Ezerwoman's Blog

Building in the Midst of Decay

July 15, 2016 by ezerwoman

What is a Christian to do? It’s as if God asks the impossible of us. He wants us to build with one hand and resist evil with the other. But with more cultural decay comes more evil.

Mindful of raising up a new generation of Christians but also keenly aware of our own inadequacies and failures, parents, pastors, and all who love children become discouraged and even fearful. With fear comes the temptation to doubt the sufficiency of God’s Word and more easily accept the help of passionate unbelievers. “Why do you cling to ancient traditions?” they ask. “Can’t you see? We have something new!”

There is a lesson to be learned from God’s people who, in a time before us, were also discouraged, overwhelmed, and taunted by unbelieving neighbors who offered something new.

The remnant of Israel that had survived exile in Persia returned home to find the walls of Jerusalem broken down and city gates destroyed. To this small number of faithful people was given the arduous task of re-building the temple and walls of Jerusalem. God also wanted His people to grow faithful families. He wanted them to be holy and set apart in their worship and practice. When people in the neighboring land saw that Jerusalem was being restored, they offered their help. After all, these people explained, they worshipped God, too. (In reality, they were a people of blended religions.) Fearing that they would commit themselves to false worship, the Israelite fathers refused the offer of resources and help. They knew that God had entrusted the job of rebuilding the temple and walls only to them. So “the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose” (Ezra 4:4-5).

The culture in which God’s people found themselves made the building project very difficult, but the Word of the Lord consistently commanded the people to persevere. God also reminded His people that they were to be holy and set apart for His good purpose. But the people of Israel, following the example of some of their leaders, mixed themselves with the Canaanites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and others through marriage (9:1-2). The people were guilty of breaking faith with God and allowing impurity of worship, teaching, and practice. There was confession and absolution but, because the potential for continued corruption of worship was so great, illegal marriages were identified and ended (10:18-19). The rebuilding of the temple, restoration of the walls, and growing of faithful families began anew.

However, when the neighbors in the land saw that the Israelites were again doing the work of God in rebuilding Jerusalem, they were angry. “[T]hey all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it” (Neh. 4:8). It was easy to cause confusion and discouragement among the Israelites because fathers, mothers, and grandparents were overwhelmed by the task that lay before them. “There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall” (4:10). The enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work” (4:11). Nehemiah encouraged the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (4:14). When the walls were rebuilt and the gates restored, the law of God was read to the people who were both joyful and repentant (chapters 8 and 9).

Everything was coming back into order and Israel was prepared to live by the truth of God’s Word. What could go wrong? What went wrong is incredibly significant. Eliashib, the priest appointed over the chambers of God, gave Tobiah the Ammonite a place in the temple (13:4-5). Under the guise of helping God’s people, Tobiah was given a room formerly used to store the offering for God. There, within the temple, sat Tobiah and his possessions. Nehemiah was away when this happened, but when he returned, he “was very angry, and [he] threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then [he] gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and [he] brought back there the vessels of the house of God” (13:8-9).

God entrusted the rebuilding of His temple and the city walls to His people. He entrusted the growing of holy families to husbands and wives equipped with His Word. He does the same today.

God wants His people to keep their worship, teaching, and practices pure and different from that of the dark and unbelieving world. Certainly, there are resources in the world that can be practical and helpful to the Christian. But we must take care especially when it comes to instructing Jesus’ little ones. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). It is a frightening thing indeed to compromise one of the Father’s children.

Compromise happens, however, when God’s people are weary and burdened, or prideful and above reproach. Compromise happens when we let down our guard and grow comfortable with the world. At such times it is easier for an opposing foe to gain access by offering some kind of help or resource. It was for this reason that Nehemiah “stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows … each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built” (Neh. 4:13, 18). The men were on guard at night and labored by day (22).

We are weary and overwhelmed by a multitude of life issues. Sometimes we are prideful after doubting God’s Word and trusting something else. As the culture decays and evil abounds, we may believe that God asks the impossible of us. But, Martin Luther reminds us that the task of rebuilding the temple and shoring up walls was given to a weak people, few in number; a people against whom stood powerful princes and nations, which lived round about and daily threatened imminent destruction.

There will be days when failure distracts us from the building project. There will be those like Tobiah who mock our faithfulness to an ancient faith while tempting us with new practices. In the face of evil, let it be said of us: Look! They remember “the Lord who is great and awesome,” and they “fight for [their] brothers…sons…daughters…wives…and homes” (Neh. 4:14).

Excerpted from The Failure of Sex Education in the Church:
Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity (pp 61-63) by Linda Bartlett;
Amazon.com. Please also visit Our Identity Matters.
Image: mudpreacher.org

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice, Life issues, Parenting & Education, Vocation | Tagged children, Christian family, encouragement in dark days, evil, holiness, secular humanism | Leave a Comment »

Parental Pondering of Purity, Mystery & Modesty

June 30, 2016 by ezerwoman

God entrusts children to parents.

Parents are called by God to guard the innocence of childhood. This is a serious challenge in today’s society. From early on, boys and girls are surrounded by the visual images and messages of a highly sexualized culture. The Christian parent may feel overwhelmed by their role. But parents today—as always—are equipped for the job. The Word of God is sufficient. The Bible provides all that is needed to help boys and girls respect themselves and others, understand why male and female are not the same but complementarily different, resist temptation, and protect human life from the moment of conception. When sin and failure occur, the Bible points the way to forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ.

One topic that perhaps most intimidates and even confuses parents is sex and sexuality. Sex education sounds like a good idea, especially if it is taught in a Christian environment; however, the origin of sex education is not biblical. It is founded on a humanistic and secular theory.

A zoologist and follower of Charles Darwin by the name of Alfred Kinsey concluded that children are “sexual from birth” and can enjoy and benefit from early sexual activity. He believed that society should reflect his “science” by altering its moral codes. Thirty years of study by researchers such as Judith A. Reisman, PhD., prove that Kinsey’s research was built on sexual experiments by known pedophiles on children ages five-months to 14 years. The research was both fraudulous and criminal; nevertheless, it accomplished what it intended. By the 1960s, Kinsey and his followers were recognized as the “experts” on matters of “sexuality.” Kinsey associates and students opened the doors of SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.) and partnered with Planned Parenthood to aggressively make their way into schools and churches. Pro-homosexual and pedophilia groups were emboldened. Over the next fifty years, moral codes based largely on the biblical worldview were dangerously compromised. Never before had anyone considered a child to be “sexual” in the way that Kinsey meant, but today children are sexualized not only by the media but in sex education, health or “family living” classrooms. The innocence of children is stripped away in classrooms where boys and girls together learn about their bodies, what their parents do in the bedroom and what it means to live a “sexual” life.

