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She's a housewife...

by David and Tim Bayly on October 27, 2007 - 6:47pm

(Note from Tim: This post was just contributed anonymously by one of our wisest commenters.) Just now I came very close to having words with a co-worker and I feel as if I must "tell" someone or I'll burst.

This young woman lives with her boyfriend, is pursuing a master's degree and plans to go on to finish with a professional/clinical program while he does something similar.  Then, when they are done with school they will get married and, perhaps, have children when they will both already be in their 30's.   She then explained about how a classmate of hers, who got several awards when they were in school is (said with a sneer), "Doing nothing, she doesn't even have her Associate's Degree".  I said, "Nothing?"  to which my co-worker responded, "She's a (another sneer) housewife."  I asked if this former classmate had any children and yes, she does have one.

I simply replied that, then, she wasn't doing "nothing", was she?  At which point I had to leave the room.

Oh, and my co-worker also volunteers for that champion of women everywhere, Planned Parenthood.  Not surprising, is it?

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Comments

Submitted by Joel on October 28, 2007 - 9:38am
Why do I find myself unsurprised by that last part?

Submitted by Barbara L. on October 28, 2007 - 1:43pm
At a certain point, you have to see these sorts as brainwashed puppets who are just raising their hands when the string is pulled. (Of course, see them as such with an attitude of Christian love and compassion!) I think the stay-at-home wife without/ children is an especially fine counter to today's obligatory female wage slavery. What would she have said to this woman, I wonder? http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/Reader_Favorites_26/...

Submitted by Ross on October 28, 2007 - 2:08pm
So how *do* we reach professional, career women with the Gospel, especially ones who do *not* have children? Because our current "family-friendly" approaches to evangelism might well be ignoring more than single or married men.

Submitted by David Gray on October 28, 2007 - 2:30pm
>So how *do* we reach professional, career women with the Gospel, especially ones who do *not* have children? Tell them the truth and let the Holy Spirit do His work...

Submitted by Mark Priestap on October 28, 2007 - 9:42pm
One thing we can be thankful for is that Western people are losing their ability to think they are pious. Enhancing the sin problem creates fertile ground for the gospel (Gal 3:22). Praise God for his long suffering mercy toward us.

Submitted by Tricia Villines on October 29, 2007 - 4:13am
People like that women used to make me angry, and they still do, but far less so today. Now my heart just aches for them. How I wish she could understand the joy and honor that can be found in being housewife. And they do "nothing"? Oh, no, no. No one can tell me that my dear mother or Cheryl (or your Mary Lee, from your description of her) do not do anything. They do more than two or three people put together.

Submitted by Joel on October 29, 2007 - 7:24am
Ross makes an excellent point. Churches go out of their way to be family-friendly (as they should), but how do they extend themselves to the unfamilied? I know single people, especially over 30, who avoid church because all the couples and children surrounding them remind them of what they don't have. Not everybody is called to marrriage and family, but it's got to be hard to remember that when you're perpetually the fifth wheel. What can you bring to the church potlick when you only cook for one?

Submitted by Kamilla on October 29, 2007 - 8:18am
Who cooks for one?! That's the problem for singles. We can pop a frozen meal in the microwave (and believe me, they all taste the same after a while), we can eat out (but that's expensive and not the healthiest thing for you, either) or we can cook and learn to love leftovers. As for potlucks, for us single women its a chance to show off our skills - who knows whether or not there will be someone there who might appreciate it, hmmm? Not to brag too much on myself but I usually have to give at least one person the recipe and I rarely have much to take home. Of course, the same goes for the single men, might be one of us gals there that appreciates a man who knows his way around the kitchen, especially if he's willing to help with the dishes afterward! Ross, are you saying it might be easier to evangelize single men than single women? I'm of two minds about evangelism and family-focused churches. Soometimes I think churches worship families rather than God. At other times, I want to tell adult singles to get over themselves, it's not about them. Either way, I don't know what the answer is. Regarding this young woman, it doesn't sound as if she's open to a direct presentation of the Gospel. Perhaps speaking truth when the opportunity arises will get her to stop and think about the consequences of her life choices? One of these natural consequences is the decreasing likelihood she will be able to have her own children the longer she puts it off. Kamilla

