BW Reads: Understanding “Ms. Understood”

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 by Lauren Moody

“Who does God say you are?”  asks Jen Hatmaker in Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation.  As women, we must look to Scripture for purpose and meaning and Hatmaker attempts to answer this very question by exploring the women in the lineage of Christ –their lives, faith, and how God used them. Hatmaker highlights aspects of these women’s lives and identifies how God used them and graciously brought them in the line of Christ.

There are five women in the lineage of Christ that Hatmaker brings to the forefront, highlighting God’s work in their lives. 

• Tamar-While the author seems to cheer her on, she also acknowledges that Tamar did employ questionable methods.  According to Hatmaker, even though Tamar took charge of her own destiny, the Lord used her in the lineage of Christ.  The author concludes that God is the True Heroine of Tamar’s story.  God took a woman in her sinful state and allowed her to be used for His glory.
• Rahab-God used a prostitute to save two Israelite spies, and in His mercy covered her with grace and brought her into the Israelite family.
• Ruth- A Moabitess – a foreigner – God gave Ruth the honor of being the great-grandmother of the future King of Israel.
• Bathsheba-In spite of Bathsheba’s adultery with King David, God still redeemed her life and included her in the line of Christ.
• Mary-Exuding a quiet, humble, submissive spirit, Mary trusted that God would care for her.

As the author points out, it is through these women’s weaknesses and frailties that God was glorified, and that God can use anyone today.

However, there are some pitfalls to be aware of. Hatmaker seems to believe that men and women can equally fulfill one another’s roles.

She advocates for women preaching in churches, and gives an example of her preaching at a Baptist Church in Houston.  She also calls for mutual submission in contrast to Ephesians 5:22-33’s description of submission in marriage, saying, “The crazy idea of submission might seem archaic for this problem.  Even as I type the “S” word, I hear you sigh…Jesus introduced mutuality to unlock a prison cell.  Remember, He created them male and female and blessed them.  He blessed them both equally…There should be a holy respect between men and women.” (55)  If men and women can take on each other’s roles, women could be placed in authority over men in marriage relationships, and can cause some women to become defensive.

Hatmaker seems to believe that women have to continually defend themselves and their positions, but what about what Jesus has already done on the cross?  He has already defended our position.  We are to rest in Him because our honor has already been fought and paid for.  The fight is not with men, but against spiritual enemies.  Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”   

Despite the book’s drawback, Hatmaker inspires women to take charge of their lives, but also to allow the Lord to work in their lives.

She gives an encouraging discussion on the identity of women, but falls short in correctly interpreting Scripture. Our sinful culture has written the feminine equation one way, and God has written it another. While our world may change, our identity in Christ never will.  Just like the women included in the lineage of Christ, our lives can be redeemed and transformed into a beautiful story of God’s redemption.

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When God Says, “No Ma’am!”

Thursday, April 26, 2012 by Amanda Walker

My daughter, Makaylan, is days away from turning a year old. As a result, my husband and I have entered a new phase of parenting – the discipline stage. Right now her biggest temptation is the electrical sockets. Though we have them covered, we still do not want her to play with them. We know that one day we will go visit friends who do not child-proof their homes, and we do not want her getting into the habit of playing with something that is potentially dangerous to her. But, every time she passes an electrical socket, she cannot resist the urge to touch it.

The first day she discovered her new “favored” toy, I spent most of my day bent over her, removing her hand from the socket, and repeating, “No ma’am.” During one instance, my husband counted how many times I gave her this instruction, and I repeated it 15 times before she finally became frustrated and moved on. Over the last few weeks, God has used these experiences to convict me of my own sin and temptations in life.

So what can a one year old teach you about discipline and discipleship? More than you can imagine.

The first thing I have learned is that God’s discipline is always for my good and for His glory. The writer of Hebrews gives a great description of God’s discipline when He says, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Heb. 12:6) He goes on to say, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11) In the original language, the word “trained” is the Greek word gymnazo, which means “to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind.”[1] Gymnazo is where we get our English word “gymnasium.” A gymnasium is a place of training. I played sports throughout high school and nearly two years of college; therefore, I am accustomed to the regimented and strenuous training that must occur in order to perform well. No athlete would dare go into a competition without first disciplining his or her body.