God calls us to holy living.

God does not call His children to be “sexual.” He calls His children—of all ages— to be holy. Therefore, the Bible does not educate in sex, but instructs in purity.

Purity is not prudish. It is prudent. Purity is not Victorian and antiquated. It is God’s plan for children and adults whether married or single.

Purity focuses on our identity as redeemed sons and daughters of God in Christ Jesus. God says, “Be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). We are “vessel[s] for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:21). Daily remembering our Baptism, we see ourselves not as “sexual beings” captive to instinct and desires, but as heirs of the promise and clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Galatians 3:27-29).

Purity is about more than abstinence. Abstinence says, “No, I can’t be sexually intimate right now.” But purity says, “Yes, I can be the male or female God created me to be right now.” Instruction in purity begins with an explanation of biblical manhood and womanhood. It draws attention to the many ways that male and female, of any age and married or single, can work, worship and serve together without a hint of sensuality.

Purity is about God’s design and order for life. It is also about mystery and modesty. God’s Word says, “Do not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time” (Song of Songs 3:5b). This is why purity must be nurtured in a special garden tucked safely behind a protective fence. That fence is the boundary of home. God entrusts the training of children to their parents. Children trust parents. The Church supports parents by equipping them with God’s Word of Law and Gospel, the catechism, and models for instruction.

Purity is nurtured in an environment where modesty is preserved. This is not a classroom where boys and girls together learn about sex or sexuality. It is nearly impossible to train in purity when intimate topics are discussed between boys and girls in a common and casual manner. Why? Because holy people and the behavior God expects from them are not common but, rather, uncommon.

Modesty emphasizes the importance of the sexual organs (which God placed out of view and behind hair, 1 Corinthians 12:23) reserved for the special and honorable use within marriage. Rather than trying to remove embarrassment (a natural protection from God in a sinful world), adults should do everything they can to maintain modesty. A father can best explain to his daughter that there is mystery in more clothing rather than less, and that a girl’s behavior can raise—or lower—a boy’s standard of thinking and behavior. A father can encourage his son to guard a woman’s virtue and lead him away from the “temptress” (Proverbs 7).

Purity grows from the truth of Genesis. The first man and woman were created in a complementary but different way, each with a unique and vital role. Purity understands that a man is a good steward (Genesis 2:15) and defender of life (Genesis 16-17) who takes a stand against evil. The man is to lead, not as lord and master, but as one who goes first to make sure the path is safe. Purity understands that a woman, as a “helper” (Genesis 2:18) and a “rib” or “pillar” (Psalm 144:12b), is strong and supportive, yet vulnerable to abuse. Purity understands that a woman, as the bearer of life, has the most at stake; therefore, it places her within protective, yet pleasant boundaries.

These boundaries are drawn by God to respect the physical and psychological differences between male and female. Woe to those who attempt to erase these boundaries by pretending that boys and girls are “the same”. Woe to the adults who remove the protective covering of modesty and desensitize children. Woe to the adults who dangle the carrot of joyful marital union in front of children but then tell them to “wait” for marriage after graduating college and securing a job.

God Gives a Model to Parents.

God has given all parents and grandparents a model for the instruction of purity in Titus 2:3-8. Older men are to mentor younger men by being examples of sobriety, dignity, self-control, sound faith, agape love, and steadfastness. In addition, older men are to model the sacrificial love of Jesus (Ephesians 5:25). This love is shown today by men who defend the honor of women, rescue children from abortion, and guard the door of homes. For a young man, it means treating all girls as he wants his sister, mother, grandmother, and someday-wife to be treated.

Older women are to mentor younger women by being examples of goodness, self-control, purity, homemaking, kindness, and respectfulness for God’s orderly design in marriage. In addition, older women can contrast the “temptress” with the holy woman who calls attention not to self but God (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4).

If there is no father present or involved, mothers can point both sons and daughters to their Heavenly Father who is very present and involved in the lives of His children. Timothy was raised to purity of faith and behavior by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5).

Parents can be confident in raising sons and daughters to a life of purity. They need not be intimidated by the world—or by their own past. Sins that have been confessed to God are forgiven and forgotten. Parents can show children the way to the Cross every time a wrong choice is made. Parents, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can help sons and daughters resist the temptations of a self-focused and sensual world.

It is an awesome thing to know that the God who calls us to holiness also saves us when we are not. Even when all seems lost to sinful people, we can reclaim our purity in Jesus.

Jesus Christ came to live among us. He experienced human emotions and feelings. He knows our weakness. But for our own sakes, He calls us to lives of purity. Purity does not seek its own way. It models biblical manhood and womanhood. It raises standards for behavior and encourages self-control. Purity guards body, mind and soul. It lays a foundation for friendship, marriage and family.

Purity anticipates a future of hope.

Written by Linda Bartlett for Lutherans For Life.
Available in brochure format (#LFL903T)
from CPH or Lutherans For Life

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Faith & Practice, Identity, Parenting & Education, Sexy or holy? | Tagged agape love, boyhood, created order, female, girlhood, Jesus Christ, male, sex, sex education, sexuality, virtue | Leave a Comment »

Hope for Those Who Don’t Want to Parade with Pride

June 3, 2016 by ezerwoman

The Word is true: “… Male and female He created them.” But in hastily skipping ahead to “and they shall become one flesh,” we miss God’s description of what it means to be a man or a woman. This is a costly omission for us all; most certainly for our unmarried sons and daughters. But there is someone else who has been harmed by withholding God’s word on manhood and womanhood. That person is our neighbor who struggles in a fallen world with the reality of same-sex attraction.

My neighbor (I shall call him David) is humbled by what he knows is an unnatural attraction. Although “gay,” he does not want to parade with pride. David was catechized by Christian parents who offer unconditional love. He believes God’s Word that places sex within the boundaries of one man, one woman marriage. But, David wonders, where does a person like me fit? What does being “gay” mean for my future? What about marriage and a family? To me, however, the most heart-piercing of David’s questions is this: What about friendships with other men?

“Sometimes,” David explains, “I look at another man and am attracted to an attribute of his that I wish I had. I don’t know, perhaps I am jealous. But here’s the thing. My self-centeredness and envy of that guy’s admirable qualities tempt me to imagine a sexual bond, but might my feelings actually be those of brotherly love and admiration?”

David is exposing a vulnerability. He is pointing out how vulnerable any of us can be when we focus exclusively on human sexuality but remain awkwardly silent about biblical manhood and womanhood.

David is one of the compelling reasons why I authored The Failure of Sex Education in the Church: Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity. Too many in the church insist that we talk early and long about the wonders of sexual intimacy between a husband and wife in the faithfulness of marriage. This, I’ve been told, will help remedy the problems of premarital sex, teen pregnancy, and divorce. But it has not! Nor has it made a place at the family table for our brothers like David who struggle with unwanted desires.