Submitted by Kamilla on October 29, 2007 - 8:38am
Barbara, I loved this line, "I was spending every waking hour preparing, not just for my wedding, but for my husband." That's something I've been thinking a lot about since last spring. As the leaves turn and the weather cools, I am getting positively "homey" and I'm not running around on my days off, I'm cooking and freezing. I've been thinking a lot about how long I've been directing my own life and how I may have missed my chance to marry by not preparing for my husband, preparing to be his wife. But yesterday, during our church service, I became convicted about that and convinced that God is fully capable of restoring the years the locusts have eaten. Thank you for that link! Kamilla

Submitted by Robert Perry on October 29, 2007 - 11:39am
Wait a second; why should singles be any less adept at domestic skills than married folk? Apart from ordinary age differences, it is a fact that singles get to keep up their domicile themselves, instead of splitting that task with another, no? I know for a fact that during my single years, I brought back empty dishes from more than one church potluck. When you bake with real eggs, real butter, real sugar, lard, and plenty of real chocolate, that tends to happen. (and yes, I put on a few pounds doing so, too) Never really felt like the fifth wheel back in those days, either. Maybe it's a matter of attitude?

Submitted by Ross on October 29, 2007 - 12:33pm
How to evangelise to women in that situation? It's easier than you think. In the city I live in, one interchurch group runs a programme called Business Alpha. It is a conventional Alpha course but run for the business community, men and women alike, the sort of thing Christians invite their colleagues to. The course is run during the day and takes the Gospel *to the people* rather than expecting them to come to us. To Kamilla - it's probably easier to reach single women. Promise Keepers or a men's ministry like it is probably the only way to reach single men (or married men for that matter).

Submitted by Sebastian T. on October 30, 2007 - 3:18am
Reminds me of another group: the "National Organization [of some] Women"... in the words of TobyMac "Don't Get Me Started, Don't Even Get Me Started..."

Submitted by Stacy D McDonald on October 30, 2007 - 5:46am
The "just a housewife" thing has bugged me for years. That was one (of several) of the incentives Jennie Chancey and I had for writing our new book, Passionate Housewives Desperate for God. One thing to remember is that there may in fact be women who stay home and don't work. There are lazy homemakers, just like there are lazy employees. However, to assume that one who doesn't work outside the home is "doing nothing" based upon ones own unbiblical assumption of what a "keeper at home" is reveals either ignorance or arrogance. A true keeper at home is vital to the successful running of a household. She is a woman of strength, industry, wisdom, and virtue. There is nothing "small" about her duties or her worth in the home. In our book (www.passionatehousewives.com), we hope to give women a vision for the beauty and value of their biblical roles. We want to reveal to them (and everyone) what true housewifery is, as well as what it is not!

Submitted by pentamom on October 30, 2007 - 7:33am
This woman must really enjoy wasting money. After all, she's paying waitresses, cooks, and dishwashers in restaurants, drycleaners, cleaning services, and lawncare people to "do nothing." And should the day come that she has children, then daycare workers get added into the mix. Either that, or she's doing some or all of those jobs herself in her "free" and most certainly does not consider them "nothing." I hardly dare suggest that she's going to work filthy, living in squalor, and subsisting on Cheerios, because that seems the most unlikely scenario of all. Barring that, she's either paying people to do "nothing" or doing "nothing" herself while considering it a fairly onerous task. Most likely, she'd also defend to the hilt the honorableness of the work that waitresses and housecleaners do, and decry any suggestion that their work is not "equal to" more traditionally male jobs, let alone being "nothing." Yet if a woman devotes her life's work to doing all of those tasks for the good of a family rather than a paycheck, she's doing "nothing." Strange how that works.

Submitted by Joel on October 30, 2007 - 7:54am
"To Kamilla - it's probably easier to reach single women. Promise Keepers or a men's ministry like it is probably the only way to reach single men (or married men for that matter)." Maybe so, but there's less stigma attached to being a single man (at least barring speculation about one's decorating abilities). The single Christian women I know have often mentioned that it's hard to go to family or church gatherings because they feel as though everyone is looking at them and wondering what's wrong with them that they can't find a husband. I don't think that happens to men the same way. (I wouldn't know; I've never been a bachelor. So I may be off in my perceptions.)

Submitted by Stacy D McDonald on October 30, 2007 - 8:06am
"Most likely, she'd also defend to the hilt the honorableness of the work that waitresses and housecleaners do..." Yes, it would seem that one's duties are noble only when one is serving strangers and not one's own family. Or when work is performed ANYWHERE, but under one's own roof.

