Women's Rights?
Genesis 12
1Corinthians14:34
Titus2:5
1Peter3:1
1Timothy6:1
The Bible says that I am to be subject to my husband and submissive to his authority. Even when he is lying? Sarai obeyed Abram, even when he told her to say that she was his sister. Which was a partial truth. A deception.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/subject
1. Being in a position or in circumstances that place one under the power or authority of another or others: subject to the law.
4. Contingent or dependent
1. One who is under the rule of another or others, especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler.
2. To submit to the authority of.
subject - make subservient; force to submit or subdue
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/submissive
submissive - inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination; "submissive servants"; "a submissive reply"; "replacing troublemakers with more submissive people"
Synonyms: unassertive, obedient, humble, subordinate, meek, passive, compliant, resigned, patient, yielding, accommodating, subdued, lowly, abject, amenable, docile, dutiful, ingratiating, malleable, deferential, uncomplaining, biddable, unresisting
Antonyms: difficult, awkward, stubborn, intractable, unyielding, obstinate, headstrong, uncooperative, disobedient
Confession: When I married more than a decade ago I was not subject to my husband, and I did not seek to be submissive. Mostly because I wanted my own way, and I wanted my husband to follow my way. Which as we saw earlier in Genesis, is the curse: That the woman's desire will be for her husband, and I think that I may correctly infer that she would wish to rule over him, since that directly correlates to the context of the verse and we see that in nearly every male/female relationship in the world today. Women's rights? Hello.
16 To the woman he said,
"I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you."
I know full well, 1) I am human, created in God's image. 2) I am a woman, created to be helper to man. 3) I am married, so I must be subject to my own husband as I am subject to Christ, in everything. 4) I am a mother, but I will look more closely at what the Bible says about that later, as this is one huge bite.
Does the Bible say anything about marriage being a compromise? I think not. I see that my Creator is head over my husband, and my husband is head over me. I'm thankful to be in a correct position of contingence and dependence on my husband, because in this I know that I am obeying the Word. I am thankful for the times when I have obeyed my husband, because when he is not at war with me he is free to lead me, protect me, serve me, and cover over me.
Father, I yearn to more completely obey your Word concerning my marriage and my husband. Lord, I open my hands to You, I am not trying to hold my husband to my way of doing things. My desire is to serve You, and that means that I shall serve him. Please let me never elevate him above You. Thank-You for Sarai's example of obedience in Genesis 12, even when her husband told her to deceive and she did it, she was protected by You. You alone are faithful, all Your ways are right and pure, and who am I to say, "No!" to my Lord and disobey Your Word. Where my heart is not subject and submissive to You first, I repent, and I turn to You, and I ask You to cleanse me of that sin and refresh and renew me so that I may follow You and worship You in spirit and in truth. In Jesus Name, Amen!!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
A Bit Modest
Genesis 9:20-27
Immodesty is a huge deal to me. I try to realize that most of the people out there dressing themselves so scantily are not believers in Jesus, and therefore are going to be immodest to an extreme. I love that Noah cursed the son who looked on his nakedness. How often do I neglect to hide my eyes? Opportunities to look on another's near nakedness are everywhere, even at a church that I sometimes attend. I need to hide my eyes and give the other person their modesty. Yes, I do believe that I and everyone else should cover our nakedness, just as the Lord made skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But I choose to not forget the additional responsibility of hiding my eyes, and if the opportunity is given to me, to cover over the other persons nakedness.
Immodesty is a huge deal to me. I try to realize that most of the people out there dressing themselves so scantily are not believers in Jesus, and therefore are going to be immodest to an extreme. I love that Noah cursed the son who looked on his nakedness. How often do I neglect to hide my eyes? Opportunities to look on another's near nakedness are everywhere, even at a church that I sometimes attend. I need to hide my eyes and give the other person their modesty. Yes, I do believe that I and everyone else should cover our nakedness, just as the Lord made skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But I choose to not forget the additional responsibility of hiding my eyes, and if the opportunity is given to me, to cover over the other persons nakedness.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Returned, Refocused
Major life change. Transition. Two things that recently happened to me, and will be happening again in about 30 weeks. Pregnancy can be a part of womanhood. And we see the Lord's miraculous handiwork in every aspect of it. I have never felt ready to be pregnant. My husband and I have never planned a pregnancy. Each time I have been enraptured with the love that the Father has for this new life that He is creating, and the joy of being the vessel. Tonight I just want to think and pray through Psalm 139. Just to sit at the feet of Jesus and thank Him for this miracle of life begun in me, and to hear some of His thoughts on it. And to respond in worship. "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb."
