This woman knows suffering. She has a difficult marriage and
learning disabled children. We were recently having a conversation and she
wrote this to me, "It is amazing that following Jesus does not look
anything like what I learned in church as a child, or even in most churches as
an adult. I think this is one reason I'm
having such a hard time finding a bible believing church to help me {us}. It IS a narrow way - the Word says it is -
but American Christianity has largely defined it as a very broad pathway to
happiness and blessings on this earth.
It is confusing to come out of that mentality. It is hard to find a church full of people
who have read the bible.”
I agreed. It is VERY hard to find a church that isn’t afraid
to teach the whole Bible, even those parts that are politically incorrect like
being a keeper at home, being submissive to our husbands, and even staying
married in a difficult marriage. Our society is taught to flee suffering at ALL
costs like this woman who had a beautiful home, a big nice truck, four
beautiful children, and a husband that worked too hard so she wasn’t happy. She
divorced him.
How about the feminist movement? Their teachings have destroyed
millions of babies' lives, millions of children’s lives through divorce and
single parenting, took control of their womb by using birth control, and left
their homes by the millions to get careers and find “happiness."
The church fails to teach I Peter 2 which speaks about
Christ’s sufferings and then begins I Peter 3 with “Likewise…” Likewise women,
some of you are going to have to suffer under disobedient husbands but you
begin winning them without a word by your godly, chaste behavior. However, even many Christians believe that if you
are unhappy at all in your marriage, you need to leave your husband. One
woman was told by a “Christian” woman, "My God does not want me to live a
life of misery."
Too many don’t like to quote Scripture anymore like, “Consider it
all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials for the testing of your
faith produces endurance…” No, they like to make people believe that we are never
to live in pain or suffering, just happiness and filled with good things for us.
The path we are called to take is a narrow one. It calls us
to be like Christ, a light to a dark and decaying world. It commands we speak
the Truth in love, even if it offends. Better to be considered a Puritan,
rather than a hypocrite. How can the world ever see Jesus if they don’t see us
persevering through trials with patience and joy? They won’t see Jesus in us if
our lives are a bed of flowers. Everyone is happy when life is great.
I encourage you to find a strong Bible believing church. If
you can’t find preachers that teach all of the Truth boldly, at least listen to
sermons or read books {especially the Bible} so you will know the Truth and
will be able to match up everything that is taught with God’s Word.
Yes, this woman suffers but she is commanded by God not to
leave her husband for as she lives with her husband, she is sanctifying him. He
is seeing Jesus. He needs Jesus. She is the only Jesus he may ever see. She is
being a living sacrifice. She cares more about her husband's soul than her happiness. Is it easy? NO, it is very hard. She needs to be
encouraged daily but with God’s strength flowing powerfully through her, she
can do it. For with God ALL things are possible.
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word
be won by the conversation of the wives.
I Peter 3:1
