We went to a church a long time ago that was so wrong in so many ways. No where was this seen any more then with the women running the show. Even though the pastor and board were males, which is God’s order, there were women deacons, leaders, and Sunday School teachers (teaching both men and women) that influenced all major decisions of what was going on in the church. As you can guess we did not attend there for too long. Our time there was to support the pastor until the church kicked him out. But Paul was very clear when he said, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” (1 Timothy 2:9-12) You can spin this verse any way you want, but the truth speaks loud and clear women are to have no place of authority in the house of God and this out of God’s design not just for the church, but for the family as well.
But there were two things that happened there that I won’t soon forget. The first was a gentle soul that occasionally attended services there. It was said that he was an alcoholic I don’t know, but if I was married to the shrew of a woman that he was married to I’d be tipping the ole bottle myself! Now mind you she was in her 60s, loud, obnoxious, given to much gossiping, and full of ambition. At church she didn’t sit with her husband instead she sat with her friends. I remembered her husband looked like a scared little mouse sitting there all alone while his wife was making a fool out of herself, a real big shot.
The second thing was our Sunday School Teacher. Although she was qualified her husband rarely came to church. Folks in God it is: God family, then ministry. Don’t put church activities before your family, if you do you are wrong and will suffer the loss in the area of relationships. She ended up stepping down as the Sunday School Teacher because of getting offended during a rift in the church. James tells us, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:16-18)
Now these two women and countless others were big shots at church, but their husband were little shots at home. The Bible is quite clear in its admonishment: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) and “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:11-14) Its in black and white! That church as I had said was wrong in so many other areas. Rebellion to spiritual authorities, greed, lies, the church even used tithes and offerings to pay for abortions for some of the young women in the church. It was terrible. We can see why God had us come, but was very glad when God released us to move on.
Folks when a wife is a big shot at church you can bet your bottom dollar her husband is a little shot at home. We have seen this scenario play out in far too many couples we have known. Because the wife is usurping her husband’s authority at home, which is rebellion to God’s word and wrong thinking, thus it carries over into the church. The wife has not kept her place of supporting her husband and instead has lifted herself up or allowed herself to be lifted up into prominent places that aren’t hers for the taking. Look its not our job to follow society in these matters of women in authority. We have a different standard and model to follow. God has ordained the model for the family and the church so that righteousness can prevail, if not then rebellion and chaos will fill the home and church. God’s idea of spiritual order is God, family, and ministry. I’ve said it before if your husband is a seven then the wife must be a five. If the woman in example one would had submitted herself to her husband (regardless of him being an alcoholic) and knocked her foolish pride down a few pegs, and did what she was supposed to do – I doubt if her husband would be the beaten down pitiful man that he was. A humble wife will never ruin a man, nor drive him to drink.
Let us turn from our self-seeking ways and go towards God’s ways of running the home and the church. Please we must never look at what our society says and does – women we are to be on the straight and narrow way following our husbands even if they do not follow Christ. We are to be followers not leaders of our husbands. And please, please, please don’t watch those women on Christian TV. Stay away from the big shot lady pastors, preachers, and teachers. They hardly are the picture of a submission and humility as the Bible teaches, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” (Proverbs 31:10-12) and ladies, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverb 31:30-31) A religious woman doesn’t mean she is rightly related to God nor that she is traveling the straight and narrow way with Jesus. We all do not need “a ministry” our husband and family (if we have kids) is the ministry God has given us. We are to lift up our husbands and discipline our children – things that I’ve woefully fallen short of. I know it is hard keeping up with children either you are busier then a one legged man in a butt-kicking contest or you are bored to tears. This is where you need God’s help in keeping your attitude right. There will be times when you will look at your husband and say, “what was I thinking? But of course he will think the same thing of you. Ladies stick with the task at hand. It’s more than enough to raise children right and teach them about God and His ways. Remember it is not what we do for God, but how we do things for God.