Prayer: "Oh Lord! I weep that I am indeed a mother. That You chose me to bear the children that You have given me! That You would look on Your servant, in truth, a foolish Gentile woman, yes, but You saved me, and grafted me into the Vine! Hallelujah! And now You are again forming within my womb a new precious one. Yet this child has known no days on the earth, but You have already written them in Your book. Oh forgive! Oh Lord, have mercy on the moments that I will fail this child! Lord, let me not sin against this untainted babe. Let me not follow my flesh, or be selfish, or angry, but let me always walk in Love towards all my children as You have walked in Love towards me. And Father, may they each come to repentance and salvation in Your Son Jesus!!! Amen and Amen."
Below find the lyric to a song that touched my heart so deeply during my first pregnancy.
Prayer: "Oh Lord! I weep that I am indeed a mother. That You chose me to bear the children that You have given me! That You would look on Your servant, in truth, a foolish Gentile woman, yes, but You saved me, and grafted me into the Vine! Hallelujah! And now You are again forming within my womb a new precious one. Yet this child has known no days on the earth, but You have already written them in Your book. Oh forgive! Oh Lord, have mercy on the moments that I will fail this child! Lord, let me not sin against this untainted babe. Let me not follow my flesh, or be selfish, or angry, but let me always walk in Love towards all my children as You have walked in Love towards me. And Father, may they each come to repentance and salvation in Your Son Jesus!!! Amen and Amen."
Below find the lyric to a song that touched my heart so deeply during my first pregnancy.
| Rachael Lampa \ No Greater Love Before I knew Your Name, You knew my ev’ry breath. Before I found my way, You knew my ev’ry step. Before I knew everything that I need, You gave it all to me. No greater love than this… That You should lay down Your life For someone such as me; I’d spend a lifetime wondering why. The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart And I know there can be No greater love than this. I never understood How merciful Love could be, Until I felt His Flame Light every part of me And I would give everything that I am ’ Cause I have been saved; Yes, I have been saved! No greater love than this… That You should lay down Your life For someone such as me; I’d spend a lifetime wondering why. The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart And I know there can be No greater love. The Beauty of Heaven Is here in my heart And I know there can be No greater love... For someone such as me. No greater love...than this. |
Friday, June 25, 2010
"Eve Misquotes"
Genesis 2:15-25
I noticed that Eve wasn't around yet when the LORD God commanded Adam, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Later Eve misquotes (read: LIES) this command to the serpent, "You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die." (Why was she talking to the enemy anyway?) So did Eve hear from Adam the change in the command and relate it to the serpent exactly as she heard it from Adam? There is a breakdown in communication somewhere, whether from Adam to Eve, or from Eve to the serpent. But that lie, that communication with the enemy, was part of the original sin. How often do I disrespect my LORD by misquoting Him? How often do I disrespect my husband by misquoting him? How often do I sit in front of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, just waiting for the serpent to show up? Confession: I do all of the above daily, no matter how small the scale, it is still sin. Prayer: "LORD God, You who made me and commanded my first parents, Adam and Eve, please let me be true in my speech. I confess that I have lied, whether by omission or commission, and I desire to be full of Truth. I desire to accurately know, and live, and relate Your Word to others. I desire to respect Your Word, and not water it down. I desire to respect my husband, and to build him up. I desire that my words would not entrap me and lead to my downfall and the cursing of others, but that my words would bring life, and light, and love to others. Show me Your ways. Write Your Word on my heart."
