If going to Bible Studies made women godly, I would have been godly from the time I got married. I almost always was involved in a Bible study and even was a group leader at times. I thought I was a godly woman but I wasn't. God tells us that a godly woman has a meek and quiet spirit and adorns herself by being in subjection to her husband. I failed the test big time and so do many other women.
I taught Bible studies when I was young but it wasn't until I began teaching Created to Be His Help Meet that I knew I was right where God wanted me to be. Women hungered for this teaching; they still do because they know it is right and good. I have seen too many women who are faithful in attending Bible Study, seminars, counseling, and retreats, yet treat their husbands with contempt. The blame lies in the churches of today, namely the older women in the churches. Yes, preachers should be preaching this and some do but way too few. I don't hear many famous women teachers and "preachers" teaching other women what matters to God either.
God has made it abundantly clear in His Word what He wants women being taught. He wants them to be taught to be sober, love and obey their husband, love their children, be chaste, discreet, and keepers at home. There is no guessing game about this. I don't see going to Bible Studies in this list or anywhere in God's Word. Yes, He wants His Word to dwell in us richly but He cares way more about our obedience than going to a Bible Study yet failing to do what He commands women to do.
I am not against Bible Studies but all Bible Studies and teaching for women should clearly teach Titus 2:3-5. Women wouldn't be so lost and looking for fulfillment and meaning in all the wrong places if this was consistently taught. Marriages would be stronger. Children would be more loved and secure having their mothers home full-time with them. Women would dress modestly and act discreetly. These are all things that today's Christian women should be taught in the churches and from all women who teach the Word.
What good is teaching the Word if women are in rebellion to their husbands, have rebellious children, and empty homes? It's meaningless because there are too many women blaspheming the Word by disregarding these important commands that are the building blocks of any family and church. If you aren't being taught in your church, gather a few of the women together in your home, even if it is once a month, and begin teaching them Created to Be His Help Meet. When you teach it, you become more and more convicted about all of it since you must be a model to those you teach. This is good and way more important than any Bible Study you might attend.
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:3-5
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:3-5
Anonymous 2 · 460 weeks ago
Living a simple slow pace life at home, is the best there is for a family. I had to experience this before I realized what works and doesn't work. I always heard it said, if you are at home all day you have to get out. Really! I can fine lots to do and be content at home. I do enjoy my once a week errand day. After, that day though I am glad to be back home.
Amen, to the part that you don't become more godly going to Bible Studies. I think their is a lot of peer pressure if you are a stay at home mom to attend these. '
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
Mrs. G. · 460 weeks ago
This is so true!! I think that kids today can do with WAY less running around than what they are subjected to. If your home is a peaceful and nurturing haven, you won't want to be running all over the place when you can be at home!
Mary · 460 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
Alisha Jackson · 460 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
lborengasser 21p · 460 weeks ago
1. Book studies are not Bible studies. If your group is studying "Created to be His Helpmeet," that's not a Bible study. There's a huge difference, even if the book includes much Scripture. We're talking about totally different authors, and the Bible is the only book that is 100% true. Which is why a *BIble* study (Bible only) is the most important study (of any kind) one could attend. No book could ever surpass it.
2. Therefore, I would be very hesitant to promote a book (any book) to the extent that you're promoting "Created to be His Helpmeet." I would never give a fallible, human author that much credit.
3. The Titus passage of which you so strongly speak is not the most important passage in the Bible for women or anyone else. There are no passages more important than others. All Christians should study and think deeply about ALL of Scripture. The Titus passage should not be neglected, I agree, but it should also not be held above other passages. Even a passage of Scripture can become a god.
Having said all of that, I do agree that even going to a *Bible* study (Bible only) does not make anyone godly. Godliness comes from hearing the Word and doing what is says. And, ultimately, godliness comes from God himself. Nothing we do or don't do makes us godly, apart from his power working in us.
HappyHomemaker · 460 weeks ago
Also, no the Titus passage isn't the most important, but I think (I'm not Lori, so I am only guessing at this) that Lori takes the passage seriously in that it says the aged women are to teach the younger women. I personally find it refreshing to come to this blog and read something by someone that isn't trying to convince me that what the Bible says isn't true about submission ect...
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
lborengasser 21p · 460 weeks ago
I certainly take the Titus passage seriously, and perhaps interpret it much like Lori would. I was just concerned that she was so focused on it that she was missing the rest of Scripture. But thanks for your feedback!