If David had his prayer answered the way he’d like, his same-sex attraction would be cured and his burden lifted. He does not embrace unnatural inclinations. He knows he cannot act on his feelings and be at peace with God. But how, then, can David live… with himself, in relationship with the Man Jesus Christ, and in relationship with other men? How can we help?

First, we welcome David to the table of the human family where the Body of Christ can remind David that he is so much more than a sexual being. He is created to be a man: steward of all that God has made, bearer of the Word of life, and leader away from death. How do we know this?

Before God created Eve and brought her to Adam as his wife, He “took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). Although the work is made more difficult outside the Garden in a sinful world, man is still called to be the good steward over God’s creation. The “Lord God also commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (2:16-17). Adam’s failure to remember and obey brought sin into the world. In this fallen world, God’s perfect design and rhythm of life are distorted; nevertheless, God’s order of creation stands. Man is still entrusted with the responsibility of bringing order out of chaos by speaking the Word of life and leading away from destruction and death. This is David’s call from God. It is his first vocation.

We can help David focus on the identity bestowed upon him at Baptism. God does not identify him as “gay,” “homosexual,” or even “heterosexual.” We all struggle with sinful desires, but because of our Baptism, they do not define us nor do they have to enslave us. We were “far off” from God, but in Baptism, we are “brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). We are “washed … sanctified … justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God (1 Co. 6:11). We can cry “Abba! Father!” because “you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal. 4:6-7; Ti. 3:5-8).

At Baptism, the sign of the cross is made over us to indicate that we are redeemed by Christ the crucified. We have His mark on us. We are baptized, not in the water of sexuality, but in the water of pure Word and through the work of the Holy Spirit. We are called not to ways of weak flesh, but to holy and noble purpose. We are encouraged not to glorify self, but to glorify Jesus Christ who makes us children of God.

We can remind David that his Baptism is “an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). Even as Baptism cleans the sinner, it gives strength to be different from the world and restrain our own fickle desires. Through daily contrition and repentance, the Old Adam in us is drowned and dies with all wrong thoughts and desires. A new person in Christ rises up to live before God in righteousness and purity (Rm. 6:4).

We can remind David that sons and heirs of God are not promised an easy life. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). We are promised the Holy Spirit who helps (Jn. 14:26) and intercedes for us (Rm. 8:26).

We can grieve with David. The mistaken identity of “sexual being” and exaggerated place of sexuality misleads and often destroys the godly relationships of men with women, men with men, and women with women. What is to become of us if we find a friend of the same sex—someone who is patient, kind, and selfless—but confuse lust with brotherly affection? It is a dystopian world when boys and girls are mentored in all things sexual, but actually grow up fearing masculinity and femininity because they are untrained in biblical manhood and womanhood.

We can rejoice with David. God created us to be relational people but, because He did not make sexuality central to being human, we can relate to one another in non-sexual ways. Yes, my friend David! You can admire the attributes of another man without sensual implications. That’s because mature manhood (and womanhood) is about relating to one another in light of our baptismal identity. As brothers and sisters, God wants us to be what He created us to be: holy people who live our daily lives as male or female not just in marriage, but in familial and social relationships, in school, at work, and in worship. We do not need sexual intimacy to be a man or a woman, but men and women do need to be relational.

We can assure David that the Tenth Commandment has something to say to single men and women. We are not supposed to covet “anything that is your neighbor’s.” This includes our neighbor’s sexuality. Marriage is the sacred place for all things sexual, but being a husband or a wife in this fallen world is a vocation for some and not for others. It is important for the Body of Christ to see each member as fully human as opposed to sexual and, therefore—whether young or old, married or single—“a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21).

We can encourage David to practice self-control which, evidenced by the Apostle Paul (1 Co. 7:7), is a gift. With the gift of self-control comes order and strength for life. Mature manhood and womanhood receive the gift of self-control and are not dependent upon sexual intimacy. Chaste singleness is not an affliction nor is it lessening of personhood; rather it, too, is a vocation and way to serve God and our neighbor in a way different from marriage.

We can point David to the Man Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully human. He was true man. Yet, only in error would we identify Jesus as a “sexual being.”

We can assure David that Jesus has something to say about human identity being far more than sexual. Jesus says there is no marriage in heaven (Mt. 22:30). Therefore being sexual, that is, capable of sexual activity, is not part of what it means to be human after the resurrection. If it is not part of our divinely created human identity in the resurrection where everything will be made perfect, then it is not the central part of our divinely-created identity here and now.

God tells His beloved human creation to abstain from sensuality. But He does not tell us to abstain from being male or female. We don’t do battle with the attributes of manhood or womanhood, but with “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry …” (Gal. 5:16-24). To be lovers, that is, to share sexual intimacy and literally fit together as “one flesh,” is reserved for marriage between one man and one woman. But to be male or female is not bound by marriage. Each is a vocation or calling for daily use in glorifying God.

In Christ, we can fully engage in our vocations of manhood and womanhood in ways that will not bring shame on the Day of the Lord (1 Jn. 2:28). We can think, work, create, serve, communicate, encourage, problem-solve, mentor, build relationships, and practice agape love. This is truth with promise for those who bear the cross of same-sex attraction but don’t want to parade with pride.

The Failure of Sex Education in the Church:
Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity
is available from Amazon.com
(image credit: westminpca)

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Faith & Practice, Identity, Relationships, Vocation | Tagged brotherly affection, female, male, manhood, same-sex attraction, singleness, womanhood | Leave a Comment »

What about the Nobodies?

April 30, 2016 by ezerwoman

Nobody will get hurt. That’s what they said when sex education was brought into schools and churches. “We are sexual from birth, so let’s get comfortable with it!” Five decades later, communities are brimming with “nobodies” who were denied their childhood; who know a lot about sex but very little about manhood and womanhood; who are cohabitating, pregnant but unwed, fearful, depressed, relationally dysfunctional, discontent, insecure, and paranoid about “sexual identity.”

Nobody will get hurt. That’s what they said when abortion was legalized. Today, mothers, fathers, and grandparents grieve lost relationships with 56 million “nobodies.” Our nation is poorer economically because 56 million “nobodies” do not pay taxes, buy products, or invest in communities.

Nobody will get hurt. That’s what they said when girls were told that “equal means being the same.” In the effort to equalize the “playing field”—in sports, the workplace, and the bedroom—girls were taught that the two genders, male and female, are interchangeable. Today, three generations of “nobodies” are at odds with their own bodies and minds.