Submitted by Rachel Pierson on October 30, 2007 - 9:47am
Ladies, Put your claws away. Realize this, she doesn't understand, and spitting and hissing won't help her. Instead, put this on: "12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." "15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col.3) Understand that when people are groping around in the dark, and you shine your light in their eyes, they're going to wince, and they might lash out. They have an excuse. A gentle answer turns away wrath. We don't have to be angry that they don't get it. Show them what a lovely person you are. Get all worked up when you find out that they are on their way to hell and leading others in their train, not when they are on their way to work. If you are a happy worker at home, then let the peace of God rule in your heart. Smile, and invite her over. (Didn't you teach your kids; If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands --not punch your neighbor!) Trust me, I know!

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on October 30, 2007 - 10:23am
Ross: How to evangelise to women in that situation? It's easier than you think.>>>> I agree, Ross. The focus on reaching any individual for Christ is Christ Himeself. You give people Bibles and ask them to read it. You be creative in your efforts, but you do not water down the message of the Gospel itself. YOu get them studying the great doctrines of Christianity and digging into the Bible. You try to answer their questions, but you keep pointing them the Christ Himself. Whether or not a woman stays home and makes the house a home, a safe place for husband and children, a refuge from the storms of life is really secondary - as important as that is. Home and family life is a matter of discipleship for believers after all. If a person submits first to Christ as Lord, then the rest is fairly easy. It takes time, though. Let me give an example that is close to home. My nephew and his wife have recently come to Christ -about 4 years ago. Things were not going well for them in their marriage and lives. My nephew had grown up in the Lutheran church, but had never really believed on Christ himself. His wife had also had some exposure to the Gospel. Anyway, one day my nephew was driving around in his truck and the thought "I need Jesus in my life" popped into his head. To make a long story short, they are now active in a PCA church near here. Their whole family life has been transformed, too. His wife stays home with their 4 children and is learning to be a joyous mother of children. They have given up the idea of equality that they had learned in university. His wife does not work in her profession. My nephew works in his and is also studying seminary courses - Covenant I think. Anyway, it is the Gospel that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes - even a feminist who volunteers at PP. It is the Gospel that must be preached. The rest is just details and will follow in Christ's train if someone wants to really be His disciple.

Submitted by Rachel Pierson on October 30, 2007 - 10:35am
How humiliating! Donna said what I wanted to say. Look closely at the difference, and learn from her.

Submitted by pentamom on October 30, 2007 - 10:36am
Rachel -- I certainly wasn't hissing and spitting at her. In fact, my thought was more that I found it sad and surprising that a presumably intelligent woman wouldn't make this obvious connection between her own comfort and cleanliness, and the fact that achieving it doesn't require "nothing." Be assured, I do not feel anger over women like this, but bewilderment and sadness over how they twist such obvious realities (work is good, caring for oneself and others is necessary and good, someone must be doing it and you probably value those who do, etc.) into something shameful. It is those who do this who are suffering loss, but it seems so unnecessary because the error seems so simple and so easily avoided for an intelligent person. Yet I know it is rooted in spiritual blindness.

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on October 30, 2007 - 11:08am
pentamom: It is those who do this who are suffering loss, but it seems so unnecessary because the error seems so simple and so easily avoided for an intelligent person. Yet I know it is rooted in spiritual blindness.>>>>>> I understand what you are saying. It does seem so simple, but women are being taught the opposite. It is sad. I'm glad for women like Mrs. MacDonald who write books to help intelligent women think these things through. It is spiritual blindness, but we call people back to what they were created for, created to be. As we return to the creation design and our recreation in Christ, we find joy. We pray that the light of Christ will shine in hearts, that men and women will rise from the dead and hear the voice of the Bridegroom calling to them. I don't think that a person has to be married in order to find joy in God's design, either. Things tend to fall into place when we let Christ lead us back home. After all, even Heaven is a home and our Father is waiting for us there. Rachel, thank you for your kind words. I am burdened for those who have been sidetracked into religious feminism, too.

Submitted by Ross on October 30, 2007 - 3:30pm
Hi Joel - yep, you get funny looks as a single man - because there are many fewer of you than there are of the single women, the looks that say "why can't you find someone?" are even more obvious. I have even been asked if I'm gay!