There are far too many women running around out there like a chicken with their heads chopped off in the Christian community thinking they have a ministry as they run off and leave the kids and husband at home. Beagle bagels! Stop trying to be a big shot like so many on Christian TV. Look they have their reward people patting them on the back, but for the rest of us let’s stick to the task at hand, raise our kids right, and let our husbands be the big shot at home and church. Remember, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Written by Karen Stahl
But there were two things that happened there that I won’t soon forget. The first was a gentle soul that occasionally attended services there. It was said that he was an alcoholic I don’t know, but if I was married to the shrew of a woman that he was married to I’d be tipping the ole bottle myself! Now mind you she was in her 60s, loud, obnoxious, given to much gossiping, and full of ambition. At church she didn’t sit with her husband instead she sat with her friends. I remembered her husband looked like a scared little mouse sitting there all alone while his wife was making a fool out of herself, a real big shot.
The second thing was our Sunday School Teacher. Although she was qualified her husband rarely came to church. Folks in God it is: God family, then ministry. Don’t put church activities before your family, if you do you are wrong and will suffer the loss in the area of relationships. She ended up stepping down as the Sunday School Teacher because of getting offended during a rift in the church. James tells us, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:16-18)
Now these two women and countless others were big shots at church, but their husband were little shots at home. The Bible is quite clear in its admonishment: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) and “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (1 Timothy 2:11-14) Its in black and white! That church as I had said was wrong in so many other areas. Rebellion to spiritual authorities, greed, lies, the church even used tithes and offerings to pay for abortions for some of the young women in the church. It was terrible. We can see why God had us come, but was very glad when God released us to move on.
Folks when a wife is a big shot at church you can bet your bottom dollar her husband is a little shot at home. We have seen this scenario play out in far too many couples we have known. Because the wife is usurping her husband’s authority at home, which is rebellion to God’s word and wrong thinking, thus it carries over into the church. The wife has not kept her place of supporting her husband and instead has lifted herself up or allowed herself to be lifted up into prominent places that aren’t hers for the taking. Look its not our job to follow society in these matters of women in authority. We have a different standard and model to follow. God has ordained the model for the family and the church so that righteousness can prevail, if not then rebellion and chaos will fill the home and church. God’s idea of spiritual order is God, family, and ministry. I’ve said it before if your husband is a seven then the wife must be a five. If the woman in example one would had submitted herself to her husband (regardless of him being an alcoholic) and knocked her foolish pride down a few pegs, and did what she was supposed to do – I doubt if her husband would be the beaten down pitiful man that he was. A humble wife will never ruin a man, nor drive him to drink.
Let us turn from our self-seeking ways and go towards God’s ways of running the home and the church. Please we must never look at what our society says and does – women we are to be on the straight and narrow way following our husbands even if they do not follow Christ. We are to be followers not leaders of our husbands. And please, please, please don’t watch those women on Christian TV. Stay away from the big shot lady pastors, preachers, and teachers. They hardly are the picture of a submission and humility as the Bible teaches, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” (Proverbs 31:10-12) and ladies, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverb 31:30-31) A religious woman doesn’t mean she is rightly related to God nor that she is traveling the straight and narrow way with Jesus. We all do not need “a ministry” our husband and family (if we have kids) is the ministry God has given us. We are to lift up our husbands and discipline our children – things that I’ve woefully fallen short of. I know it is hard keeping up with children either you are busier then a one legged man in a butt-kicking contest or you are bored to tears. This is where you need God’s help in keeping your attitude right. There will be times when you will look at your husband and say, “what was I thinking? But of course he will think the same thing of you. Ladies stick with the task at hand. It’s more than enough to raise children right and teach them about God and His ways. Remember it is not what we do for God, but how we do things for God.
There are far too many women running around out there like a chicken with their heads chopped off in the Christian community thinking they have a ministry as they run off and leave the kids and husband at home. Beagle bagels! Stop trying to be a big shot like so many on Christian TV. Look they have their reward people patting them on the back, but for the rest of us let’s stick to the task at hand, raise our kids right, and let our husbands be the big shot at home and church. Remember, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Written by Karen Stahl
2 comments:
Great article!!!! I don't think the subject matter in "Big Shot" can ever be reminded enough! Even though some may know the truth we forget and slack and need a good, healthy reminder sometimes!
Thanks! I love you!
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Your words and love mean so much to us. Your life is an example to us all in how a wife is to love her husband and help raise their children. I wished more women had your insight and love their would be far less problems in homes, in America, and in the world today.
David and Karen sends
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