In the same way, God uses His discipline to train our hearts and our bodies to be submissive to His perfect will in order that His righteousness might be displayed in our lives.

I want my daughter to grow up to be a woman who loves and serves God with a submissive heart, but this submission does not come naturally. We are all tempted by certain lusts of the flesh, and sometimes it is difficult to pass up those opportunities to sin. God continues to remind me that in order for me to teach her how to submit to Christ, I must first submit myself under His Lordship. It is amazing how children can pick up on their parents’ lack of obedience. We cannot expect our children to be obedient to our instruction if we are not being obedient and submissive to God’s instruction. It first begins with us.

The second lesson I have learned is that discipline takes time. Too often I have seen parents “discipline” their children from the couch with a remote control in hand. In all honesty, that is the easiest thing to do. But, God commands us to train our children and not just to shout orders at them. I am so thankful that God does not discipline me haphazardly. Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus “learned obedience through what He suffered.” Jesus, while in the flesh, had to learn to be obedient to the Father’s instruction. God allows temptations and difficult seasons into our lives in order to train us to trust in Him and obey Him. Scripture shows that no difficulty or temptation comes into our lives without first passing through the Father’s approval (Job 1:6-12). Learning obedience and submission takes a lifetime; therefore, careful instruction must be given in order to ensure growth in maturity.

For example, right now Makaylan is fighting the battle against the electric socket, but when she grows up she will have other temptations that will be more dangerous. If we are not diligent to train her in the small things, through discipline, then she will never learn self-control and submission for when the bigger temptations arise. She needs “hands on discipline,” meaning we must show her exactly what we expect and not just verbally rebuke her actions. God continues to show me that I need the same thing. I need for Him to show me, through His Word and through my situations, exactly what He expects of me.

The goal is to grow in Christlikeness.

As my husband and I enter this stage of discipline, I will admit that it is not a fun stage…and we are only at the beginning. I would much rather wrap Makaylan in my arms and snuggle with her than be firm about what she can and cannot do. But God has given us this precious child in order for us to train her according to His Word and His commands. As we train and discipline our daughter, it has been a blessing to get a glimpse into the heart of our Heavenly Father. Though His discipline is not always pleasant, it is exactly what I need. I want to encourage you (and me) not to run from the Father’s discipline, for by it, He is producing within us the fruit of righteousness. (Heb. 12:11)

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A Faith-Changing Vacation

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 by Diana Severance

Spring is well under way, and soon summer will be here – Vacation time!  Some of my favorite vacations have been visiting historic places, especially places associated with Christian history.  Seeing the church in Wittenberg where Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door, symbolically beginning the Reformation, somehow makes the event more real.  Visiting Bedfordshire and exploring scenes familiar to John Bunyan, one can easily see where Bunyan derived some of the images for his Pilgrim’s Progress.  Sitting in the pews of St. John’s Church, Richmond, it’s easy to imagine the cold day in 1775, when Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, filled with biblical references.  But the most fascinating journey is one to the places where biblical events actually occurred.  In the early days of Christianity, pilgrimages to the Holy Land became popular, and women were among the earliest pilgrims.[1]

One pilgrim named Egeria travelled from Spain throughout the Holy Land in 381-384 and kept a journal of her travels. Little is known about Egeria, but she apparently was a lady of some wealth to be able to make such a journey.   Possibly she had some connections with the imperial court of Emperor Theodosius the Great, who was from Spain.  Perhaps she was a nun writing for nuns back in Spain.

