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Links From the Week

Mar22

Backyard Grapes

Friends, there have been so many articles that I have read or skimmed this week that I want to share with you! So let me begin:

These are the lines of a story – This is an essay by a woman reflecting on the lasting physical marks of her pregnancies, such as stretch marks and scars.  It is beautifully written, and will touch the heart of any woman who has looked down at her post-pregnancy body and longed for a younger version of herself.  Mommas, don’t miss this one!

7 Traits of False Teachers – I am someone who was led astray by false teaching for several years of my Christian walk.  It was not until my early twenties that I was really pointed to Scripture as the measure of what is true, and it has been life changing.  Because of my background, being aware of false teaching is something I hold very high on my priority list.  This article is helpful in providing a quick lesson on identifying false teaching.

My Abortion Story & Why I Sidewalk Counsel at Abortuaries – Marci at Thankful Homemaker is one of my favorite bloggers and I am always encouraged by her efforts to proclaim the Gospel and encourage other women in their work at home and as mother’s and wives.  This week she shared a sad part of her past and the beautiful story of God’s redemption as He has transformed her life.

A Letter to the Church – This one has gone viral this week, but with good reason.  Homosexuality is an issue that is at the forefront of Christian social issues in the political world, and we know well from Scripture that God is very serious about the sinfulness of sexual immorality in any form.  Still, we as the Church have approached this topic with arrogance and pride, making a mockery out of those believers who genuinely deal with homosexual desires and desire to be free of their sin in this area.  This letter is from one of those believers, and she is pleading with us to change our approach.  Take a look; if nothing else it will show you the sin of homosexuality from a perspective you may not have heard before.

101 Snacks for Your Husband – I have had several friends recently mention that healthy eating habits are a struggle in their home because their husband is not 100% on board with the changes.  This article from Keeper of the Home today has some great ideas for healthy snacks that taste great, even to your husband! Check it out!

From Rubble to Restoration – Some food for a weary soul! Brief but full of truth, here is an excerpt: “Perhaps today you are weeping too over the rubble of sin or failure or things out of your control.  Perhaps you are reflecting on the rubble left from long-ago decisions, rubble that you are trying desperately to hide, run away from, or move past once-and-for-all.  Jesus stands over that rubble, weeping with compassion for you. But more so, he calls for you, his spiritual Jerusalem, to come to him…”

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Check out the side panel for all the great blogs I link up with from week to week!

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Links from the Week

Mar15

DSC_0099-001

I managed to catch my little guy posing yesterday with this thoughtful little smirk, and I couldn’t help but caption it with some of his favorite things.

But enough about cute little people, here are some worthwhile places I stopped on the Web this week:

Motherhood is Manna – Erin Davis makes a much-needed point here that though our children are blessings & answers to prayer, we often find ourselves complaining to God as if they are a burden to carry. She says, “I asked God for children. He rained down beautiful gifts, straight from heaven. And my default is to gripe.”  Read the whole thing and then ask yourself the question she presents, “Are you managing your manna well?”

The Most Disobeyed Commandment in the Church? – This one might sting you a little! Have you ever considered granting honor and respect to President Obama in a way that is similar to the honor and respect you give your mother and father?  It seems we should.  Please note that the author uses the Westminster Larger Catechism as his primary support for the point he makes, but let us also note what he explains in a comment to critics:

The catechism is a brief summary of biblical teaching. As other commenters have pointed out, it’s not too difficult to find the verses that support the principle, but the catechism helps to gather together the teaching in a succinct summary – quite helpful for a brief blog post. Romans 13 is an application of the moral principle summarized in the fifth commandment.

Those We Lead – This article is encouraging pastor’s wives, especially experienced pastor’s wives, to care for the women they are leading.  She says, “I am not the leader of these women. They all have so much leadership in them that quite frankly, they could lead me on any given day. Despite my peaches ‘n cream complexion, I am the oldest one here and have the most experience as a pastor’s wife and woman in ministry. Because of that, I try my best to be their friend, encourage them, pray for them and just be there should they need an ear.”

