one thing that has been heavy on my heart has been the response of the women in our church as we go through this series. i feel there are 3 types of responses.
the apathetic
some women will think that since this is about biblical manhood that it does not apply to me. the reality is that we all (perhaps unless we are nuns or we live in a women's restroom) have contact with men in some form or fashion. husband. boyfriend. brother. father. son. friend. co-worker. etc. so these principals are good for all of us to know. also, just from yesterday's sermon, there are things that matt talked about that apply to me as a woman. while his focus was definitely on men, the truths were just as applicable to women. i pray that you will tune in and see what the lord has in store.
the egalitarian or feminist
i almost guarantee i just made someone mad by just typing that out. i am not going to argue complementarianism vs. egalitarianism on here. i am just going to ask that all of us would be teachable to what the word says as we learn about how God has designed male and female. that we would not go off our feelings or what we think is fair but we would trust in God's word as that is how he has revealed himself. and that as we live out the roles that he has defined, we may glorify him and lead others to do the same.
the naggers and finger pointers
this third group of women is who has been on my heart most heavily. probably because i am most prone to this one. in fact as i was leaving church last night, i cringed as i heard 2 women talking about how they hoped that "so and so heard" this sermon and they hoped they would have the opportunity to show them all the ways they have failed. i prayed for the couples sitting in the church where the woman was elbowing the husband going, "i told you so!" my heart felt heavy for the men who would not only feel convicted by this message but would then be faced with this sinful, arrogant, and blame-filled response from us women. yes, men have and will continue to fail in many of the ways matt talked about. but as women, i am asking you to pray for them and trust the holy spirit to lead and convict the men. it is not our job to point out all their flaws.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. - Luke 6:41-42
i think if we took some time as women to examine our hearts and take the log out of our own eye, we would not be so quick to point fingers. yes, matt did say that most failures in our world are because men have failed to lead, but that does not excuse our sinful response. we have taken over or become bitter or nag or whatever because we too don't trust god and his leadership and control. so i am pleading to the lord that we as women will be on our knees praying for our men out of love, not condemnation. and i pray that the lord will shut the mouths of us arrogant women who are quick to point out the failures of others, forgetting the grace that has been extended to us through Christ in our failures. i pray that the lord will remind us that he will take care of us and love us and protect us always, just as he does the men in our lives when we fail. i pray that we as women and helpmates will help create an environment where men can feel safe as the lord points out their failures. that we will agents of grace and truth, just as our lord is. that rather than condemnation, we, just like our lord, extend kindness which leads to repentance. help us our god!
i am excited for this series and to see how all of our lives are changed as we help one another fill the roles that we are called to!
1 comment:
Loved this post. It makes me wish I were there to hear the sermon series!
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