We Are More American Than We Are Christian
“We’re not raising a man who happens to be biologically capable of having children. We’re raising a woman, a wife, a mother…’it sounds so radical!’ Yea, it probably does. You know why?’ Cause we’re a lot more American than we are Christian. We do the same thing everybody else does. And most times in the exact same way. After step A you take step B. Why? ‘Cause everybody does it, and if you don’t, you’re messin’ things up. Keep your prosperity in check. There’s a whole lot of women out there who have bought the lie that says you can have it all, and the fact of the matter is, you cannot. And you were never meant to. Nor were men. There is a role for us to play, you weren’t designed to have it all. But here’s what I’m wondering: why would anyone who has been given the incredible gift and privilege of being able to bear and grow in them a life - 9 months – why? Why? To have a symbiotic relationship between your body and theirs; between your heartbeat and theirs. That’s why. So that they know your smell. So that they know everything about you. Why do they come here and the first thing they desperately need to do is nurse? So that from your breast they look into your eyes. Why? ‘Cause God designed you to nurture them. And you know what our culture says, that’s not good enough. You need to go share Adam’s curse ’cause Eve’s curse is not enough for you. That’s what our world says. And our world says as soon as you can, you rip that baby from you and hire somebody else to do what God created you to do instead. That’s what our world says. God says, ‘I’ve given you to this man to be his suitable helper.’ What does our world say? Well, let him go find somebody’s else’s wife to be his right arm, and then you be the right arm of some other man. That’s what our world says. When we have the greatest gift, the greatest calling, and the greatest opportunity in the world, because the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world…There is nothing more beautiful, nothing more powerful, nothing more precious than authentic, strong, submissive womanhood, and there is nothing that is in shorter supply, except, authentic, strong, passionate, protecting, providing manhood. And as a result our houses are not order, they are in complete disarray. And we are raising men who are weak and have not been given permission to stand up and lead their homes, and women who are unprotected and completely dissatisfied because somebody told them they could have it all, and rather than enjoy and embrace this incredible powerful gift of womanhood and motherhood, that instead they should go out and share Adam’s curse and pay somebody else to do the menial job, the menial task, of raising and nurturing their children. God help us. Don’t buy the lie.”
Voddie Baucham, Getting Our Houses in Order (Part 2 of ‘The Children of Ceasar’)
Wow. Strong and fabulous stuff.
Cxx
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Oh my gosh. What a powerful message! Wiping the tears from my eyes and on my way to your link!!
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Kristen – I know! You should actually watch the video – so powerful – the speaker had tears streaming down his face at the end.
Voddie is right on! He was the keynote speaker at the homeschool conference I attended last summer and all I could think over and over was, "Amen brother!" Outstanding post!
Powerful truth. If only we'd embrace this message. We'd be the happiest women on all the earth! Read his book "Family Driven Faith" and loved it.
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Brenna-I'm going to get that book as soon as I can!
I Love Voddie, Iv Been reading his book, its really great!
Amen to everything above!
WOW….just…WOW!
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Wow! Great stuff. A friend of mine gave me a copy of his sermon on "The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship." Very thought-provoking.
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Wow. I am in awe. It is so true, and so much the message that God has been speaking to my heart over and over in the last several months. It's hard for me as a single-mom to digest how the lesson will manifest in my life, but I know there is a reason for God speaking it to me.
And I'm not the only one, am I? I keep seeing this lately… a resurgence of women taking back their roles as mother, homekeeper, nurturer. It seems to me that there is a revival going on in this all-important area of our world, the home.
Talitha – As a single-mom, I'm sure it must so difficult, especially when your heart yearns to be home. You know what the truth is, this is where the church should be rising up, to help the single-mothers so that they can stay home. Blessings to you!
Wow- that is some good reading! So true. I too feel so blessed to be able to stay home with my children. The book called: I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson is also a very uplifting book in regards to the role of being a stay at home Mom!!
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[...] Like a Warm Cup of Coffee – We are More American Than We are Christian [...]
More and more I'm feeling that the wife's role is to stay at home and raise the children, however I ( no kids yet) struggle with feelings of not "helping out" or doing my part when it comes to bringing money in, like I was used to doing…
Rebecca – You know what the exciting part about staying home is? You can do whatever you want to! Okay, here's what I mean…you can fulfill your God given role, and still help bring in money. The P31 woman was incredibly industrious, from her home base! Yes, she went out and bought a field, planted a vineyard, and traded with merchants – but she did all these things after her family was cared for. She spent hours in the home – she used a spindle and distaff to make clothes and coverings – that would have taken days to create something. She created at home and then sold to the merchants. Because the heart of her husband trusted in her, she was able to make wise businesses decisions to help her family. The point is, find something you get jazzed about and do it here and there while still being a keeper of the home. Find a business you can do right out of your home (as long as it doesn't interfere with your husband's blessing or the care of your children and home). I do want to say though that "your part" is managing the home – you were not created to be the provider. Some circumstances force a woman to be, but this is where the church or family should step in to help…even though the reality is this often does not happen.