Aspartame in Milk – This article from US News is a few weeks old, but it was just brought to my attention by Jacqueline at Deep Roots at Home.  I try very hard to avoid anything that contains aspartame after realizing how sick it seemed to make my son while he was breastfed.  There are a number of reasons to avoid it, I’ve learned, and I couldn’t believe they were looking to add it to milk as a way to get more kids to drink it!

On that same subject, Jacqueline also shared an informative post on the health effects of sugar vs. aspartame.

Lastly, below is a song that my husband sang in church last week to encourage our widows and widowers who were honored with a luncheon after service.  If you have experienced grief after the loss of a Christian loved one, this song is full of comforting truth.

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Check out the side panel for all the great blogs I link up with from week to week!

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How to Discourage the Weary

Jan18

Weary Path

Are you looking for the perfect way to discourage a weary friend and increase your chances that they will not want to return to you for help?  If so, this list is for you:

1. Make the conversation about you.

This can be accomplished through one easy step.  When they come to you, respond to their concerns by immediately sharing your own set of hard circumstances.  Surely you can find a way to one-up them.

2. Minimize their problem.

Continuing to keep the focus on yourself, remind them of all the ways you are facing more difficult challenges than they are.  Tell them that it could be SO much worse, and they simply need to think about how good they have it compared to you, or possibly people with cancer, starving children, or tortured POWs.

3.  Grant yourself authority over their life.

Tell them you know exactly what they are going through, and tell them exactly what they need to do to fix it.  Be sure to tell them that your solution is the only way they will be able to overcome their problem.  If they try to offer their own suggestions, give them a critical look and tell them it is probably not the best idea.

4.  Feel free to pass judgement and gossip about them.

This step will really help boost your pride and sense of importance.  Pat yourself on the back for being such a helpful & wise friend while feeling pity for your friend and her silly problems.  Talk about this person later with a group of friends, and be sure to roll your eyes as you revisit your opinion on how easy the weary friend has it.

Include all of the above approaches in response to your next counseling opportunity, and you’ll be increasing weariness and self-doubt in no time! 

Seeking to change your approach?

Perhaps you are more interested in encouraging the weary?  Maybe you have already tried the above approaches and learned that they are not as helpful as you had hoped?  Or have you been counseled by someone who uses these options and you have felt the discouragement first-hand?

If you are looking to provide encouragement to your troubled friends, consider these helpful alternatives:

1.  Maintain focus on your friend.

Ask a lot of questions.  Let them do most of the talking.  Explore the issue they are facing as fully as possible by trying to learn what exactly has happened, how it has impacted their life, what heart desires are at the root of their feelings.  Refrain from talking about yourself and your own problems unless they are directly related to the issue at hand.

2. Instead of minimizing, gently normalize their problem.

As your friend continues to share her heart with you and be vulnerable, it is helpful to take opportunities to normalize what she is going through.  To normalize her problem is to simply reassure her in small ways that she is not alone in her struggle, and you are sure that others have had similar experiences.  You may just remind her that you are just as sinful as she is and have no room to judge in those moments when you see she is ashamed of what she has done.

Sometimes all you need to do in order to normalize is maintain receptive facial expressions, use active listening, and refrain from appearing shocked or alarmed by what they share.

Normalizing does not involve any form of comparison with another’s problem, and it certainly shouldn’t communicate that she has done nothing wrong.  Instead, it provides reassurance to your friend that you don’t think she is completely crazy, she is not the only one to ever experience her problem, and there is hope that things will improve.

3.  Let the Bible have authority.

When a friend comes to you for counsel, it can be easy to believe that they expect you to have the answers to their problems.  They may even tell you that they are hoping you can fix their problem.  As tempting as it may be to claim authority in these situations, it is best to refrain from giving specific instructions.

