Putting Titus 2 women in their place (Or: Should women stay at home?) Part 2

(Continued from part 1)

Does God say that a woman’s sphere is only the home?

Genesis 1:28: God blessed them and said to them: Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the eart and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

Seemingly not. The earth was given for both genders to rule and subdue.

Does God find some things more important than housekeeping?

 Luk 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Yes. Sitting at the Lord’s feet and studying theology is more important than housekeeping.

Do God find some things more important than child rearing?

Luk 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Yes. Hearing the word of God and keeping it is more important than raising a child, even than raising the greatest Child in the world. And, per implication, raising the greatest children is not the most important will of God for you or me as women.

Does God find some things more important than submitting to a husband and loving him?

1Co 7:34 … woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Yes. The woman -or man – who is married cannot be as single-mindedly focused on the Lord as the one who is single. Marriage and husband-pleasing is not the highest ideal God has for a woman. (Please, married mother, I am not picking on you. Stay tuned for how this has a great application to your life!) And the married Joanna travelled around and ministered with Jesus (Luke 8:1,3) – even married women don’t always have to be at home for their husbands.

But how could this be? How, if a single women can do very little Titus 2 ministry to husband and children, can she actually serve God more effectively? Well, IF Titus 2 were the defining verse of everything a woman should be and do, THEN 1 Cor. 7:34 would have been wrong, as the single lady is in no position to do all the Titus 2 passage say. But as 1 Cor. 7:34 is right, Titus 2 is not central to the definition of how to be a Christian woman.

Now, back from single women to all women: Everything God tells believers to be and to do, he also tells women believers to be and do.* We are 1 Peter 2 woman – (like men, we are) “an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” There is no need to feel you have few places to minister because you are young and unmarried, a widow with grown children, or very busy at home.

Conclusion:

If Titus 2 keepers tells you how to teach honesty to your children, how to make a great stew, or how to please your husband, and if you need the advice, good. The bible spell out they could.

But if the likes of Stacy McDonald or Jenny Chancey claim that you ought to stay at home, ought not to have other types of ministry on your plate, or ought to regard Titus 2 as the most important lifestyle prescription for a Christian woman, shun them. God does not limit women the way these “ladies against feminism” do. And by Titus 2 itself, that is not among the things they are allowed to teach.