Nobody will get hurt. That’s what they said when gay and lesbian advocates began to circulate the schools. That’s what they said when same-sex “marriage” was legalized. That’s what they said when restrooms were changed from “men” and “women” to “whatever” so that people who have trouble identifying themselves can use whichever they please. How many “nobodies” will have to suffer the consequences? How many impressionable “nobodies” will believe the unnatural is “normal?”

Do we really think that nobody will get hurt when we tamper with God’s design?

Camille Paglia is a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is a feminist, social critic, and a lesbian. She is also surprising. When it comes to “identity politics” and transgenderism, Paglia says, “This hyper-self-consciousness about ‘Who am I? Where exactly am I on the gender spectrum?’ is mere navel-gazing while, in the Middle East, ISIS is beheading people. It is a kind of madness of self-absorption.”

Paglia says she pities “young people today” because “it’s one thing to feel, ‘I’m not quite comfortable in the gender I was assigned at birth,’ but the pressures are to change, change, change, and to telegraph it to the world. People are pushed into making choices about surgical interventions and taking hormones, which is dangerous, and they will have all kinds of medical problems in the long run.”

Paglia believes “there are authentic transgender people who had a genetic issue from the start” and points out that “medical science is still developing to help these people.” But transgenderism has “become a fashion statement, or a mask [for other problems]. People are being induced to think that all their unhappiness—in family life, in school, in relation to society—is to do with this gender issue. Well, maybe it isn’t. Maybe there are other issues a person needs to deal with.”

In a way, Paglia is speaking about the “nobodies that won’t get hurt” or, in this case, today’s college students. She says, “They have no sense of the great patterns of world history, the rise and fall of civilizations like Babylon and Rome that became very sexually tolerant, and then fell.”

She continues, “If you’ve had no exposure to that, you can honestly believe that ‘There is progress all around us and we are moving to an ideal state of culture, where we all hold hands and everyone is accepted for what they are … and the environment will be pure … .‘” This is their “magical utopian view,” explains Paglia, that “we are marching toward perfection.” But what is the “sign of this progress?” They believe it is “toleration,” observes Paglia, “for homosexuality, or for changing gender, or whatever.”

But to Paglia, “[I]t’s a sign of the opposite, it’s symptomatic of a civilization just before it falls.”

Babylon and Rome did fall. They fell because men and women shaped themselves after the imaginations of their own heart. They exchanged the natural for the unnatural and were foolish enough to believe that nobody would get hurt.

Our civilization may be rushing toward the abyss, but the Christian can blaze trail away from destruction. We do this when we believe that there is no such thing as a “nobody” to God. Every child—born or yet to be born—is already redeemed and called by name (Is. 43:1). Every child—born or yet to be born—will be affected by what we do or do not tolerate.

We may wrestle with our identity and, therefore, the way we choose to live. But, the Lord identifies us in His Prayer when He invites us to pray: “Our Father who art in heaven.” We are not “debtors to the flesh.” We are not slaves to our own fear. What we are, in Christ, is God’s adopted heirs! Tolerating no other identity, we and our children’s children can navigate out of hopelessness and away from the abyss.

Quotes of Camille Paglia are excerpted from an article by Carolyn Moynihan
(“Navy-gazing about gender while the world burns,” Mercatornet)
and an interview with Camille Paglia by Ella Whelan of Spiked
Graphic: Etsy

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice, Identity | Tagged " homosexuality, abortion, Camille Paglia, children, consequences, hopelessness, sex education, toleration, transgenderism, utopia | Leave a Comment »

Hope in the Struggle with Same-Sex Attraction

April 21, 2016 by ezerwoman

“I never chose to be gay; I was born this way.”

“I’ve felt same-sex attraction since I was very young.”

“Who would choose to be gay? If it were actually a choice, I would have chosen to be heterosexual. My life would be so much easier.”

“I believe God created people to be gay; therefore, how can it be a sin?”

The statements above were made by Scott Barefoot during the ten years that he openly practiced the behavior of homosexuality. The gay community with whom he surrounded himself reinforced his beliefs.

Love. Peace. Happiness. When Scott read his Bible or went to church, these were the things he was searching for. When his definitions of “love” and “happiness” differed from God’s, he moved on.

Scott moved on from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod* of his childhood during the time he was a practicing homosexual to attend a church where 80 percent of the members identified themselves as gay or lesbian. The pastor went to great lengths to spin the interpretation of God’s Word and did not address the spiritual danger that threatened to consume Scott.

Do not judge became Scott’s “go to” scripture. If he needed to tweak God’s Word to justify sexual relationships with other men, he did so. But something was happening to change Scott’s perspective.

Scott held the prestigious position of Clinical Assistant to the Director of Interventional Cardiology at a large hospital in the Washington, D.C., area. He immersed himself in the gay “Christian” community, had plenty of cool guys seeking to date him, and brushed aside guilt in order to celebrate his sexual freedom. Then Scott learned he was HIV positive.

For a year, Scott was in severe depression. Slowly, he came face to face with the realization that his “unnatural and unrepentant behavior” had placed him in physical and spiritual danger. He had wrapped Jesus around his sensual desires and, in so doing, moved farther away from God. But how could he ever change? How could he overcome same-sex attraction?

On his own, Scott could not change. But through the work of the Holy Spirit, Scott acknowledged that he was sinning against God and his own body. Like King David, Scott felt God’s hand “heavy upon” him and his “strength was dried up” (Ps. 32:3-5). Scott, the creature, was led to trust the pure Word of his Creator. At the foot of the Cross, Scott confessed that his behavior was not pleasing to God and, with the shedding of any notion of a sensual identity, he was set free by Christ to continue living as a redeemed child of God.

But redeemed children of God are not promised an easy life. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Scott—like every one of us—is called to resist earthly temptations and persevere in Christ.

Scott did not wake up one magical day with a natural attraction to women. He may never marry or father children, but he finds peace in celibate singleness that gives him freedom to grow in the Lord. He can choose to live in a way that honors God and does not tempt others. He is free to shine light in dark places and help others know that release from sexual captivity is possible.

Like an alcoholic who never returns to a bar, Scott explains, “I am no longer captive to a destructive behavior . . . The Holy Spirit led me to make my exodus from the fantasy land of thinking I could live as a practicing homosexual and still be right with God.”

This is the message that Scott brought to my hometown during the weekend of April 9-10. His visit was sponsored by the Lighthouse Center of Hope, a pregnancy and family life center. Why? Because at the Lighthouse, we see young people struggling with the deception of a sexual identity. We want male and female to know who they are in Christ and why that matters. So we invited Scott to speak to teens, parents, and pastors. At three different locations, Scott shared his story and offered wise and sensitive counsel.