The beginning and ending of Egeria’s journal have not survived, but the middle portion is rich with descriptions of her travels and experiences from Mt. Sinai through her long stay in Jerusalem.[2] In her travels, Egeria wanted to visit places where biblical events occurred and to deepen her understanding of the Scriptures.  Everywhere she went she sought out religious leaders and local guides who could show her the sites, and then she read the scriptures focusing on those sites.  Always she was eager to see the places as they were from the scripture’s viewpoint.  She wanted to see where the glory of God was shown, and she climbed to the top of Mt. Sinai.  Monks showed her where the golden calf had stood, as well as the burning bush – whose roots they claimed were still there! Egeria visited Mt. Nebo, where Moses is buried. In Haran she was shown what was purported to be Job’s tomb and Abraham’s house.  Roman soldiers provided safe escort for Egeria during some of her travels, and religious leaders often provided hospitality.

The most interesting section of Egeria’s journal is her detailed account of the worship practices of the Jerusalem Christians.   Six churches in Jerusalem were associated with specific events in the life of Christ.  Daily and weekly services at each church focused on the event particular for each site, but a special series of celebrations were practiced throughout the developing liturgical year.  Egeria described in detail the celebration of holy week – the Scriptures read, the vigils, fasts, the processions.  She found the Good Friday service most meaningful with Scripture read the entire time and hymns sung.  From the Scriptures, the people learned that everything prophesied about Jesus’ suffering and death was fulfilled.  All were moved to tears to hear of the Lord’s suffering for them.  Egeria found a greater emphasis on the preaching of the Scriptures in Jerusalem than she found at home in Spain.  People coming to Jerusalem learned about the Scriptures connected with the various feasts of the Church and brought their renewed understanding of the Scriptures and the Christian year back to their home churches.  At a time when few people had a copy of the Scriptures for themselves, the liturgy of the church in Jerusalem increased their understanding of the Scriptures and their faith.

Egeria’s descriptions are so accurate and detailed that archaeologists have used her journal to plan their work.  Archaeologists uncovered Peter’s house in Capernaum in part from Egeria’s description that his house near the synagogue in Capernaum was made into a church. Behind everything Egeria did on her journey was a spiritual purpose – to verify and confirm her faith in the truth of Scripture through contact with the physical places the Bible had recorded God had particularly worked.  Much of the Bible is the outworking of God’s plan of redemption in history, and Egeria’s travels reflect the truth that Christianity is a faith rooted and grounded in history, in place and time.

Our God is intimately involved in the affairs of this world. And all history, including our present time, is under His care.

Speaking to the Athenians on Mars Hill, Paul declared that the very boundaries and times of the nations are arranged to bring people to Him (Acts 17: 26-27).  But not only the great history of nations, but our own personal lives are under His care.  This is the importance of that favorite verse in Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Historic places and people like Egeria can deepen our understanding and appreciation for the wondrous works of God in our daily affairs and deepen our trust in His future work in our lives and among the nations.

Dr. Diana Severance is the Director of the Dunham Bible Museum at Houston Baptist University and the author of Feminine Threads: Women in the Tapestry of Christian History (Christian Focus, 2011).  She has taught courses in the history of Christian women at SWBTS since 2004. Her greatest joy, besides the Lord Jesus, is being married to Gordon.

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Set-Apart in a “Sex is Power” World

Thursday, April 19, 2012 by Katie McCoy

At the end of the 30-second commercial I wasn’t sure whether I should be laughing or blushing! As the on-screen ladies witnessed the dramatic duels of flying samurais and jousting knights, I heard: It’s the cradle of life. It’s the center of civilization. Men have fought for it, even died for it. One might say it’s the most powerful thing on earth…Hail to the V! (Yep…that “V”) Maybe the theatrical marketing campaign of this popular feminine product wanted to reinvent their image. Perhaps they wanted their female consumers to feel pride in their product instead of the typical embarrassment of praying they don’t see anyone they know in the store and avoiding eye contact in the check-out line. Whatever the commercial intended to convey about the actual item, its message was clear: female sexuality is power.

The slogan isn’t alone in the recent slate of girl-power mantras. Last summer, über-celebrity Beyonce Knowles debuted the female-empowered anthem, “Girls Who Run the World.” The international hit single sent women across the globe chanting, “Who runs the world? Girls!” while she hypnotically droned, “My persuasion can build a nation, Endless power, the love we can devour, You’ll do anything for me.” For Beyonce, female sexuality is power.