Instead, be sure to point them to Scripture that can help them better understand what God may want them to do in their situation.  Encourage them to make their own conclusions, and carefully redirect them if their suggestions fall off course with God’s Word.  If there is a need for repentance that they are not acknowledging, it may be necessary to gently rebuke them by sharing relevant Scripture.  You may also need to help them understand the value of repentance and forgiveness for sin.

Remember that in most circumstances, there is no right answer when it comes to practical solutions.  Your friend might find that what is best for her does not look exactly like what would be best for you if you were in her shoes.  As long as she is staying obedient to Scripture, it is better for her to do what works best for her rather than follow someone else’s formula.

4.  Guard their privacy.

It is important that you assure your friend that your conversation will remain confidential.  It is a frightening thing to be vulnerable with another person and may have taken this person a great deal of courage to share their feelings with you.  Be respectful of their privacy by refraining from opportunities to talk about them with others.

Unless it is a matter of safety, such as suicidal threats or a desire to harm another person, there is no reason to share your conversation with others.  In cases where you find it necessary to tell someone, ask for permission, include her in the third-party conversation, or simply let her know that you feel it is necessary to report her problem to a higher authority.

In addition to these valuable parts of helpful counsel and encouragement, also be sure to:

Follow up your conversation within a week, and plan to repeat follow-up as needed.  See how they are doing, what God has been teaching them, and what has gotten better.  Continue to pray for them, and let them know you are doing so.  These are small gestures that can make a huge difference in a person’s life!

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Check out the side panel for all the great blogs I link up with from week to week!

Are you are feeling blessed by the content of this blog and want to read more by lamp light? I’d love to see you on Twitter and Facebook .  Join me there for up-to-date lamp news and posts that are hot off the press!

A Favorite Song

Nov25

This morning during the collection of the offering, I got to sing this song for my church family.  It’s called “The Prodigal,” and it has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it.  I have been so blessed by Sovereign Grace Music and their commitment to producing deep, theologically rich songs.  Check them out if you have never done so, you will be blessed!

This video sets it with animation that really brings the meaning of the words to life in a unique way.  If you are reading this through email subscription, visit this link to view the video:  http://youtu.be/IbTK-mKxrAc

A Note on My Theology & Resources

Nov15

Dear Readers,

I have added a segment to my hostess page regarding my theology and resources.  I have received some questions via email, out of simple curiousity, regarding these things and I felt it might be helpful to just share these answers with all of you.

My husband and I are members of a Southern Baptist Church and align ourselves well with the Baptist Faith & Message.  Our hearts are dedicated to pursuing what is true according to Scripture and letting our lives be transformed by God through that pursuit.

I consider myself reformed in my theology and affirm the Doctrines of Grace.  In addition to my ESV Study Bible, various online resources, and Bible dictionaries, I also reference Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology among my biblical resources.  I site sources within posts when they are used, though most often I stick with the Bible as my primary source.

I frequent like-minded websites like The Gospel Coalition and the bloggers who contribute there.

The Together for the Gospel Conferences and their Affirmations and Denials also closely represent our convictions in regards to the Gospel, the Bible, the Trinity, and the Church.

I am also a proud supporter of the True Woman Movement and affirm the statements regarding Biblical Womanhood in the True Woman Manifesto.  Additionally, I am keen to written work by Mary Kassian & Nancy Leigh DeMoss on these topics.

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood can also provide you with a list of core beliefs I agree with regarding Biblical Womanhood.

While these links will lead you to a good conclusion on where I stand on certain theological debates, I hope they will not discourage you if you are not of the same opinion.  I am in no way a mean or judgemental theologian, and I treasure all brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of our theological differences.  By sharing this, I simply claim to personally believe that these viewpoints are in line with what I’ve learned through Scripture.