Scott does not stand alone. In my book, The Failure of Sex Education in the Church: Mistaken Identity, Compromised Purity, I quote another man who turned from his homosexual practice while in study of God’s Word. Christopher Yuan writes, “My primary identity didn’t have to be defined by my feelings or sexual attractions. My identity was not ‘gay’ or ‘homosexual,’ or even ‘heterosexual,’ for that matter. My identity as a child of the living God must be in Jesus Christ alone.” Christopher continues, “God did not say, Be heterosexual, for I am heterosexual. God says, ‘Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy’ (1 Peter 1:15-16).” (Out of a Far Country, p. 187-188)

The opposite of holy is common, referring to things that can be used by anyone. But to be holy means to be uncommon and useable by God. Once Scott let go of his proud identity as “gay,” he could begin to see himself as God does. He is called by name (Is. 43:1)! He is an heir of God (Ro. 8:17)! He has come out of darkness and into the light (1 Pt. 2:9) for God’s good purpose. From the time of Scott’s baptism, the Holy Spirit was faithfully at work in him. The world and his own sinful nature did not want Scott to change. But change for this repentant man was possible because of mercy and grace.

Scott told me, “I was, but now I am.” The Word of the New Testament explains —

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

If you are a Christian struggling with same-sex attraction, Scott has a message of hope for you. If you are a parent concerned about a son or a daughter, Scott has resources and helpful advice. Please contact him or visit his ministry, People of Grace.

In Jesus Christ you, too, have mercy and grace.

* Scott returned to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Linda Bartlett is the president and co-founder of
The Lighthouse Center of Hope in Iowa Falls, IA.

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Faith & Practice, Identity, Life issues, Sexy or holy? | Tagged " homosexuality, baptismal identity, celibacy, child of God, gay, HIV, holiness, love, repentance, self-denial, sexual identity, singleness | 1 Comment »

Dear Anya (On Same-sex “Marriage”)

March 12, 2016 by ezerwoman

Recently, I was given the opportunity to respond to an 8^th grade student who had written a paper for her American History class favoring same-sex “marriage.” Anya began her defense of same-sex “marriage” by praising Harvey Milk, “an openly gay politician in California who was only in office eleven months before he was assassinated. Harvey “opened the door for us to now be able to talk about gay rights issues.” Anya explained that “Mr. Milk started a revolution . . . If Harvey Milk wouldn’t have fought so hard, gay marriage may not be legal. It needs to be legal. It is a basic human right to love and marry who you love.”

In conclusion Anya wrote, “Love who you love, marry who you love, and love your life, because it is your Constitutional right. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’”

What follows is my response to Anya.

Dear Anya,

Thanks for letting me take this opportunity to respond to your paper on same-sex marriage. I’m a woman who is involved in our present-day culture as a national speaker, author, and advocate for human life. I respect people, no matter their differences of opinion. I care enough to ask questions, listen to the responses, and remain someone’s friend even when we don’t agree.

As you are learning in American History, men and women—human beings in general—will always have differing perspectives on what we should and should not do. Whatever the faith or worldview of a person might be, it should influence that person’s decision-making and actions. Perhaps one of the best things about a nation like the United States is that it allows for different faiths or worldviews to be expressed, lived, and judged as helpful in building up—or tearing down—society and the nation.

America is truly “exceptional” because it defends the “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But what is the origin of those “rights”? Did we give them to ourselves? And from where does life come? Is it an accident, or by design? Who ultimately defines liberty and who grants it? Does the pursuit of happiness mean that every citizen gets to do anything we darn well please, or does it mean that we have the opportunity to pursue right things for the benefit of not just ourselves, but our family and neighbors, too?

Sexual Revolutionaries: Good for Society?

As you report, Harvey Milk was an openly gay politician. It is a crime against humanity that he was assassinated. Someone took it upon themselves to deny him the “right to life.” Murder—be it the murder of an adult man like Harvey Milk or a pre-born child residing in his or her mother’s womb—is never right. Harvey has been remembered by some as the man who opened the door for this country to talk about “gay rights.” But two questions should be asked by any critical thinker. 1) Is a human being defined by their sexual behavior, or something more? And, 2) If homosexuality is “normal” and “good,” why is sickness and a shorter life span associated with its practice? Harvey Milk may have had the freedom to express his thoughts and beliefs, but like all of us, he also bore the responsibility of proving why those beliefs would be helpful to himself, his neighbors, and the future of the country in which he lives.

No matter what one’s opinions or religion (i.e. secular humanism, atheism, Islam, New Age, Buddhism, or Christianity) might be, the holder of that belief bears the responsibility of allowing it to be put to the test. When a person like Harvey Milk proclaims his belief, he must be open to discussing the consequences of that belief. He must show why calling the union of two men or two women “marriage” when it was not instituted as that (nor ever could be that) is in the best interests of an entire society.

It is always appropriate for citizens to hear someone’s opinion or belief, discuss it, and choose to act or not act upon it. Whether we agree or disagree, we owe one another the honesty of facts rather than emotion, kindness rather than meanness, general welfare of neighbors rather than “me, myself, and I,” and long-range perspective rather than “all I care about is right here, right now.”

Alfred Kinsey is another person in our American history who started a revolution. It was the revolution, in fact, that opened the door for men like Harvey Milk. Alfred Kinsey was a practicing homosexual, pedophile, and perpetrator of hideous crimes against humanity. His theory was that “children are sexual from birth,” and to make that claim stick, he knowingly allowed convicted pedophiles to sexually abuse and experiment with children, ages six months to 14 years of age. He took the “statistics” gathered from those experiments, called them “science,” and used them to prove that children and adults alike should be permitted to participate in any kind of sex if it brought them pleasure. After 30 years of research and study of Kinsey, Dr. Judith Reisman and others proved that Kinsey had abused science in order to change public opinion on sex and the teaching of sex to children. But it was too late. Kinsey, a zoologist with absolutely no respect for women, had changed the way we view men, women, and children.

Yes, Kinsey had freedom to express his beliefs. But he did not have the freedom to abuse science, use deceit, or do harm. The duty of the American public was to question Kinsey. Not to call him names, or belittle him, or deny him the right to speak, but to ask him to show the source of his “science,” reveal the methods used for research, and verify his data.

The same is true with same-sex “marriage.” Anyone who demands that marriage become what it was never intended to be should be asked to give evidence of why non-traditional, two men or two women, and intentional non-procreative marriage is healthy, sustainable, and in the best interest of family, society and civilization. In Rome, it was common for a man to have a sexual relationship with a young boy, but even Rome never legalized same-sex “marriage.” Why? Because Romans knew that marriage, and the stability of the family, was foundational to Rome’s existence. For this reason, when a boy was old enough, he was expected to marry a woman and father children for whom he would be responsible.

