As a single woman writing about lots of Bible verses on women it’s easy to wonder what my readers will think about my credibility level. However, I’m throwing caution to the wind and blogging anyway.

Obviously I’ve never put last week’s post into practice and I certainly haven’t put a lot of what I’m going to say today into practice either. Regardless, having done some research, I’ve still got an opinion which I’m more than happy to share. (Ahem…)

I think a lot of people have an aversion to Christianity because they think that every woman is supposed to be some wifey-domestic goddess. However, there is no command that a woman must be married. Single women are given affirmation through a clear purpose: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.

This doesn’t mean she has to become a nun. She could run her own small business, be your manager in the workplace, your local politician or your maths professor at university.

But what if a woman is married? Does that mean she’s forced to quit paid work for good and be a domestic goddess? I think there are comments made in some churches that could lead people to believe that is the case.

My opinion is that the various commands (found within a domestic context) for women to love their husbands and children develop a biblical principle. This principle in my mind equates to a devotion to God first and foremost. Then if a woman is married, her next allegiance in life is to her husband. In third place are her children, if she’s got any.

This means she puts her husband and children first, before herself. This biblical thinking goes against the grain of individualism, but I’m not going to be making any apology for that.

What that principle means in practice is not going to be the same for all women around the globe. And yet, I feel there is still judgment against women in the church in this area.

You know those comments: she’s gone back to work too early after having a baby. She should be at home with the children.

And, you know what… maybe she should.

There are many who believe that women should do whatever they like in this regard. Yet The Bible doesn’t say that. That’s not a popular statement in our modern society, but it doesn’t mean we just ignore it. The principle of putting your husband and children first still applies, no matter what the latest perspective from western society is on that front.

However, this is where we in the church can easily become judgmental and point fingers, as though we are the arbiter of all things. We make up our own rules when The Bible gives very freeing principles, like ‘Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.’

We sometimes interpret this as ‘in everything it’s permissible for me to judge someone else.’

Everything has to be considered within a family’s immediate context. Only then can we discern if a woman is prioritising her husband and children in her choices. And I think women have brains enough to know whether they are or aren’t doing that – should they choose to put Christianity into action in their own lives.

And in the church, even if we are concerned by the decision a woman has made, it’s always good to remember that we might not have the full story. Nor may it be any of our business to comment on her life. She may have her own accountability group or prayer triplet with whom she is wrestling it through.

These things are not simple at times, and yet at times, also, so simple – just obey God.

And just quietly, as a woman who works full-time, I can assure you that modern society’s claim that work will fulfill you is a total lie.

Outside of the church, I also hear the reverse judgment against women who don’t want to work full-time. Every woman seems bound to have some sort of militant-feminist perspective or else they’re deemed a woman-hater.

In society, we seem to like judging women an awful lot. God is not the same.

Yours with opinions,

Alison