Don't let go of His Word friend! It will never fail you.
AMEN!
As someone who bought the lie as a young woman, but who came to her senses after the birth of our first child, I so much want as many women to read this as possible. So, powerful!
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Amen to that! I hoped I am blessed with children some day and can turn to the most important job I will ever do!
Yea! For years I bought this LIE, lived it, then returned it. A damaging lie disguised as a right, wreaks havoc on harmony and peace in a marriage. I laid it at HIS feet and picked HIS truth and what a difference! For real, just give it a test drive. Not for what you get out of it, but for what it gets out of you. World says submission is a dirty word, believe me, it's an abused word. Christ ultimately submitted HIS live, on a cross. If He can do it for ME (someone undeserving, all have fallen short), then I can do it for HIM and my husband, even if he falls short. It's us being Christ to our husband. Beautiful but, like the cross, not always easy.
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Thank you so much for posting this. I AMEN this with all my heart. I was an educator – even have a doctorate- but I CHOOSE to invest in the most important gift that God has given me… my six children. Thanks again.
P.s I really enjoy your posts – and have listed you on my blogroll! Thanks again!
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THANKS SO MUCH SARAH MAE FOR SUCH A TRUE EYE OPENER,
WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD, FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
AS WOMEN, MOTHERS, WIVES, AMAZING ONES AT THAT!!!
I ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF BRINGING OUR SINGLE MOTHERS HOME TO BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
THE CHURCH SHOULD BE INDEED RISING UP TO HELP THESE MOTHERS.
"WHAT A BLESSING"
I SO LOVE YOU ALL,
ANGELA
THANKS SO MUCH SARAH MAE FOR SUCH A TRUE EYE OPENER,
WE ARE DESIGNED BY GOD, FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
AS WOMEN, MOTHERS, WIVES, AMAZING ONES AT THAT!!!
I ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF BRINGING OUR SINGLE MOTHERS HOME TO BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
THE CHURCH SHOULD BE INDEED RISING UP TO HELP THESE MOTHERS.
“WHAT A BLESSING”
I SO LOVE YOU ALL,
ANGELA
REALLY good stuff here. Woohoo!
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AMEN!!!
I am going to have to order one of his books.
btw, on the topic of being Godly Help Meets, "Created to be His Help Meet" by the Pearls was life changing for me.
Oh, so true my dear sister. For me, I'm actually struggling. It's sad to admit, but sometimes I feel like I've been doing this for so long until I want to do something else. Don't get me wrong I love my family and what God has called me to do, but at times I do feel like I'm missing out…and I do surely lean more toward my "American" side always giving God excuses why. Even w/my blog. I felt God telling me to use it more as a ministry to other women, especially younger mothers, etc. I felt like He wants me to be more of an encouragement, but I was even fighting Him on that. I told Him that I was tired of giving "motherely" advice. I find for some reason I don't care where I am when someone finds out I homeschool and have seven children all they want to do is sit and ask lots of questions. I'm greatful, but I found myself telling the Lord it's not what I wanted for myself. I also sense that my kids were picking up on this attitude. One thing I've found out is that they pick up on the slightest things and they mimick everything. Yesterday, I was looking at a magazine and it said for parents of children 0-3 years of age: "Don't underestimate the importance of your actions your young children are watching what you model—behavior both good and bad and they will imitate what you do." Grrr. I keep falling!
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I needed to read this. Thank you. =)
So how do you fill this role if you have a wonderful husband, but is not a protector or a leader? I really struggle to find my role when he has trouble finding his.
Casie – you stay faithful in your role and you pray…but honor your husband where he is at.
As always, Sarah Mae, you have offered us great encouragement, and magnificent truth! I have not ready any of his books, but I will be sure to check them out now. Thanks so much for this terrific insight.
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Amen! Thank you Sarah Mae!
Preach it girl!!!!
SarahMae, Thank you for posting this. This is hard, beautiful truth. Voddie has blessed our lives in SO many ways. I praise God for raisin up voices in the wilderness who are not ashamed to speak truth, scripture is our standard, our light on this narrow path. There will be pursicution ,we are promised this. Stand strong and keep standin. Thank you SO much for standin. May Jesus be glorified.
Great post! I have a friend who always tells me that I am so lucky to have being wife and mother as my sole jobs and I keep telling her you can do it too. She always replies that she can't, they just wouldn't make it on a single income. It is sad because her husband is in the same line of work as mine and even though work is slow and we have to be very careful with our money, we know God is providing for us. This young woman only has one kid but she can't see that the best thing to give her daughter is time not toys. I'm praying that my example and others like me will help women like her to take the leap and trust God to be their provider!
I have that DVD. I cried watching it and now I'm tearing up reading it in print. It has made me rethink a lot of my own ideas about family/marriage/children…are they cultural ideas or Christian ideas? Thanks for posting this!