Marriage: To Anyone I Love?

Marriage does not intrinsically mean uniting oneself to someone you love and who makes you “feel good.”

That brings us to the now popular thinking that “as long as you love someone, you should be able to marry them.” I love my dad. I love my brother. I love my son. I love my niece. I love my best friend, Jane. Can I love them so much that I want to marry them? Maybe. But is it in your best interest that my “right” to marry my son becomes the law of the land? Is something in jeopardy here? And what will be the cost?

Marriage is not founded on someone’s concept of love. Human concepts and ideas of love are changing all the time. Today, I love you. Tomorrow, I don’t. Or, I love you because you make me feel good about myself. But when you don’t make me feel good about myself, I won’t love you anymore. And so on and so on.

Here’s where love needs to be put to the test, too. Love is about more than feelings. It is about patience, kindness, selflessness, and perseverance in good and bad times. Marriage requires this kind of love. Marriage also requires one man and one woman, two different genders, because it makes biological sense! Not only do male and female fit together perfectly to create new little humans, but they also mentor male and female characteristics… both needed by a son or daughter. Even if two men or two women (who call themselves “married”) don’t have children of their own, but adopt or use a surrogate mother or in vitro fertilization, it is unfair and actually quite selfish to intentionally deny any child the right of both a mother (female) and a father (male).

For many years, I have kept a file of the testimonies and true stories of women who thought they were in love with another woman and so took up the lesbian lifestyle, or men who thought they were in love with another man so took up the gay lifestyle. The relationships did not last. Why? Because they were built on an idea of love, and not the truth and faithfulness of love.

Have you ever noticed that even in a same-sex relationship, one plays the role of “husband” (or the male) and one plays the role of the “wife” (or the female)? It’s true! A young friend of mine “married” a woman. Her partner took on the role of the “man” and she took on the role of the “woman.” My young friend became pregnant by way of in vitro fertilization and she stayed home to be the “mom.” Her partner went outside the home to play the “male” role of “provider.” Now, years later, my young friend is hurting. She is in conflict with herself, with nature, and with the God she says she believes in. She might be wondering: What am I teaching my little boy about the value of becoming a man? How can I help him learn about manhood when he’s being parented by two moms?

Alfred Kinsey and Harvey Milk may be commended for their courage in speaking up about things they believed to be true. But can we see the consequences of what happens when all ideas are considered “equal” and valid?

People are equal, yes!

People of different colors, nationalities, and cultures are equal, yes!

But not all ideas, desires, and practices (sexual or otherwise) are equal. They must be questioned and put to the test.

Anya, that is the responsibility of people like you and me. It is ok to differ in thought and behavior. But with concern for more than just ourselves, we must wisely consider the consequences of each thought and every behavior.

With sincere respect for you as a person,

Linda

Posted in Citizenship, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice | Tagged freedom, happiness, life, love, marriage, rights, sexual identity | 4 Comments »

My Dad, My Hero

March 7, 2016 by ezerwoman

My dad is my hero. He is not my only hero, but he is my first.

At 93, he continues to be my hero because, as my father, he is still teaching me what it means to be human. In other words, he is teaching me what it means to be a person created in God’s image.

I’ve always looked at my dad as my hero, but until recently I didn’t truly understand the reasons why. Early last summer, I asked Dad if he would write his story; a kind of autobiography, if you will. I promised that I would serve as his editor, creating a book for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Bless my dad’s heart! He did it! His willingness to record history and his perseverance to stay on task gives evidence of his respect for family. More so, it is an act of obedience. “[T]ell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done” (Ps. 78:4).

The wonder of my father’s life is that he is a common man set apart for uncommon use. He writes about a very ordinary life, but therein is the truth about being human. From ordinary dust of the ground, God formed man to reflect His own extraordinary image. Dad is the first to admit that he is a poor reflection of God’s image. In his poor, sinful condition, he could have chosen to follow the pattern of the world. But he did not because he sees his human identity in light of the fact that he was formed by God’s own hands for God’s own purpose. My dad’s story proves to me that to be human does not mean to be self-defined, but God-defined. And in each ordinary life experience recorded by Dad, I see that his identity affects his attitude and behavior.

As you think about my dad writing his story, bear in mind that he writes with two hands, his left needed to steady his right. One day, he appeared at my door, asking, “Do you still have that portable electric typewriter?” By the end of summer, my hero entrusted to me a precious bundle of typewritten papers. “Here!” said Dad with a knowing grin. “You have some work to do!”

To be human means to be given work to do. Work was a privilege given to the first man by His Creator. It was God’s design that Adam work in the garden and keep it. As a farmer, my dad has shown me the “thorns and thistles” that sin brought into this world. I’ve seen the sweat on his brow, but also heard his sigh of accomplishment at the end of a long, hard day. My dad has shown me that work is neither a punishment nor unpleasant. When done to the glory of God, it is a source of contentment.

To be human means to be male or female. My parents did not preach to me when I was a child about the differences between men and women. Rather, the behaviors and interaction of my mom and dad demonstrated to me that male and female are the two eyes of the human race, each needed for their unique perspective. My dad valued my mom’s opinion and help. He respected her even when she frustrated him. My dad might not realize it (and perhaps I didn’t either until now), but he showed me that men and women are more than sexual. God does not say: Be sexual, for I am sexual. He says, “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Men are especially tempted by sensual thoughts and desires, but my dad showed that because of Jesus Christ, a man (or woman) is not captive to them.

To be human means to have choices. Dad helped me understand that choices are best made in light of our relationship to God and with trust in His Word because to be human means that Satan will surely slither up to us at the moment of decision, asking: “Did God really say…?” Adam was given the instruction for life and the warning against death, but he failed to engage Satan with that Word for the sake of his bride. My dad, being mindful of this, nurtured my respect for men because he’s never stopped trying to lead his family away from harm.

To be human means to be forgiven. My dad knows the consequence of sin. But he also knows that because of Jesus Christ, God’s mercies are new every morning. If I were to thank my dad for one thing, it would be for helping me understand the free and willing desire of Jesus to be my crucified Lord and Savior. Easter, for a human being, means nothing without the Cross.

To be human means to suffer. The only way for God to save humans from themselves was to become one of them. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered as a human… and He died. In this sinful world, we suffer, too. And because of sin, we will die. But my dad also taught me that to be human means to have hope. Jesus rose from the grave, ascended back to heaven, and will come again to take God’s weary, but faithful children home.

To be human means to persevere. Dad has experienced hardship, disappointment, and the loss of his wife, my mom. But he is my model of daily perseverance no matter the circumstance. “Keep calm and carry on” is a quote of Winston Churchill, but it is a way of life for my dad. He has watched this culture change at warp speed, but because he knows that his call to think, act, and live like a Christian changes not, he continues to “run with endurance the race that is set before [him]” (Heb. 12:1-2).