I noticed that Eve wasn't around yet when the LORD God commanded Adam, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Later Eve misquotes (read: LIES) this command to the serpent, "You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die." (Why was she talking to the enemy anyway?) So did Eve hear from Adam the change in the command and relate it to the serpent exactly as she heard it from Adam? There is a breakdown in communication somewhere, whether from Adam to Eve, or from Eve to the serpent. But that lie, that communication with the enemy, was part of the original sin. How often do I disrespect my LORD by misquoting Him? How often do I disrespect my husband by misquoting him? How often do I sit in front of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, just waiting for the serpent to show up? Confession: I do all of the above daily, no matter how small the scale, it is still sin. Prayer: "LORD God, You who made me and commanded my first parents, Adam and Eve, please let me be true in my speech. I confess that I have lied, whether by omission or commission, and I desire to be full of Truth. I desire to accurately know, and live, and relate Your Word to others. I desire to respect Your Word, and not water it down. I desire to respect my husband, and to build him up. I desire that my words would not entrap me and lead to my downfall and the cursing of others, but that my words would bring life, and light, and love to others. Show me Your ways. Write Your Word on my heart."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
"Male and Female He Created Them"
I'm trying to put myself in the mindset of being newly created in a perfect world, with only my husband and my Creator...Surrounded by beauty, breathtaking beauty. The clear pure air, the Garden of Eden vistas, friendly animals. (Did they really talk then, Mr. C.S. Lewis?) Uniquely created as female, and blessed. Counterpart. From Adam's side. Helper. Completer. Companion to Adam, when none of the other animals were qualified to hold that position. Made in the image and likeness of God, Wow! I want to stop and think about that.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." 29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food."
From the conception of this blog I knew that this would be counter-cultural. The first time that woman is mentioned in the Bible, she is created from man's side to be his companion and helper. I don't see much of that in my own life, or in society today. What I do see, is vile scorn for any woman who wants to be that helper. I will be interested to see how this thread carries out throughout the Bible. Confession: I'm not a great helper. I am only beginning to try to see what my husband needs. I'm only beginning to serve him. And as I do I see what waves of blessing it causes for him, and myself, how it waters our relationship. As I try to lift some of the weight from his shoulders by simple acts of thoughtfulness and consideration, he is able to more freely pursue his calling. Prayer: "Father, Creator, Lord, You made woman to be a fit helper for man. You made woman to be a companion so that man would not be alone. I need to change and grow in this area. My strong desire is to obey You, Lord, and to help my husband and be his companion. Please show me how I can better serve him and come alongside him."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." 29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food."
From the conception of this blog I knew that this would be counter-cultural. The first time that woman is mentioned in the Bible, she is created from man's side to be his companion and helper. I don't see much of that in my own life, or in society today. What I do see, is vile scorn for any woman who wants to be that helper. I will be interested to see how this thread carries out throughout the Bible. Confession: I'm not a great helper. I am only beginning to try to see what my husband needs. I'm only beginning to serve him. And as I do I see what waves of blessing it causes for him, and myself, how it waters our relationship. As I try to lift some of the weight from his shoulders by simple acts of thoughtfulness and consideration, he is able to more freely pursue his calling. Prayer: "Father, Creator, Lord, You made woman to be a fit helper for man. You made woman to be a companion so that man would not be alone. I need to change and grow in this area. My strong desire is to obey You, Lord, and to help my husband and be his companion. Please show me how I can better serve him and come alongside him."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Hey Women"
"To Call Out Women" is the purpose of my blog and: Ecclesiastic Eve the title of my blog. I am only writing this blog as my personal notes of what I think, learn, and feel as I read the Scriptures on the key words: woman, wife, mother, virgin, and possibly going on to study each woman named in the Bible. Obviously this has been done before in so many ways, however this is a work that cannot be humanly completed, and is already divinely completed. The Lord and Father of All, the Creator who made all, knows His exact intention and purpose for each and every woman that He created. My desire is to find out what the Bible says in order to learn those purposes and intentions. I believe that I need to change in many areas as a human, woman, wife, and mother. I want to read from the Bible what I should be as a human, woman, wife, and mother . I want to pattern my life after those traits and instructions given in the Bible. I don't intend to make a check-list to follow. And I know that my righteousnesses are only filthy rags. This is not a blog to call women to try harder. This isn't a "How To" course. I just love the Lord so much that I want to know what He thinks about these topics, and I see my need for change, and I am ready and willing to change, to be conformed to His will. To be transformed by the renewing of my mind. To open my hearts door to whatever the Lord will cleanse from me, or add to me. I am not trying to teach anyone or to set myself up as a teacher, but I am happy to share what I think and learn. So don't take my word for it, don't think what I think, don't pattern yourself after me, I assure you, I am fallible. What is it to be a human, woman, wife, and mother? I expect the Biblical answers to be counter-cultural, painful, and a call to repentance. I have long prayed, "Lord, change my mind, change my heart, change my thinking." Further I pray, "I know that You say that you will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4) and so to You I surrender all of my desires that You may give me the desires that You have for me, since You (Ephesians 1:3-9) have blessed me, chosen me, and adopted me." And further still, "Lord, I commit this effort to blog to You." (Proverbs 16:3) This woman is ready to be Ecclesiastic Eve.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)