Wives--Keepers at Home?

Just because something is "in" right now, it doesn't make it the best, or even right. 

Obvious, no?

I mean, no Christian would argue that just because abortion is popular, it is morally right (I hope not)!

How about these? Just because a certain movie is a blockbuster, it doesn't mean we have to rush to see it. Just because bikinis are fashionable, it doesn't mean we have to wear them. Just because feminism is here for good, it doesn't mean we have to subscribe to it.

Wait, what? . . . I thought feminism was helpful to get women out of horrible situations and unfair pay-cuts. I thought feminism brought justice and freedom for women! And what about the abuses of men who dominate over women, who brush their own sins under the rug and hate correction?

There may be good things that have come from feminism, but what about the things we lose or the Bible passages we ignore? What about the beauty of a home that runs so well, with wives juggling children, cooking, and cleaning--keeping the home, as per Titus 2--while the husband brings home the paycheck? Not to minimize a father's role in raising children, or even to say that a woman can't earn any income. That would not go along with Proverbs 31 or other passages.

I have heard a lot of arguments from fear, from avoiding abuse.. . . and while we must be watchful for this, we must not ignore or explain away the Bible passages that were usually so clear to people in previous decades.

If we argued that way, we would ban homeschooling for fear of those who misuse it. We would argue against churches because of those who have made a mess of them. We would argue against cars because they have killed so many. We would throw away computers because they are tools of the devil. . . . You get the picture.

There are two sides to every story--many applications, many misuses, many good uses.

And I'm here to tell you about the good things about men leading the home.

1. God says it is what we should do. This really should settle the debate.
Yes, I know some Bible teachers disagree on this point--but did they arrive at their conclusion based solely on Scripture, or was it something outside that influenced them in that direction?

2. Women are often good at nurturing, sympathizing, "mothering," while men are often good at working physically and logically. It is not that these two sides can't overlap, but there seems to be a natural tendency in the two genders.

3. Women tend to feel protected and cherished when the man provides for her/the family.

I'm sure there are more I could list, but let me go to the Scriptures: 

"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." - Titus 2:1-5 (NKJV)

What does "homemakers" mean, and why is it not applied to men? It's not that men don't help make a home--husbands and fathers are very important. The KJV says of women here to be: "keepers at home," ESV says "working at home." And the Greek? Strong's concordance says: "ouros (a guard; be “ware”); a stayer at home, that is, domestically inclined (a “good housekeeper”): - keeper at home." 

Staying at home (a general principal, not literally chained there) doesn't have to be boring or lackluster. There are so many great things about it, such as using your creativity in decorating and cooking. It does include a lot of hard work, but a loved mother and wife will be repaid many times over for this! Ultimately, as a faithful Christian, she is helping to raise children in the admonition of the Lord, helping a Christian husband's godly vision and work, and being a light in an increasingly dark world. Chin up, ladies; let us look to the Lord for strength and joy!

Here's a good message on this subject, though I'm not sure yet if I agree with the last part entirely.

Another good one!