HappyHomemaker · 460 weeks ago
I know myself well enough to know that there have been times in my life that I would read a book or do a Bible study and would listen to people when they said that submission or usurping authority or any number of things didn't apply to today. I even listened when I was told that I didn't have to obey my husband because he wasn't saved, so I took that liberty to rebel against him and justified myself by saying "well, he's not a Christian, so it's ok" I was wrong, very wrong. One day it dawns on me that the following verses don't say as long as he is a believer, it just says to submit.
Col 3:18
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord
Eph 5:22-24
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
But this verse does deal with an unbelieving husband and it says the same thing, that I am to submit.
1 Peter 3:1
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
For many years, I was told by some teachers and preachers that I was to be the spiritual head of our house and it was ok to disobey my husband and not submit to him as long as I "felt" like God was leading me to. Once I stopped all this nonsense and took my role as it is written, I found out something, if I feel like God is calling me to do something and my husband doesn't want me to, my God is big enough to change my husbands mind on the matter. If God doesn't change his mind, then I do as I am told and obey my husband. I have found that lots and lots of times (for me at least) that I was so emotional about something and couldn't see the situation clearly and had my husband allowed me to do as I felt "led" to do, things would have turned out not so good.
Sorry this is so long, I got to typing and couldn't stop :)
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
1. I didn't say that studying Created to Be His Help Meet was a Bible Study or in place of a Bible study. It's simply studying a book.
2. I promote it since it was the book that was the catalyst to changing my marriage and many others. I had read MANY Christian books before I read this one and not one convicted me like this one did.
3. I never said it was the most important passage in the Bible for women but without it being taught, marriages have crumbled. I wrote, "This is good and way more important than any Bible Study you might attend." God wants women to be submissive to their husbands and all the characteristics in Titus 2:3-5. If these are important to God, these should be important to us. We should be learning the Word from male preachers and teachers and from time in the Word ourselves. If you have read my blog for anytime at all, you will know I teach this over and over again.
I completely agree with your last paragraph and again, if you have read my blog, you would know this about me. We are the righteousness of God because of what Christ did for us! I speak about being "in Christ" and His power working mightily within us very often!
lborengasser 21p · 460 weeks ago
Really, I sincerely encourage you to write broadly (covering many Scripture passages) and to point people to the Word, not your personal view of it. Thanks for considering my recommendation. I am simply concerned for you and your blog and your many readers! :)
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
lborengasser 21p · 460 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
http://lorialexander.blogspot.com/2016/05/should-...
http://lorialexander.blogspot.com/2016/05/be-care...
lborengasser 21p · 460 weeks ago
Outside of that context, I see nowhere in Scripture where women should not teach the Word of God.
As a side note, I would never consider my blogging "teaching." I write to encourage people (men and women alike) to read the Bible for themselves. Tips regarding what helps and what doesn't. And questions regarding specific passages to make people think. I rarely, if ever, post strong conclusions or use persuasive speech as though I want people to listen to *me* or believe in what *I* say. Because my whole purpose in writing is to thrust people back into the Word. I may be wrong about any given idea from Scripture. But Scripture is never wrong. So if I can send people there, I've done my job. And I would do the same if I were writing about Titus 2 (which I have!).
Anyway, my hesitancy regarding a focus on Titus 2 (besides the fact that I think its unbiblical!) is that women can easily misinterpret that passage if they don't have the lens of the entire Bible at their disposal. If we focus on one detail, we'll never see the big picture. There is so much more for women to teach women than what even the entirety of Titus presents. And we'll never interpret Titus 2 properly if we don't spend just as much time reading, studying, writing about, and promoting the rest of the Word.
HappyHomemaker · 460 weeks ago
In your third paragraph you talk about pointing people back to the word, most posts I have read here do exactly that. So, again I am not seeing the problem. You also point out that you don't consider yourself "teaching" on your blog, so why would you consider this blog "teaching" then? Because she focuses on the verse that has the word teach in it? Whether you like it or not, if you have scripture on your blog and then post about it, you are doing the same thing, call it whatever you like.
Out of curiosity, how long have you been reading this blog?
Dave · 460 weeks ago
Anne · 460 weeks ago
Incidentally, so much of the teaching at that time was about modest dress (skirts that touched the ground..) while the women were easily 100 pounds over weight. That comment relates more to the post on your God being your belly... Hard to teach the whole truth and definitely requires Gods grace to live it.
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker · 460 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 460 weeks ago
Jo · 460 weeks ago