very fond of, but had strong views on "selfish women" who chose to not have children or not to stay home full-time with their children. for some reason, this sort of idea seems to be fairly widespread in the Christian culture in the US, generally with the rationale behind it being some cherry picked verses that a very much being said in a specific cultural context. i mean, in those same books of the bible they are from, it also says things like women's heads should always be covered, but i don't see many Christian women in the US wearing hats, scarves or other head coverings.
personally i think too much time is spent within Christianity in the US worrying about other people's sins and walks with God, and not enough worrying about their own life with God. other peoples relationships with their spouses & their families walk with God is their business unless it's negatively impacting minors in such a way that constitutes a serious problem.
@k_j_b - that's pretty stereotypical considering not all nurses are women.
@breakingthesilence08@xanga - AMEN!
@le_meme_chose - amen! Everyone isn't called to be a leader. We are more effective when we are where God planned us to be. The bible says "wives be submissive to your husbands". If everyone tries to have that domineering hand, that power, than nothing is going to get accomplished. It may be rough but as long as I know my future husband is a man of God and obedient to the Lord, I'll have no problem stepping back and letting him be the "head of the household."