Submitted by Kirsten on October 30, 2007 - 8:42pm
When our oldest daughter got into her teen years she was sometimes asked by relatives or acquaintances what career or college major she wanted to pursue. We discussed with her how to respond to these questions and encouraged her to simply tell people straight out, "I want to be a wife and mother, like my mother." She did it beautifully and, boy, were people shocked! I was proud of her then, and I'm proud of her now. At nineteen, she's been a wife two years now and is the proud mother of a six-month-old baby girl (our first grandchild). What a great joy it has been to see God establish a new covenant family and fulfill the desires of our daughter!

Submitted by Bill Kudzia on October 31, 2007 - 2:52pm
Kristen, It's great that your daughter would want to be a Wife and Mother. The question is, does SHE want to or do YOU want her to. I could hardly imagine TELLING my daughters what they will be and not giving them the choice. Sure, I will teach them to strive for that, but what are you really going to do if she changes HER mind? I'd be curious what your relationship would be like with her if she decided five years down the road she wanted to do something else.

Submitted by Virginia on November 1, 2007 - 12:59am
I did not have the ambition to go onto college until I was in my mid-twenties. I married at 27 and had one daughter and one miscarriage. No more pregnancies and it was obvious that my husband did not want more children it became very important to me that she was NOT going to be raise by the government but by her family (both her father and me since children of both sexes learn much from parents of both sexes). Unfortunately, I was alone in that idea. Long story short I had the honor, pleasure, frustration and joy in raising her as a stay at home mom. She is incredibly incredible [sic] in all her ambitions from sharing God's love, sharing His good news, volunteering, time management, cooking and cleaning, working part-time to pay for tuition, food and housing doing all this while maintaining a grade average that rewarded her parents with a letter each quarter, through to graduation, from the dean. She is now in Germany pioneering with a dozen others a method to reach more college students for Christ. That is more success than any 6 figure income. (In proofreading this note I believe that last statement is equally true of both me and my daughter.) I am sad to think what that co-worker's self image will be for the 6 wks after her pregnancy before the child is passed into the hands of many others to raise. Sadder still will be when she may not be able to have children because of the birth control methods she is probably using at this time. Her live-in will most likely move on to someone with less education but a more fertile future. Rather than being angry with this woman's statement "viewed" by one who has scales over her eyes blinding her from the truth I find those are the people who could use my prayer most. She may have no other human in her life praying for her.

Submitted by Kevin Donald H. on November 12, 2007 - 5:20am
Is it just me, or does the term "housewife" bother anyone else? My wife is NOT married to the house. "Homemaker" is a much more accurate word, far more descriptive of the calling than the word "housewife" could ever be.

Submitted by sarah on November 12, 2007 - 7:09am
the only thing that i find sad about this situation is the fact that clearly this woman doesn't know the goodness of jesus. i really dont see how you could even possibly start to imagine that she would have the right view of marriage and family without knowing God. would you rather that she values motherhood but is still going to hell? maybe the first thing would not to be mad at her but to love her like jesus and share the gospel with her.

Submitted by Rachel Pierson on November 12, 2007 - 9:19am
Kevin, it's just you... but you're not alone. Nobody likes to feel degraded. It depends on how much you value your wife and what she does over or against what others think of her and what she does. These terms and distinctions, and the offenses caused by them are rooted in our own pride. Does it matter that I am called a housewife or a homemaker (does either adequately cover all the details)? A garbage collector or a sanitation engineer? A cashier or a sales associate? A shop rat or an industrial rodent? Matthew identified himself in his account of the gospel as Matthew the tax collector. He wasn't concerned that that label was completely humiliating and definitely positioned him in a bad light. How can we make ourselves be content in Christ? How can we do what we do to the glory of God, and care not for the opinions of men? How can we die to ourselves?

Submitted by Alex on November 13, 2007 - 6:20pm
I don't know if anyone will read this since it is an old post, but something needs to be said about this post. I gave the link for this blog to my fiance, and she cried over this entry. I understand the heart for the family and for children that people who comment on this blog have. Trust me, we are of the same heart. I'm also not surprised by your comments, but honestly, where is your heart for the lost? Perhaps, instead of being angry about the actions and words of a non-believer, and being ready to "burst," why not ask God for a little compassion for a non-believer? Come on now! What do you expect your non-believing co-worker to believe about anything? Do you expect her views to be completely in line with the Word of God? You would be a fool to think such a thing. Do I need to remind you that our beliefs are foolishness to those who aren't sons of God? Instead "anonymous" your response is one of arrogance and hypocrisy, much like a that of a Pharisee. How dare you stick your nose up in the air to somebody who doesn't have the Word of God as a lamp to her feet and a light to her path. As my fiance said with tears earlier today, if Jesus were in your position, His heart would have been filled with compassion. Can you honestly tell me that your response was anywhere close to that of Jesus?

Submitted by David Bayly on November 13, 2007 - 6:41pm
Dear Alex, It's usually presumptuous--and quite unfair as a tactic in discussion--to suggest that you know how Jesus would have responded differently in a situation. If there is a Bible verse that objectively demonstrates your negative point you are entirely welcome to refer to it. But the simple claim that Jesus would have responded with more compassion is usually little more than the trumping of the Word by emotion. Further, you suggest "our beliefs are foolishness to those who aren't sons of God." In fact, Alex, the Bible says that the Gospel is foolishness to those who don't believe. Are you saying, therefore, that we shouldn't preach the Gospel to the lost because it is foolishness to them? Or are you suggesting that along with the Gospel the value of motherhood is another thing that unbelievers just can't understand. I haven't read all the comments here to see if there is one in particular which may have set you off. I do know that I think you quite unfairly object to the post itself. In Christ, David Bayly

Submitted by Alex on November 13, 2007 - 7:39pm
David,
I was in the middle of listening to a sermon by your brother before I saw your comment. There isn't a man I look up to more, and I just want to get that out there so you know that I'm not a random person coming to this site to rant about something with an unbiblical point of view. Let me say that the anonymous person's reaction is what "set me off." I'm not reacting to the comments themselves. I'm reacting to the heart that the anonymous person displayed in his or her reaction to the unbelieving co-worker. You're right about using what Jesus would have done as an unfair emotional appeal. I often get annoyed when people use that in an argument. People have come argued with me and said silly things like "if Jesus were around today, He wouldn't care about whether or not women taught in churches and thus He would be all for it." If I can be a little bit hypocritical, I usually show little compassion to such people. I know that you know of every section from the Gospels that I could throw at you, where Jesus had compassion that I could use to argue my point, and that since you are far more educated in this area than I, you would be able to come up with several counterpoints, so I won't bother with that because that would lead us down an endless road, and I'm willing to talk about this for a very long time, but honestly David, instead of responding to my comment and focusing on the shortcomings of it, why don't you think about how you would have responded in this situation, and what the right way to respond would have been considering your in depth knowledge on the Word of God, and the heart of God. Straight up, I'm saying that this person's response was wrong. If you can't see that, I don't know what to say to you. And no, I'm not saying that we shouldn't preach the Gospel to the lost because it is foolishness to them. I'm saying the exact opposite, and I also know that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. I don't know about you, but I have found that I am more likely to preach the Gospel to those who I have a heart for, and that it is very hard for anyone to preach to those who make them angry. I wish I could just preach to anybody regardless of whether I like them or not, but I'm just not holy enough. Forgive me for the areas in which I am lacking. I'm also not saying that "the value of motherhood is another thing that unbelievers just can't understand." However, it is rare to find unbelievers who share such values as we. Why should we be ready to explode when one of our coworkers says something like that? Is it really so surprising? Now this is just my opinion, but the fact that this anonymous person would be so angry about such a comment made by somebody who is walking in darkness is probably evidence that he hasn't prayed very much for his coworker to come to Christ... if at all. When I pray for somebody to enter into a relationship with God, He usually responds in many ways, one of which that he softens my heart towards that person, and I'm usually not so easily offended by a comment like the one demonstrated above. Maybe that's just me, but if this anonymous person comes on this blog and tell me that he has prayed for this coworker I will concede that I'm wrong about this point... but I'm probably not wrong in this case. Tell me that the anonymous poster’s actions and the attitude of his heart was right David. That’s all I’m asking. That’s why I wrote my comment, and I may not have made the best argument in your eyes, but the point I’m trying to make should be there. We were once lost. We were born dead. Unlike you, I didn’t have the benefit of having wise and God-fearing parents, so I’m eternally thankful that there were still messengers of God who didn’t overreact to every unbiblical comment that I said, and action that I did before I became a believer, because my conversion would have taken a much more painful and bitter route.

Submitted by Alex on November 13, 2007 - 7:52pm
One more thing... a friend who attends the Pastor's College is trying to get me to resign from my current line of work, attend the Pastor's College, and work with minorities in the new campus ministry in Bloomington. He told me that churches tend to have two shortcomings, which I'm sure you're familiar with. He told me that they tend to have either "tasteless salt," or "hidden light." He then told me that CGS leans more towards the hidden light side of the spectrum, and at the heart level, my reaction to this post is a response to that shortcoming. Not having a heart for the lost is a big deal to me, and I want to respond to this post, because it seems to bring the weaknesses of CGS to the light, and they need to be exposed. I'm stubborn, and I hope that these comments don't come back to bight me in the rear when it comes to whether or not I'm accepted to the Pastor's College.

