I intended to write about the first Lemon (1 Cor. 11:1-16) in this post; however, after reading a heart-wrenching post yesterday by a young woman on an egalitarian Facebook page that I follow (a private, not public, group), I decided to make a short side-trip before beginning the trek down the lemon road.
I replied on the FB page and told her that I was going to use my blog to respond to what she wrote, because it might also be helpful to some others who read my blog, but don’t follow that site. So here it is:
Dear _______,
I identified so much with your experience. I have been around the abuse-and-suppression-of-Christian-women block more times than I care to remember. I will turn 70 at the end of this week and am glad to report that God has brought me through many years of experiences like yours to a place where my feet are set solidly on the ground of biblical truth about woman. My walk today, in freedom with Him, is strong, purposeful, and full of the peace that only He can give.
In your post you asked for some advice so, in brief, here is mine:
1) First and foremost, keep sitting at the feet of Jesus (the best teacher) asking for His help to walk every day in the truth of your freedom in Him.
2) Move forward, determined to educate yourself with the truth about God’s view of woman in the Bible to the point that you can articulate this biblical truth in your sleep!
3) Walk in what you learn one day at a time. (When problems arise, you can’t always face them with talk about the truth you know, but you can always live it out for others to observe. Many times you will talk about what is true. I think you’ll find, as I did, that it’s impossible not to, and also that it is wrong not to speak if your silence is enabling others’ bad behavior.)
4) Most importantly, always remember that your struggle is not with flesh and blood (the people who hurt you) but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places who hate strong, godly women.
5) Never let anything or anyone discourage, intimidate, or cause you to want to give up. Always remember that this battle is against a defeated foe and you can continue to move forward to places of victory by living faith in the Victor: our wonderful Lord, Jesus.
My husband, who used to be one of the “flesh and blood” in my life whom the devil used to hurt me, is today a changed man (a godly one) who is my chief supporter in all things spiritual (and otherwise). This year is our 50th anniversary … and all glory for that goes to Him who sits on the throne!
In my recent book about Christian women becoming women of chayil, I wrote something in testimonial fashion that might encourage you in your present dilemma, so I’m sharing it in the following excerpt:
(By Jane: Courageous is the young woman who wrote the private post to which I replied in the posts “God Gets My Attention” and “Some Chain Rattling Truth.” The following is her original post. Thank you, Courageous, for sharing it here also!)
When I first found out that equality was biblical and of God I felt this incredible peace a peace so profound I felt the power to submit willingly and with the newfound peace the loss of perceived rejection by God.
I thought my family would be ecstatic to hear about this incredible freedom.
I was wrong.
Terribly wrong and didn’t know the roots of my families belief were so deep and incredibly hurtful and dismissive and the worst UNBIBLICAL.
Needless to say I was attacked as a man hater, liberal, accused of scriptural rejection, told that just like Eve I was wanting the one thing I couldn’t have, woman was made for man not man for woman and all female characters in the Bible were dismissed because they “stayed at home” and that genesis 3:16 is applicable today and God rule.
While I know none of this is true their words are constantly replayed in my mind.
Now I’m easily triggered and feel a welling up of bitterness.
Obedience and submission now carry a negative connotation for me even in regards to God himself.
I can’t have these feelings in my life this is not good fruit!
I want to simplify things and go back to my original belief but I can’t.
I strongly believe God led me to an egalitarian conclusion.
How do I deal with the new found bitterness??
Wondering if this feeling will go away?
I desperately need Gods peace on this.
Advice is welcome and appreciated ????