While such eyebrow-raising media may seem to be just latest attempts in pushing the cultural envelope and challenging social norms, what they promote is not just a product, but a philosophy; not just a lyric, but a lifestyle. And, more often than not, we’re unaware of just how inundated with its messages we have become.

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Has Eve Resigned The Church?

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by Heather Brinker

“My soul felt battered with the certainty that God would have loved me more if I’d been a man. He would have trusted me more, valued me more.”[1]

Blocked. Stonewalled. Stalled. This is how Jim Henderson bluntly describes the plight of women in churches today. “Women should have as much influence as they’re capable of exercising in the church.”[2] However, he points out, there is one slight problem…

…The church says no.

What would provoke a woman to think that God would have loved her more if she had been a man?

Heart-wrenching statements such as this are more common than you might think. Personally, I never realized the silent cry of many women before I was introduced to a book entitled The Resignation of Eve: What if Adam’s Rib is No Longer Willing to Be the Church’s Backbone? It was written by a sharp provocateur named Jim Henderson. Jim is a popular author, has his own production company, and has even been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

Something caught my attention in his second chapter. He simply declared, “I had to write this book.” Compelled to address the church’s response to women’s leadership, Jim compiled powerful stories that intricately depict stories of women who do not feel like the church allows them to use their abilities to the fullest, that “their gifts and leadership skills are not valued there.”[3]

Blocked? Stonewalled? Stalled? Can this truly be what the church intends?  Why not allow a woman to influence and exercise the leadership skills that God gave her in the same way as men?

A prime place to start is 1 Timothy 2:11-14. This passage explicitly states that a woman is not to teach or exercise authority over a man in the church. Some may argue, like Jim, that this command was limited to a specific situation and/or cultural context. For instance, some suggest that women were not educated enough to teach or maybe the Jews would have been offended by their teaching; therefore, this command no longer applies to contemporary churches.[4]

However, upon further study, the argument for cultural context loses its rationale.

If you continue reading the passage, Paul references Adam and Eve in verses 13 and 14. What significance is this, you might ask? By citing Adam and Eve, Paul establishes the prohibitions in creation, not a certain situation or cultural context. Therefore, our unique roles as male and female were intricately designed by our sovereign God, perfectly crafted since the beginning of time.

After grappling with this issue, you may begin to wonder, “Does the Bible characterize women as second-class? Are we less important than men in God’s eyes?” My response is, with as much fervor as I can muster, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

There is a glorious reminder for us in Galatians 3. We as believers are justified by faith in Christ, and we – both male and female – are sons of God. Not only that, Paul adds that believers, are Abraham’s seed and heirs of the wonderful promises made to him.[5] So, no matter what your gender, we have an equal status of the Father’s rightful heir! Praise God! Not only are we joint heirs with Christ, but we can celebrate the unique roles God has given to us as women. According to 1 Peter 4:10, we are to use our spiritual gifts to minister to the body of Christ, for they are indispensable to the life and growth of the church.

What is your calling? How can you use your gifts?

Have you considered Titus 2:3–5? Paul commissions older women to instruct younger women in godliness, and he encourages the wonderful role of a wife and mother. What about ministering in prisons, sharing the gospel, fighting against abortion, aiding the poor, supporting missionaries, extending hospitality, ministering to the sick and elderly?[6] We’ve got our work cut out for us!

It is incredibly rewarding to know that we are not a set of identical and interchangeable parts to be switched in and out with men! We can celebrate our role as women in the church, not by usurping men’s authority but by complementing it, fulfilling our unique purposes and callings within the confines of Scripture.

Elisabeth Elliot, renowned author and missionary, composed one of my favorite quotes regarding this topic. She wrote, “I would be the last to deny that women are given gifts that they are meant to exercise. But we must not be greedy in insisting on having all of them, in usurping the place of men. We are women, and my plea is Let me be a woman, holy through and through, asking for nothing but what God wants to give me, receiving with both hands and with all my heart whatever it is.”[7]

Let that be our prayer: that we as women would celebrate our position in Christ and the church, use our gifts for God’s glory within the boundaries of Scripture, and ask for nothing but what God wants to give. Now is not the time for Eve to resign from the church. Rather, may we women, as daughters of Eve, celebrate our position in Christ and His Bride.