Finally, for the human, “the greatest of these is love.” Just as God defines humans and makes them unique persons, so also He defines love. So, thank you Dad, for not loving carelessly. Thank you for your patient, kind, and selfless love (1 Cor. 13). Thank you for showing me “what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Faith & Practice, Identity, Life issues, Relationships, Vocation | Tagged father, forgiveness, human being, love, perseverance, suffering, work | 2 Comments »

Women in Combat: A Bible Study (Part 4)

January 10, 2016 by ezerwoman

Deborah was a judge and prophetess. To this, many Christian women quickly add, “Deborah was also a courageous military leader in battle.” But, what does God’s Word tell us?

LET’S THINK ABOUT IT

Deborah was a prophetess. A prophet or prophetess speaks on behalf of another but not as a public speaker for God during a congregational gathering. A prophetess might give counsel, settle disputes, or offer thankfulness and praise to God. Deborah was also a judge. What was the condition of Israel in the years prior to her leadership? Read Judges 2:13, 16-17; 3:7, 13; 4:1-4.

Martin Luther took note of the service of Deborah and other women as rulers. He said that they “have been very good at management.” He suggested that women’s leadership in other areas of life might motivate men to properly fulfill their responsibility. It is important to note that Deborah became a judge after the people of Israel repeatedly “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Evil, in every way, opposes God’s created order for men, women, and the benefit of a thriving society.

We may think that Deborah was sent by God into combat against Israel’s enemy. But, is this the case? Carefully read Judges 4:4-15. Did God ask Deborah to carry the sword in combat… or did He ask Barak through Deborah? Victory was promised to Barak if only he would obey, but he chose not to. Barak said he would do the Lord’s bidding only if Deborah went with him into battle. Read Judges 4:9. Why wouldn’t the glory in battle go to Barak? The woman Deborah refers to in this verse is not herself, but Jael.

Dr. Vogel explains: “Deborah accompanied Barak to Mount Tabor, but no further. Consistent with Deuteronomy, she donned no battle gear nor engaged in the conflict. Barak (unaccompanied by Deborah) led 10,000 men into the valley to a resounding victory. The rebuke for Barak’s recalcitrance was rendered when a heroic woman, Jael, was given the opportunity to slay the fleeing enemy commander, Sisera. She did this in her own tent, with household equipment [a tent peg], not as a warrior on a battlefield.” (“Women in Combat: Two Views,” The Lutheran Witness, May 2003, p. 16-20)

Deborah served as a judge and prophetess. She counseled Barak as the leader of Israel’s troops. Yet, how did she sum up her role in Judges 5:7? Deborah was praised for her leadership, yet she does not sing about being raised up as a warrior. She sings of being a “mother in Israel.” Though no biological children of Deborah are mentioned, she is an encourager and helper for her people. In this way, she is practicing the vocation given to all women.

Read Genesis 2:18. Many women do not like being called a “helper.” Why might this be? The role of “helper” is not inferior, but is consistent with God’s order of creation. The Triune God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All are equal, yet each has a distinct role to play. Jesus is God, yet He submitted to the Father for the sake of our salvation. The Hebrew word for “helper” is ezer which has a sense of “assistant” or even “ally.” Now read John 14:16; 15:26 and 16:7. How is the Holy Spirit described in this passage? What might a woman think about this? How does this elevate her vocation of “helper?”

Is there a problem with women in the military? No, but as in any workplace, there will certainly be a changed environment and cautions to heed. A woman, by nature of her created purpose, will always be a helper. The question is: Will she help to the good… or the bad? Built up… or tear down? In what ways might a woman help her country without donning battle gear or compromising the service of men?

THE BEARERS AND NURTURERS OF LIFE

Specialist Hollie Vallence, quoted in Part 1 of this series, was asked by her country to sacrifice home and family. In doing so, she explained that she had to build an “ice wall around her heart” in regard to her husband and child. Is this consistent with God’s design? What are the consequences for women, men, and children if a mother hardens her heart? Luther noted that a woman is merciful by nature because she is born to show mercy and to cherish just as a man is born to protect. This is why, Luther says, no living creature has more mercy than a woman, particularly in respect for her infant.

It is often observed that men tend to focus on one project, putting all others aside, until it is finished. In times of war, wives of soldiers see their men bucking up for duty even in the face of leaving home and family for extended periods of time. Is it fair to say that men always feel brave and fearless? Where do they find wisdom and strength? In His faithfulness, God equips men for their vocation of steward and protector. He gives to men what is necessary so that they might do what they need to do for wives, sons and daughters; indeed, for future generations. It is not so much that men want to go into battle, but they are equipped for battle and can leave home and family knowing that their children are in the capable and loving care of mothers. How is the woman partnering with her husband to serve her country? She is guarding hearth and home while he is doing battle with the enemy of that home.

In war, as in work, men understand other men. When a country is serious about winning victory over its enemy, it brings well-trained men together, with no distractions, to focus on the job at hand. These men may return home “changed,” but most can resume life as usual. Mothers, as explained by Hollie Vallence, are not programmed to put distance between themselves and young children. Small tribes and great countries who honor the human rule of chivalry understand that great sacrifice may be necessary in order to protect mothers of children for they are a people’s future.

Dr. Vogel offers wisdom: “If God is indifferent to the woman-warrior concept and a woman chooses to serve in a noncombatant role, God is not offended. If, however, God is not indifferent to the woman warrior concept, and a woman seeks service as a combatant, does she not become a victim of her own will and disobedient to that of God?” (Vogel, The Lutheran Witness)

Will God bless a people or a nation that sends daughters and wives to the front lines of battle? Will He bless the men who send the bearers of life to meet the enemy? Should women be shot at, brutalized, or sacrificed in the name of “equality” or “rights?” God was not pleased with the man who used Deborah as a kind of “human shield.” That is because the Groom of the Church does not stand behind his Bride. He stands in front of her.

WHAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER?

It is not that God wants men to die, but that He entrusts to them the noble role of protector and defender. As the Man of Sacrifice, Jesus led the way into battle. He did not send others. Jesus faced the greatest weapon of mass destruction – the anger of God upon sinful people. He did not stand behind “human shields,” letting you and me die so that He might avoid pain and death. In the battle for the life of His Bride, Jesus “took the bullet.” He died so that we might live.

Jesus is our Savior. He is also a model for men and women. He wants us to follow Him and imitate His behavior. Sinful as we are, we will want to test the boundaries. We will put ourselves in God’s place, but such pride can put others at risk. Is all hopeless? No! The One who faced our enemy – and won the eternal victory – reaches to us with nail-pierced hands, saying: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6).

