rant

A number of readers have misunderstood the intent of my book (which will *one* day, many years from now, hopefully write itself and get published. I am in need of much more experience and research.)

The intention of my book is not to bag out men for their lack of initiative or leadership ... that's another man's responsibility.

(see Mike's blog)

My goal, however, is to work at rectifying the failures of feminism. Women have retaliated against the abuses of certain men and have easily slipped into the shoes of the abuser. Their weapons of choice are so often their words and attitudes. In their ladies Bible studies they gossip and wail about their husbands’ failures as men, husbands, and fathers. To their faces they disrespect the men they swore to love. In front of their children they belittle their mates.

Rarely do we encourage men ... much less respect them.

I believe that Mike is a better leader in our relationship because I show him respect and trust him and communicate the desire for him to lead and praise him for his achievements.

So this book is intended to be for women by a woman. A way for us to look to the plank in our own eye.

(Begin rant) That being said perhaps men ought to do the same. Looking briefly through the books or articles promoting complimentarianism, the majority of the works are authored by men. How tired I am of wincing at the pounding of fists from men debating women’s roles in the church and home demanding silence and submission! While I respect these men, many of them scholars and pastors, I grow weary of those who wag the finger from the pulpit exhorting women to submit, but overlook the command for men to love.

I would LOVE to see more women stand up for biblical complimentary standards. How much more is a woman struggling to understand God's plan for her life apt to heed the exhortation of another woman who has gone before her!

The problems between men and women in our Christian culture have come about for a multitude of reasons. However, women will not submit only when men start loving them. And men will not love only when women begin to respect them. Let us look to our own house. Women look to your words and attitudes. How you speak about your husband is how others will perceive him. Men cherish your wives as Christ loves the church.

Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


Perhaps when we have removed our own planks, our obedience and love for one another will serve as examples to others spurring them on to holier living.


Philippians 2:1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.