 

Heather Brinker is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology at Southwestern Seminary. She is engaged to her best friend, Jason, and will be tying the knot on May 19th, 2012. Heather loves anything animal print, trying new recipes, and watching old musicals. Follow Heather on Twitter!

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Decorating for Real Life

Thursday, April 12, 2012 by Melissa Meredith

A home straight from the pages of House Beautiful.  I had just moved into my first apartment and I could not wait to start decorating.  Never mind that the space was only 492 square feet with retro fixtures, century-old appliances, and…wait for it…mustard tile.  It was all mine and I had big plans for my tiny home.

Have you ever stopped to consider how you decorate your home?  Whether you realize it or not, how you decorate your home can foster hospitality.

Think about it.  As women, the home is our primary place of ministry (Titus 2:5, I Tim 5:14).  Learning how to be keepers of our homes involves more than managing the order and cleanliness, although these are very important skills to learn.  It also involves learning how to beautify a home.  However, beautifying your home is much more than just decorating.  It’s learning to create spaces that exude warmth and invite people to take off their shoes and stay awhile.

Just think for a moment how your own home is a place of ministry for your family, friends, and guests.  Playing board games around the table during Family Night.  Counseling a newlywed couple through their first disagreement.  Sharing laughter with your girlfriends over tea and scones.  Throwing a baby shower for an unsaved neighbor.  Inviting the college-aged girls over for a chick flick and popcorn. Yes, how we use our homes for outreach and to care for others can start with decorating for real life.  So what does Scripture say about this subject?  Let’s look at one woman who was praised by her family and the Lord for “looking well to the ways of her household” (Proverbs 31:27).

I think if the Proverbs 31 woman lived in the twenty-first century, she would be dubbed Pinterest Queen Bee! Can you just imagine her DIY (Do It Yourself) pin board?  Joking aside, we can learn from her.  Why?  Because her attentiveness to her home is God’s standard for our conduct.  Let’s look at Proverbs 31:10-31 more closely.

*   “the heart of her husband trusts in her” (verse 11): I dare say it is no coincidence that above all the things covered in this passage, this is the first thing that we learn about her.  What a compliment!  Her husband trusts in her to manage the home well.  No doubt this included how she spent their money and used her time and creativity to make their house a home.

*   “she works with willing hands” (verse 13): The Proverbs 31 woman works with willing hands because she has a willing heart.  She has embraced her role as attentive homemaker and valuable helper.  A word to my fellow single gals: God has so beautifully gifted our feminine hearts, minds, and hands to create a home.  Regardless of our martial statuses, we all need to learn how to make our homes a priority in our lives.

*   “she considers a field and buys it” (verse 16): Picture the following scenario with me.  There’s a sale at the local flea market.  The Proverbs 31 woman spots the most gorgeous midnight blue throw.  It is to die for. 100% camel hair.  50% off.  She sips her chai goat’s milk and considers the purchase.  It’s on sale…But I already have two.  But it’s reversible….But you don’t need it.  But it’s so soft!…But it’s not in the budget.  Sigh. And with the last sip of her chai she turns and walks away. Proverbs 4:1 says, “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”  It is wise to consider your budget, your needs, and your priorities.

*   “she opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (verse 20): The Proverbs 31 woman lives her life with open hands.  She doesn’t keep her possessions or blessings to herself.  Rather, she opens her heart and home to others to provide refuge, refreshment, and renewal.

*   “she makes bed coverings for herself” (verse 22): Oh, but Melissa, you don’t understand.  I don’t sew.  And Pinterest – not a fan!  In fact, I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I realize that not every woman considers herself ‘crafty.’ However, learning the art of DIY projects—however small—is a creative way to stay within your budget and have fun in the process. (more on DIY projects later).

