Fairies, Homemakers, and Helpmeets: What’s the Problem?
You know, there are just a few things that I’m sick and tired of seeing/hearing/experiencing in this world. And even more particularly amongst self-professing evangelicals. Now, when I use the term evangelical, I use it very loosely, as I, myself, don’t know if I’m comfortable using it to describe myself. More and more, I’m leaning toward the Reformed label in a historical sense, but we shall see.
Anyway…
I have had it with feminism. I have had it with the whole selfish, infantile, screamings of women who are tired of being “oppressed”, “restricted”, ________ (fill-in-the-blank). It’s ridiculous. But you know what I hate even worse? Can you guess?
Within evangelicalism, feminism has had its way, admnistered its poison, and spineless jellyfish of…ahem….men have allowed it to happen, even within the church. I’m sorry, guys, but its our fault. It is time to be men. It is time to cherish the woman for the role that God has given her. This means a return to the godly, biblical, chivalrous exaltation of the role a woman plays in being a wife, a mother….a helpmeet.
No longer should we sit idly by and allow this bastard world define equality between men and women. No longer should we acquiesce to the mundane montras like, “well, in today’s world, a household needs two full-time incomes to make ends meet…that’s just how it is.” It is time to, in the words of the Apostle Paul, by inspiration of God Himself, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” This is not some call to hollywood John Wayne machismo (Cuz to be honest, I like Eastwood better). This is a call to strong-minded, determined, biblical godliness and masculinity in a world that is so saturated, pervaded, and perverted with the cancers of effeminate male-passivity, and godless feminist tendencies.
It is my desire to undertake some blog entries examining the biblical roles of men and women (particularly husbands and wives) in the church, in the home, and in society. In doing so, I’m sure I’ll be labeled a dogmatist, a chauvenist, a paranoid alpha-male, and the like. The truth is, however, our sisters in Christ deserve better leadership than they’re getting. They deserve better treatment than they’re getting. And God knows, He alone is worthy of men acting according to His revealed, prescribed roles as He has set them forth.
Just as through one man, sin entered the world, and not through the woman who actually was the first to sin chronologically…just as Adam was held responsible and culpable for abdicating his headship over Eve….men, it’s time that we take back the reigns of responsibility and relieve women of a burden that was not given to them. We are the burden bearers of family responsibility. We are the ones held accountable for familial spiritual welfare, life, and well-being. It’s time to stand up, Gentlemen. Stop being so selfish and brace yourself like men.
We are to be faithful to our Creator. May it be so.
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Hi Josh, thanks for an insightful entry! It’s nice to hear other Christians who see God-given role for women as wife/helpmeet and mother as a high calling; who do not see it as something inferior, but rather something to be exalted.
I really like John Piper’s challenge to women when he wrote:
Thanks again for a great post!
Not only is it a “high” calling, Jessica. It is the highest calling a married woman has (and should have).
but jessica surely having a career is also ministry? There are many godly households where God is honoured and both parents work and are a tremendous witness in their jobs. Should the issue not be about were we place our value? Femenists place their value in society giving them ‘equality’, sadly many Christians place their value in doing ministry. Our value should be in a reconcilled relationship with Christ alone.
Thank you for your note. Sir, I think it would help if you define your terms. I said particularly that being a mother is a high “calling”. I thought perhaps it may help if you define what you mean by “career” and “ministry” (as there’s a difference between the Biblical term of “vocation” and “calling” as well as its meaning from simply a job or work).
You wrote, “There are many godly households where God is honoured and both parents work and are a tremendous witness in their jobs.” Well, actually, that truly depends on the situation. Does the mother work outside the home at the neglect of her own children? If so, then no, God is not honored when a woman voluntarily has a career outside the home at the neglect/expense of her family and household (as many do today). And this was the context I had in mind when I wrote in my previous comment that it is a high calling for a woman to be a homemaker in order to serve her family faithfully.
I also wish to clarify that I never claimed there’s something inherently wrong with a woman who works outside the realm of a Christian environment per se (e.g. outside of church, etc.). For example, the Proverbs 31 woman (who is a godly model) bought land and planted vineyard, etc. (I suppose it can be likened very loosely to real estate today). However, again, this Proverbs 31 woman did not do so at the expense of her family (we even read later in the chapter that her children rise up and call her ‘blessed’ and her husband, too, praise her as an excellent wife/mother). Part of her vocation (calling) is a wife and mother. Let’s also remember that Prov. 31 describes her in different stages throughout her life; it didn’t seem to be a snapshot of one particular time in her life (which may mean that she may have worked outside the home after her children are out of the nest). Nevertheless, having said that, she also did her work for the benefits of her family (not at the neglect/expense of her household). Again, the emphasis is on right priorities. Titus 2:3-5 exhorts the older women “to encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” My point in my previous comment was this: Being a full-time homemaker is indeed a high & honorable calling for a woman because no “ministry” outside the home can ever compensate for a wife’s and/or mother’s failure in her first (primary) vocation in the home.
As for John Piper’s quote, he appeared to encourage women to do “ministry.” However, I believe his point in that quote was to emphasize that in whatever we plan to do, we should think first and foremost to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31), how it may advance His purpose, and not merely to advance the cause of our boss, etc. But please notice how he exhorted women to consider the countless opportunities not only “in the home, the neighborhood, the community, the church” but also “the world” (not limited to Christian environment).
You wrote, “…sadly many Christians place their value in doing ministry. Our value should be in a reconciled relationship with Christ alone.” Yes, I don’t believe our value is measured by what we do in church or home or “ministry”. I believe apart from Christ, we have no merits. Our value is in Christ. Our worth is in Him. And our merit is Christ alone.