Dear Lord and Savior, without Your Word for life we are a confused and desperate people. We seek to determine right and wrong according to our whims and pleasures, but we are filled with vanity and puffed up with pride. Have mercy on our country, dear Lord. Raise up brave men and women to serve nation and family in ways that honor You and resist all enemies. Bless the chaplains who serve in difficult circumstances. Help us to live this life in anticipation of Your coming, that we might be found faithful. AMEN.

This four-part study written by Linda Bartlett
is adapted from a larger collection of studies entitled
Men, Women, and Relationships first published in 1999
by Lutherans For Life.
This study is available for download
by visiting Titus 2 for Life.

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice, Identity | Tagged conscription of women, military readiness, order of creation | 2 Comments »

Women in Combat: A Bible Study (Part 3)

January 10, 2016 by ezerwoman

Who lobbies for women in combat? Is it with national security — or something else — in mind?

In light of terrorists and all-male armies around the world, should we regard serving in combat as an “equal job opportunity?”

Elaine Donnelly and the Center for Military Readiness, released a 42-page report in January of 2013 exploring the unintended consequences of putting women on the front lines. “It will do great harm to women in the military, especially those who will find themselves in the infantry – something there’s no indication they wanted.”

Mrs. Donnelly asks an important question: “Why is the Secretary of Defense ramming this on through?” This, says Mrs. Donnelly, “is social engineering to achieve a political end in the name of diversity”. . . [but] it is unfair to the women, it’s unfair to the men, it’s problematic for the readiness and efficiency and effectiveness of infantry battalions.

TITANIC CHIVALRY

Sociologist George Gilder notes that while all-male armies grow in countries that pursue America as their prey, we seem to regard combat as an obstacle to women’s rights. He notes that this “demand for equality [is] nothing more or less than a move toward barbarism. (Men and Marriage, p. 136) What might he mean? Do you agree or disagree?

Civilized cultures have always trained men to protect and defend women and children. Christian fathers who follow the example set by Jesus mentor sons to be gentlemen and guardians of a woman’s virtue and well-being. However, the effective utilization of women in combat requires that men put aside such behavior in order to treat a woman like just another man. What kind of culture does this create?

Even non-Christians note that groups tend to disintegrate and face extinction when societies fail to train their men to protect and defend women. Men on board the Titanic gave their lives for women, not because they were all Christian men, but because Biblical teaching for society had become the “rule of the sea.” Read Ephesians 5:25. The titanic chivalry of “women and children [into the lifeboats] first” follows the example of Jesus who gave His life for His bride, the Church.

There is also the issue of mentoring. When we focus on “it’s my right” or perpetuate the myth that “equal means ‘being the same,’” how are we instructing a younger generation? What is a young man taught to think about women as they endure the rigors of military training side by side? What do boys learn from fathers who intentionally put women in harm’s way?

What is the carry-over to life outside the military? If society will not tolerate male aggression toward women in everyday life, is it wise – or necessary – to make an exception in combat? A civilization that wants to thrive does well to think beyond the present to the future.

What are the realities of both training and battle conditions? We may want to envision pleasant images of skilled women managing high tech equipment, young men and women successfully practicing self-control in close quarters, and enlisted men snapping to the attention of female drill sergeants, but evidence reveals much to the contrary. There are reported increases of sexual abuse, unfaithfulness of spouses, unintended pregnancy, a supposed “need” for easier access to abortion, and deployment of single moms.

It may be politically correct to claim that differences between male and female are socially constructed, but basic biology proves otherwise. Mrs. Donnelly says, “Women don’t have an equal opportunity to survive in combat.” Why might this be? How might the anatomy of a woman put her more at risk than a man? In seeking a bush for privacy, how does a woman avoid sniper fire and landmines? Men can quickly unzip and zip, but is it the same for women? Besides dignity and modesty there are important issues of hygiene and gynecology. Women can chemically shut down their menstrual cycle, but is this natural and healthy? Feminists and social engineers may deny the differences between men and women, but will the enemy? How might a female prisoner of war be treated differently than a man? Jessica Lynch, pulled from her Humvee and taken prisoner in Iraq, was raped and sodomized by her captors (I Am A Soldier, Too; the biography of Jessica Lynch by Rick Bragg). If he is obedient to his calling as a defender of women, to what lengths might a male soldier go in protecting a female soldier?

ADAM, EVE AND THE ENEMY OF LIFE

Rev. F.A. Hertwig asks, “If there is a threatening noise at the front door, who do you expect should be the first to investigate? Will the man sit back and send his wife, daughter or mother while he goes to the basement?” (“Letters” in The Lutheran Witness, June 2003, p. 4)

Let’s return to Genesis, the Book of our beginnings. When Eve stood in harm’s way before Satan, how did Adam respond (Genesis 3:6, 12)? What is the significance of these verses when it comes to the discussion of women in combat? Genesis 3:6 reveals that Adam sinned when he failed to remember God’s Word and use it in the battle between life and death. Adam failed to protect his wife from Satan’s attack. He failed to bring order out of chaos for the sake of future generations.

Rev. Hertwig, a pastor in Lincoln, Missouri, explains Genesis 3:12 in this way: “When God stood at the door, a confused and fallen Adam sent his wife, Eve, to face the catastrophe. He chose to deny the one who had come from his side. For the rest of his 930 years, he lived with daily contrition each time he looked at his bosom friend. His protecting embrace had all the more fervor mixed with regret that he had failed.” Rev. Hertwig continues, “For a man to see his wife, mother or daughter writhing in the mud with a bayonet rifle is repulsive to the core. When Adam retreats, yes even in the face of God, he has in a miserable moment surrendered to the devil. To venture the ‘absence’ of specifics on our subject is an accommodating detail to the devil’s question, ‘Yea, hath God said?’” (The Lutheran Witness, “Letters,” June/July 2003)

There are many mixed emotions when considering women in the service of their country, particularly when it comes to combat duty. You may say, “But there is the example of Deborah!” Deborah is held up by many Christians as the Old Testament example of a woman in combat. But, was she? Let’s move on to Part 4 in this series to discover the truth.

Dear Lord of Life, please help us remember that Your created order and design for male and female is for our good and the good of society. Rather than defaulting to our own ideas of right and wrong, help us to trust Your Word for life in all circumstances. AMEN.

This four-part study written by Linda Bartlett
is adapted from a larger collection of studies entitled
Men, Women and Relationships first published in 1999
by Lutherans For Life.
This study is available for download
by visiting Titus 2 for Life.

Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice, Identity | Tagged conscription of women, military readiness, order of creation | 2 Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »