Consistent--To be or not to be?

Ephesians 5:15  Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16)  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17)  Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
     Last week reading a fellow Christian sister's blog (Cindy Colley) she pointed out the inconsistencies in some of our beliefs.  I found it humorous, and yes, I find inconsistencies in my own thoughts and actions.
     Having said that women need to be keepers at home, I find that if given the choice between (and this is if all things are equal) choosing a female or a male doctor--I prefer a female.  I don't think of anywhere else that it makes a difference, but therein lies the question.  Yes, I do believe that it is not only proper, but a good work for women to minister to other women.  So, how does the balance come? 
     Back in the day --early pioneer days--, many young women were hired (for example) as teachers.  Once they married most of them left the teaching profession.  Household duties were onerous, and reason would stand that trying to do both would lead to poor quality of work on one or the other jobs.  Indeed, it still is true.  As my mother used to say, "To do more than one thing at a time is to do nothing--well".  It never has stopped being true.
     Christians used to cringe when women's liberation proponents would throw out the old adage, they just want to keep women barefoot and pregnant.  To prove that this wasn't the case young women were encouraged by many to go to college--not to get a job...  only to be educated.  Only to prove that old adage false.  Only to...there were a few old fuddy duddy elders who resisted this way of thinking.  It would lead to women leaving the home and family and their God-given sphere, these men said.  They were just fuddy duddy old men, who wanted to keep women barefoot and pregnant. 
     Again, it isn't wrong for women to minister to other women.  Another thing that happened back in the day--women were mid-wives.  They aided the doctors as well as delivering babies. 
     Titus 2:3  that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4)  that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5)  to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:
     Reading the text it addresses the attitude of the aged women--reverent and sober, then it gives areas of their influence: teachers of that which is good --and to whom they may minister: train young women--and what they are to teach: love their husbands, love their children: to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, (also) to be kind, and in subjection to their own husbands--and for what reason?  That the Word of God be not blasphemed.
     Part of why we see a rise in marital problems is a lack of respect.   Men don't respect women nearly as much as they once did.  Women were encouraged to climb down off their pedestals, which they did.  When that happened all of humankind followed suite.  Men became more base, and women rolled in the mud and grime and became unsavory as well...
     So where does this all lead?  Some inconsistencies are inconsistencies, and some just appear to be inconsistent.  Yesterday I made an appointment with a new (for me) osteopath--she is an eighty something woman.  I'm sure she no longer has children at home--can she minister to others? 
     Philippians 3:14  I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15)  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
    It is important that each one that is trying to please God acknowledge God as the authority.  Instead of saying (to me) you can't tell me what to do...that is correct, but certainly God can.  Start with simple prayer.  "God, I know that I sometimes am willful.  I often times want to do what I want to do, so take over the reins in my life.  God help me to follow where you want me to go." 
     As someone put it lately: I know this is from you, God.  I don't pray that you will remove it.  Just help me through it. 

A Servant not Greater

John 15:20  "Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord...."
     
      We have our pet charities.  People or causes that we feel are doing a good work and worth our support.  I do not feel comfortable sending money, or spending time on things when I am not knowledgeable about their workings.  We became friends with a missionary minded individual quite a few years ago and have through the years sent money to help in their work.
     The dilemma began a little over ten years ago as we had commited to sending a certain amount money monthly to this work.  We had not made a set in stone commitment, only to ourselves, and strove diligently to send that amount.  After a few months we found ourselves financially short enough that I only had enough to send part of the amount.  This pattern continued through the year,  raising our family on one salary left our budget with no wiggle room for changing the problem. 
     I was frustrated to say the least.  Here we were trying to help in a good work, and my thought was, why is the Lord not blessing us in order that we can help others  in this good work? This happened not once, but several times through the following years.  After the last time or two I began questioning, not God, but the work we were helping with.


    God sees things from a different perspective.  Some of the works which our friend is doing are good works, but some things I now have questions about.

    Our society is wrong in a number of ways.  At one time we had a structure where mostly families were a unit.  Especially in the early years of our country when farming was the major occupation of the country, families lived and worked together daily as a unit.  Bit by bit things began to unravel as more and more fathers went to work in factories, children were sent off to larger and larger public schools.  The death blow came when mothers as well left the home in order to honor the all-mighty dollar god.
     America is crumbling from within mainly because the homes that used to shelter families have become only, for the most part, houses that shelter possesions.  Families that at one time passed on moral values, Biblical truths, Godly precepts to the next generation are empty shells that contain none of those things.  And they ask why don't my children have a faith in God?  What has happened?
     I see our societal norms being encouraged in other countries even by missionaries that are doing some good works --in some areas--, but questions arise if it is right to encourage people in other countries to accept our societal norm.

     Titus 2:4  "that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5)  to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:"

     Lip service is only paid to this portion of scripture.  We all know women ought so love their husbands (if the husbands are worthy of course) and they ought to love their children at least for a few hours a day...and when it is convenient.  However, try teaching that women ought to be wives and mothers -only.  Wives and mothers, not a hyphenated version that starts with 'what do you do for a living?'
     We all know that 'a family can't live on only one paycheck anymore'.  Except that's not true.  The truth is with most families 'a family doesn't want to live on one paycheck anymore.'  They would perhaps have to struggle to make ends meet.  They would be forced to make unpopular choices, to do without some things they have grown accustomed to, or worse yet, something they like or want.

     "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also."

     What is sad is...the persecution doesn't come from outside of the religious community.  The second sad thing is what the ignoring of God's command does to matrimony (husbands and wives), to families, the fabric of our homes, and foundation of our lives and country.

     Many Christians condemn abortion, and rightly so, but do mothers and fathers not see what the fruit of our child care system is?  What is accomplished by leaving our children in such a situation?
     What does this have to do with 'a servant not greater than his Lord?  The leaders of Jesus' day persecuted him because they didn't like--no, they hated what he taught, as well as what he stood for.
Women need to hear the truth.  What difference is it when we teach others about submitting to God's plan for salvation and they choose not to listen, and on the other hand when God speaks to us we fail (or choose) to ignore it?
     Our homes are falling apart, our marriages are failing, our children are being lost and the Word of God is being blasphemed.  We may not like the idea that 'women's lib has taken root in our lives', but it has influenced our way of thinking and acting. 
     I have seen ladies speakers who dearly wanted to tell an audience of women that it was unscriptural for them to leave their children and husbands as they flocked into the workplace.  The best these poor women could do was tell the women, 'no matter what you choose (to work outside, or stay at home), keeping your home and the care for it is YOUR responsibility, not your husband's'.
     The scriptural teaching is not popular, it will turn women away from the church--and that is true.
It will turn some--maybe even many-- away from the church, but when are we to be the judge?
      A few years ago someone said about a friend of theirs: "she would have become a christian, but she couldn't accept that a woman had to be in subjection to her husband...so she never obeyed...".  Wait, there seems to be a problem.  When do we start just teaching what is popular, and will people that embrace only part of the good news be wholly saved? 
     I don't believe that there is any one today who is perfect in their knowledge and keeping of the scriptures.  Most of us would acknowledge that we are always learning and growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and his church.  As we learn and grow we leave behind the things that aren't what God wants, and change into what the Lord does want us to be.  Growing and changing that is part of life.  It is part of the Christian life.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.