Submitted by Alex on November 13, 2007 - 7:54pm
correction "bite me in the rear..." wow, I need to go to bed.

Submitted by Kamilla on November 13, 2007 - 10:19pm
Alex, I'm not sure about your judgment here. Perhaps it was heartbreak rather than anger that caused this young woman's coworker such frustration. Just how to we preach the Gospel, anyway? St. Francis of Assisi is quoeted as saying, "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words". Sometimes a quiet word in defense of the one being ridiculed is more effective than drawing a "4 spiritual laws" tract out of your back pocket. Sometimes it's a quiet word of encouragement to a single mother that her reponsibility is to her children and that it might be better that she remain at home with her parents than move in with a boyfriend who can't keep sober. Sometimes we preach the gospel by steering another co-worker to a better church than the edgy PCUSA church they were considering. I dare say most of us should use more words than we do, but I'd rather err on the side of St. Francis than Tony Campolo who says he has to use words because he's not sure what his life says. Kamilla

Submitted by Alex on November 14, 2007 - 3:53am
Kamilla, I really hope that your judgment here is right and that mine is wrong. Maybe there's something I'm not seeing... I'll admit that. But when I see that post, it is hard for me to see the heartbreak you're talking about. I agree with everything you said following the Assisi quote. That quote touches a nerve with me sometimes, because I have friends who don't want to share their faith at all who drop that line on me like it's hot. Regardless, you're right about that. I hope this anonymous person preaches the Gospel the way you suggest, and I hope I'm wrong about this person not praying for his or her coworker enough if at all. As of right now, I'll still say that I don't see it from what this post describes... fully admitting that my judgment could be wrong as you have stated. Whatever the case, this is another person's affair, and I won't get too wrapped up in what is or isn't going on in his or her life, but I'll definitely keep responding to more comments.

Submitted by Michael Foster on November 14, 2007 - 4:55am
This interaction provided a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel. When someone sneers towards something they are tipping their hand regarding their functional saviors. This co-worker obviously takes a great deal of pride in her academic and professional achievements. It is these achievements that in her own eyes makes her "righteous." Those who aren't like her, especially women, are unrighteous in her eyes. Thus, I would encourage anyone in this situation to go after the false gospel of salvation by achievement that this woman believes. I would do this before jumping on the area of motherhood because it is this false gospel that is fueling her pride that scoffs at the lowly failures that are housewives. Once this false gospel is toppled her newfound humility will be the first step to bowing underneath the authority of God's Word in all areas (including sexuality).

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on November 14, 2007 - 10:56am
Alex: I'm reacting to the heart that the anonymous person displayed in his or her reaction to the unbelieving co-worker.>>>>> Alex, I think that you are over-reacting here. I thought that this dear sister showed a lot of restraint in her response to the hostile co-worker. She said few words and left the room so that she would not say more. She is a good example to me. Maybe those few words will be used by the Lord to help this young woman to rethink her position on the value of marriage, being a wife, and motherhood. IMO, it is the young woman who showed self-righteousness and self-agrandizement. Maybe those few words spoken will be the beginning of the bursting of the co-worker's bubble of self-importance. Maybe it is the voice of the Lord calling that young lady home in every sense of that word. Alex, your zeal to win the lost is admirable, but I think that you were over the top in your observations. No offense. God bless, and please take care, Donna L. Carlaw

Submitted by Tim Bayly on November 14, 2007 - 3:57pm
Hey Alex, did you mean blight me in the beer? I appreciate your leadership here, knowing your gifts and commitments. As I read back through the comments, it did appear to me that the comments themselves are much more open to the judgment that this discussion is judgmental than the post itself, alone. As for the identity of "Anonymous," it's a woman neither David nor I have ever met, and I'm guessing she does pray for the souls she works with. Also, it's apparent to me that she, at least, held her tongue precisely to avoid the sort of prissiness or moralism that so often harms the witness of believers. But I'm also guessing that she regularly zealously argues with these souls for the truth of God's Law knowing that law is a schoolmaster to lead them, as it led us, to the grace of our Lord Jesus.

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