[Faith-talk] Relationship Issues

Wed May 17 13:01:36 UTC 2017

Hi Ericka:
You make some very excellent points here. My opinion has always been, if God hadn't meant for women to be ministers, why would he give women such as my brilliant bride awesome ministerial gifts? Some time ago I vowed to never attend a church where women are not allowed to be in the pulpit. Although I readily admit I might have a bias, I do believe Sarah would make an excellent minister in any pulpit that would have her, and any church that would deny her that opportunity isn't worth my time either. As Sarah has said, it's important to read Biblical passages with their context in mind. Just my 2.5 cents on this beautiful Wednesday morning.

Kevin LaRose
Anderson, IN
Email: kl1964 at icloud.com

On May 17, 2017, at 12:19 AM, Ericka via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Thank you for saying this Sara. Now I do appreciate people like you Linda who are able to work in the school and not miss having your own children. However, I have always felt very uncomfortable in congregations that believed as you do. I cannot have children. How would your congregation see me if I were married and had no children? What I still have to stay home and cook and clean for my husband? I am asking this out of curiosity rather than try to make people change their values. I was not raised in a conservative Christian home but I was raised in a Christian home and my mother worked after all three of us were in school. Until then however she was a stay at home mom. She still found time to help us with schoolwork and all the other things Parents need to do. My father and mother worked together to get whatever needed to be done completed at home weathered be chores etc. All of us children were expected to do chores and other responsibilities. Church was never an option but
mandatory. I would hope that if I were a married person in your congregation I would be just as respected as married women with children. I also hope that I would not be shunned for working outside the home. I have no aptitude for some of the things you expect the housewives to do like sewing. 

I'm glad Linda that you feel welcomed, close to God, and fullfilled in your mission. I firmly believe God puts us where we are needed the most and where he knows we can thrive so that His plan for our lives can be nurtured and happen. We just have to listen to that voice and find out!

Praying for all who are trying to find their call, their mission, their place. Just remember God is with you through it all! 

Ericka Short
1750 Fordem Ave. #508
Madison. WI. 53704
608-665-3170

from my iPhone 6+

> On May 14, 2017, at 10:44 PM, Sarah Blake LaRose via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi, Linda.
> 
> I certainly appreciate your perspective on this. 
> 
> I also want to say that speaking as a female, the way that you are speaking has been used abusively by many conservative churches and there are many women who cannot, and do not have children to raise, or who cannot stay home due to the financial needs of their families. Please bear these things in mind when you are speaking to women. All Scripture has a context. The words of Paul were written to churches in specific cultural situations. Paul had no thought that they were ever to be used to direct the lives of American churches. How we interpret these words needs to be against the similarity of the culture then and the culture now. If we demand that the woman stay home and keep house and the result is that a family becomes impoverished, we have used Scripture to oppress and not as a tool of blessing. The reality is that many women in ancient times worked out of their homes and it is likely that the work they did contributed to their family's welfare both economically and otherwise.
Because of cultural norms, the women did not do the trading. The men did; but the likely traded goods that were produced by women. Please think on this before discouraging a woman from working and using her God-given gifts.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Linda Mentink via Faith-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2017 10:46 PM
> To: Faith-talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Linda Mentink <mentink at frontiernet.net>
> Subject: [Faith-talk] Relationship Issues
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> I have read with interest all the posts.  Quite a few things crossed my mind as I read.
> 
> Firstly, Bill, as has been said, you're too eager, and will turn women off with this eagerness or pushiness.  A man tried that with me once.  I wasn't interested in marriage, but I gave him a chance.  He was a sighted man who played Bass Viol in the orchestra which accompanied a community choral group with which I sang for many years.  He was very oppressive, and was so full of himself, that I told him that there was no room for me, or anyone else in his life.  He asked me how to attract a woman.  I told him a few things!
> 
> Secoddly, to Erica's point about "shacking up," this one really bothers me.  I don't know who made the rule in the Social Security Administration that people living on SSI lose income when they marry, encouraging even Christians to disobey God's Word the Bible.  God never said to forget marriage if you wouldn't have as much mone coming in.  I believe that this is a serious sin, and that God will not bless those relationships, and the people in them, as much as He will those who live their lives in obedience to Him.  Those who do this are defiling the marriage bed, and committing adultery.  Shame on the American leadership for putting this rule forward and enforcing it!
> 
> Thirdly, anyone desiring to be married should study the passages on this in the Bible, especially if they are Christians.  We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, so fellowship with those of like precious faith.  The blind Christian needs to handle himself or herself appropriately, and must be confident, not helpless and dependent on others.  Marriage is a partnership, and a sighted person is not going to even want to enter into a marriage relationship with a blind person who can't take care of themselves.  As to how far you should go, keep your clothes on.  
> And, if you're a man, and you can't support a woman, get a job.  
> God commands mothers to be keepers at home, which society has disobeyed.  The man is to be the head of the home, as Christ is the head of the Church, and its up to him to provide for his family.  The woman should stay at home and raise the children.  
> That's the Biblical plan.  Some have worked it out so that the woman goes to work and the man stays home, in the case of some blind friends I know.  And in some cases, both work.  It's tough to figure this all out, but it should be done prayerfully.
> 
> I am 61, and have remained single and a virgin.  I have had relationships over the years, but they didn't work out.  I am very content as a single woman.  Paul encourages us to be as he is, thereby being able to serve the Lord more fully.  Because I don't have to divide my time between taking care of a husband and family and serving my Lord, I can be single-minded inservice to Him.  I know many who serve the Lord together as couples, and most couples I know and fellowship with are happy, well-adjusted people raising their children in the church.
> 
> If we are willing to obey God's precepts, we will save ourselves from a lot of heartache.  Commit your way to the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
> 
> I hope this makes sense!
> 
> Blessings,
> 
> Linda
> 
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