*   She understands that “charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (verse 30): The Proverbs 31 woman understands that ultimately earthly possessions will fade away.  She is a woman who is not dependant upon her possessions to gain status or favor from her friends; rather, she finds her satisfaction in the Lord alone.  May we remember that how we decorate can foster hospitality; however, a beautiful house without a hospitable heart and hands is just a beautiful house.

So, practically speaking, how do you decorate a home that fosters hospitality?

It’s all about relationships: color, textures, and patterns.  Does your home need a splash of color?  Is your kitchen table a dumping ground for everything from junk mail to homework?  Do you think you have to sacrifice comfort for sophistication?  Do thoughts of color palettes, fabric patterns, and floor plans cause your hair to frizz?  Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you in your journey to creatively adorn a hospitable home.

Decorating Tips and Tricks

1. Reflect your Style: Everyone has a decorating style that’s all their own.  Have fun decorating your house!  While magazines and decorating website have great ideas to imitate, ultimately you will want to decorate with the things you love.  Below I have defined four major decorating styles. You might find out that you are a mixture of two.  For instance, my decorating style is Classic/Modern.  Knowing your style will help you when you are ready to start decorating.

• Casual: Think traditional. Early-American furniture design. Country cottage. Shabby chic. Weathered look. Warm wood tones. Natural and muted color palette. Solid patterns.
• Classic: Think a blend of traditional and sophisticated. Old-world element. Feminine detail. Dark woods. Neutral and soft color palette. Glass accents. Fine fabrics.
• Vintage: Think layered look of flea-market finds. Handmade items, and antique treasures. Timeworn. Dusty and gem-toned color palette. Diverse fabric patterns. Decorative accents and artwork galore.
• Modern: Think clean and contemporary. Colorblocking. Light and dark woods. Simple furniture. Bold accents. Geometric and abstract patterns.

2. Begin with a fresh start. Decorate one room at a time.  Start by defining the needs of your room first.  Clear out any clutter that does not fit these needs (Breathe, my fellow hoarders!).

3. Invest in substantial pieces. Spend money on the items that you will have for a lifetime, such as couches, statement chairs, and dining room tables.

4. Anchor in Neutrals, Accent in Patterns. Most likely, your style will evolve over time.  Therefore, it is better to buy big furniture pieces in neutral tones and accent smaller, decorative pieces (pillows, lamps, rugs) in patterns and colors.

5.  Color is your friend! One of the hardest things to do when decorating is to choose a color scheme.  However, bringing color to a room is an instant brightener and mood lifter. Rather than picking one single shade, bring in shades of color.  If you are longing for color in your home but overwhelmed by the rainbow of options, consider visiting www.design-seeds.com You can search their color palette by color value or theme and find hundreds of {really cute!} 5-tone color schemes.

6. Create conversation areas. Whoever said furniture has to stay on the walls?  Pull furniture away from the walls to create conversation areas for you and your guests to enjoy.

7. Make your own art.  Sites like Pinterest are a great way to inspire your own artwork (or involve your children or girlfriends).  If you need a little inspiration, I invite you to follow my DIY board at pinterest.com/pinklovelies.  The possibilities are endless and your wallet will thank you.

8. Group collections. Grouping gives collections cohesiveness and reduces the cluttered look.  Also, they make great conversation starters for guests.  Whether a gallery of family photos or your grandfather’s collection of cuckoo clocks, displaying things you are passionate about brings life and love into any home.

I encourage you to prayerfully consider how to use your home for outreach and care to others.  The way we decorate our homes can spark hospitality.  May we as Christian women be modern day Proverbs 31 women who create homes with willing hearts and hands.  May our homes provide hope and share the love of Christ for all who walk through our doors!  So go on, get your décor on! 

Melissa Meredith is pursuing a Master of Divinity in women’s studies at Southwestern Seminary. She loves decorating, dark chocolate gelato, and is passionate about teaching women God’s sacred design for set-apart femininity.Connect with Melissa on Facebook!

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