Where's Your Heart?

Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:56

Lest I be misunderstood, let me clarify that there’s nothing inherently “wrong” with the 10 Weeks to Better Mothering, How to be a Godly Wife series, ladies’ teas, luncheons or banquets, 15 Lessons for Loving Your Man or the “Do This, Do That” approach to “women’s ministry.”  As in, “Do these 10 things, follow this formula, and voila!" Out pops a spiritually mature woman, wife and mom approaches to “women’s ministry.” 

Excuse me?

I’ve seen these kinds of “ministries” bloom over the landscape of Christendom like California poppies after the first Spring rain.  Maybe you have, too.  Let me be clear that many of them are noble and laudable, and meet real needs—to a point.  But what bothers me with this oft-replayed “ministry mentality” is that it too often reduces Christian womanhood to little more than a “To Do List.”  Nothing wrong with To Do Lists, but c’mon on!  Do you want….More?  I don’t want to be exhausted or guilt-laden by “women’s ministries.”  (“Oops!  I’m falling down in Items 2 and 9, back to square one!”)  Nor do I want to be patronized or meet Death by Boredom or Redundancy. 

In short, I wonder… Is a To Do List who or what God intended for Daughters of Eve?  Hmmm.

I also wonder…

Where are the “women’s ministry” groups discussing that which is academic, scholarly and stretching?  Where are the discussion groups focusing on themes of grace and mercy in the collected works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Fyodor Dostoevsky or Leo Tolstoy within the context of personal application?  (Plans to launch something like this invariably fall on deaf ears.  Hmmm.)  Who’s read Elisabeth Elliot’s masterful work, A Path Through Suffering: Discovering the Relationship Between God’s Mercy and Our Pain?  Here’s a choice rhubarb:  when’s the last time you heard why “the original purpose of woman according to Genesis-- to be a helper”—is an incomplete, unfortunate rendering of a Hebrew text that is notoriously difficult to translate?  

This blog can’t and won’t provide all the answers.  (To be sure, I often have more questions than answers!)  This blog won’t “provide” yet another rant about all the things you’re failing to do as a “Christian woman.”  I’ve read those sites, blogs and books.  I’m tired of those sites, blogs and books.  They’re stifling, sometimes insulting, and often soul-killing. 

Anyone else feel that way?

You see ladies, what I want to know is, where is your Heart, the prize of the One who made you? 

If you’re interested, stay tuned.  Better yet, RUN (don’t walk) to your nearest Christian bookstore and get a copy of Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul, by John and Stasi Eldredge. 

I’m a ravenous reader, “chowing down” an average of a book a week, sometimes more.  But Captivating is in a class by itself.  This remarkable book is  234 pages of wonder, enrichment, invitation, explanation, exploration, challenge, truth, and… sheer delight. Like a cool draught of water on a blistering August afternoon, Captivating has refreshed, confirmed and rounded-out my views and understanding of Christian femininity.  Talk about a welcome whiff of fresh air!  I read it cover-to-cover in two days.  (Captivating warning: Bring Kleenex.  I went through half a box before finishing this extraordinary, outstanding tome.)

Indeed, it’s inevitable that this blog will include several “songs” from the Captivating “score.”  This may be due to the fact that I’m still a work in progress, learning as I go.  Sorting things out and processing  while leaning on the Everlasting Arms.  If you’d like to join me, you’re always welcome.  In the meantime, find out more about John and Stasi Eldredge by visiting my links under Ransomed Heart Ministries.

There’s more (like you had to ask?).  I make no promise of confining my remarks solely to this subject—in fact, I’ll probably run around all over the literary landscape here.  However, the over-worked “Proverbs 31” ministry paradigm is an area of special interest to me at present.  In keeping with this interest, I’ll “rush in where angels fear to tread” via an example of a specific "women's ministry" from the “flip side of the coin” in the near future.  (It may arrive in 2 or 3 postings -  Stay tuned.)

  Laus Deo.

Untitled Comment

Posted by Rhen on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:24 - Link

I have to agree with many of the things you are saying. I generally don't participate in many of the women's ministries because they have all been fluff. Even the bible study was just fluff. Nothing to grow on or life changing or even attitude changing. Except one. A woman's bible study held by my very dear friend Laura. The was no book to buy or schedule to follow. We just looked at the women in the bible. We chose a woman and then really, REALLY looked at why God chose to use her as an example to us. What a life changing, attitude changing and outlook changing study. Her approach was so forward and we were all involved. There was much discussion, reflection and searching (in the bible and in ourselves). Don't get me wrong. I think getting together for coffee and snacks with other Christian women can be very uplifting and wonderful. I enjoy the relaxing, the conversation and the fellowship but true study into God's plan for women and in our own lives is very important.
(Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes. That was not my intention!)
All for His glory, ~Rhen

Amen!

Posted by solodeogloria on Friday, July 20, 2007 at 07:46 - Link

Because of the way this has spoken to me, I look forward to your writing more on the subject.

Thank you for this.

Blessings,
Laurie

WOW

Posted by cindy on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 10:00 - Link

my words won't protray the feeling I have now. I am right there with you ... in search of true study, a more intimate relationship with our Lord and you have hit the nail on the head. I am off to look for Captivating... I look forward to your future posts as well.

Thank you for being a blessing,