By Angela Wittman
Dear Friends,
This essay is written for today's conservative Christian women who are strong, smart, capable and doing a man's job. Yes, I said doing a man's job.
I can remember as a new Christian hearing women in the church complaining that men weren't doing their job, and the women were having to do it for them. Then I also saw many of the Christian women whom I admired, lose their husbands and families to divorce.
You may have read the Barna Group's most recent poll results concerning Christians and divorce:
"Although many Christian churches attempt to dissuade congregants from getting a divorce, the research confirmed a finding identified by Barna a decade ago (and further confirmed through tracking studies conducted each year since): born again Christians have the same likelihood of divorce as do non-Christians.
Among married born again Christians, 35% have experienced a divorce. That figure is identical to the outcome among married adults who are not born again: 35%. "(1)
I do recognize the fact that we live in a fallen world, and we cannot control other people, including our spouses. But as Christian women, we are to be different than the women of the world. We are to have a higher standard by which we live our lives -- that standard being the Word of God:
"1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (2)
Now we come to the hard part, how do we develop a 'meek and quiet spirit'? We have been told for years that if we do not stand up for our rights, people (men especially) will walk all over us. Our society admires strength, and disdains those who are weak. I submit to you that we cannot develop true gentleness on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit, and He is willing to help. In fact, His greatest joy is that we walk in truth.
So, dear ladies, let's take the first step together, and go to our Father in prayer with true humility, and meekness. Let's get on our knees in our prayer closet and ask Him to forgive us for trying to take the place of men in our families, churches and ministries. Let us cry out to Him in our poverty of spirit, and ask Him to fill us with His grace, and love as we study His Word.
Then let us watch as He mends our broken homes, and gives us a new life in Christ.
I will confide to you that as we repent, and seek His face, He will continue to bless us. He will take the most poor, pitiful, ignorant women, and turn them into courageous ladies of the faith. We will begin to resemble Sarah, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, and the other heroines of the Christian faith. And the best part is, He will be the one doing all the work within our hearts and families.
Now, dear friends, isn't this a Saviour worth living and dying for? I think He is wonderful. May we give all glory and praise to the King, as He will make these words to be true within our hearts and minds:"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."(3)
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
1. Barna Group: Born Again Christians Just As Likely to Divorce As Are Non-Christians, September 8, 2004, http://www.barna.org/ .
2. 1 Peter, ch.3, vs.1- 4, King James Bible.
3. Philippians ch. 1, vs.21, King James Bible.
Dear Friends,
This essay is written for today's conservative Christian women who are strong, smart, capable and doing a man's job. Yes, I said doing a man's job.
I can remember as a new Christian hearing women in the church complaining that men weren't doing their job, and the women were having to do it for them. Then I also saw many of the Christian women whom I admired, lose their husbands and families to divorce.
You may have read the Barna Group's most recent poll results concerning Christians and divorce:
"Although many Christian churches attempt to dissuade congregants from getting a divorce, the research confirmed a finding identified by Barna a decade ago (and further confirmed through tracking studies conducted each year since): born again Christians have the same likelihood of divorce as do non-Christians.
Among married born again Christians, 35% have experienced a divorce. That figure is identical to the outcome among married adults who are not born again: 35%. "(1)
I do recognize the fact that we live in a fallen world, and we cannot control other people, including our spouses. But as Christian women, we are to be different than the women of the world. We are to have a higher standard by which we live our lives -- that standard being the Word of God:
"1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (2)
Now we come to the hard part, how do we develop a 'meek and quiet spirit'? We have been told for years that if we do not stand up for our rights, people (men especially) will walk all over us. Our society admires strength, and disdains those who are weak. I submit to you that we cannot develop true gentleness on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit, and He is willing to help. In fact, His greatest joy is that we walk in truth.
So, dear ladies, let's take the first step together, and go to our Father in prayer with true humility, and meekness. Let's get on our knees in our prayer closet and ask Him to forgive us for trying to take the place of men in our families, churches and ministries. Let us cry out to Him in our poverty of spirit, and ask Him to fill us with His grace, and love as we study His Word.
Then let us watch as He mends our broken homes, and gives us a new life in Christ.
I will confide to you that as we repent, and seek His face, He will continue to bless us. He will take the most poor, pitiful, ignorant women, and turn them into courageous ladies of the faith. We will begin to resemble Sarah, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, and the other heroines of the Christian faith. And the best part is, He will be the one doing all the work within our hearts and families.
Now, dear friends, isn't this a Saviour worth living and dying for? I think He is wonderful. May we give all glory and praise to the King, as He will make these words to be true within our hearts and minds:"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."(3)
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
1. Barna Group: Born Again Christians Just As Likely to Divorce As Are Non-Christians, September 8, 2004, http://www.barna.org/ .
2. 1 Peter, ch.3, vs.1- 4, King James Bible.
3. Philippians ch. 1, vs.21, King James Bible.
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