I am hoping to create a resources page here on the blog very soon, where many of these links will be provided as well as more of my favorite blogs.  Until then, I hope this post can provide clarity to any questions you may have had regarding my stance on core theological issues.

Blessings,

Tyanne

A Quick Lesson on Ebooks

Sep12

For all my friends that continue to tell me, “I’m just not good with technology!”

I am not an expert on computers or electronics, but without a doubt, I am a child of the information age.  I grew up using computers and the internet, and I have sailed fluently through the explosion of new technology in the last 20 years.  Still, I am no stranger to the difficult learning process adults face as they try to enter the electronic world for the first time.  In many ways, technology is like a foreign language.  It’s easiest to learn and gain fluency when you face it at an early age.  However, trying to learn a new language as an adult is extremely challenging.

If you are like my mom, putting the word “electronic” in front of ANY common word is a bad idea and cannot be trusted.  Even so, you realize that cautiously approaching the subject is probably worthwhile as you adjust yourself to the digital world around you.  For my mom, learning to use electronics has been a big and challenging adventure, but it has opened her eyes to the beauty of broad and accessible information at her finger tips.  Not to mention, as I shared in her adoption story, her ability to use the internet has been life changing!

Recognizing that many of my readers are fairly new to the electronic world, just like my mom, I am aware of the need to provide a simple explanation of electronic concepts from time to time.  I have experienced many long phone calls with my mother where I have been her technical support as she tried to figure out her digital camera, Facebook profile changes, and even text messaging attempts.  I understand that the word “download” means absolutely nothing to her, and that choosing between the right-click and left-click is always a toss-up.  With this in mind, it’s time we all have a little heart-to-heart about electronic books, or ebooks as they are commonly called.  For all of you who type with one finger and unplug your computer when things get confusing: This one’s for you!

Some simple reasons that even YOU should give ebooks a chance:

  1. If you are reading this blog, you most likely have everything you need to read an ebook! You don’t need to have a special electronic reader like a Kindle or a Nook to read most ebooks.  A working computer and an internet connection will do just fine.
  2. The process of purchasing, downloading, and opening an ebook to read is not complicated.  If you have a computer savvy child over the age of twelve or into adulthood, I can almost guarantee they will be able to help you through any technical questions you may have.
  3. Once you are successfully at the website where you plan to buy your ebook (such as an author’s site, Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com), there will be clear steps throughout the purchasing process.  Simply read through each step, and follow their directions.  I promise they will not steer you wrong.
  4. You can feel safe purchasing items online, especially through trusted shopping sites like Amazon. There are many articles available with tips to increase safety for your online purchases.  This one, from eHow, is especially reassuring.
  5. Ebooks are often significantly less expensive than printed books, and there are many [excellent Christian books] available for free!
  6. Many ebooks are under 100 pages and can be read quickly and easily, making them great resources for busy schedules.

These are just a handful of basic facts that I know my mom would want to hear before she considered buying an ebook for herself.  If you read through this list and feel inspired to take a step further into the electronic reading world, I encourage you to read Ten Things You Wish You Knew About Ebooks by my friend Elisa!  Here you’ll find some specific answers to your ebook questions!

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The Impact My Life Community

Aug27

If you have been a regular at Lamp on a Stand, I hope that it has been obvious that I have a heart to see Christian women living in obedience to God and seeking to know Him through scripture.  It is my desire that God would use this blog to make an impact on your life by urging you to glorify God in all you do.

One major blessing I have received through starting this blog has been connecting with other bloggers that have similar vision and convictions.  I treasure the moments in which I feel my heart leap for joy as I read well crafted words that affirm the truth of scripture and call women to action, words written by women to women that draw out a whispered “amen” as I am inspired.

A few weeks ago, I came across Elisa Pulliam and the More to Be ministry, and while exploring her website and reading about her mission, I found myself whispering “amen” a dozen times.  Her heart is to see women living in obedience to the Titus 2 Mandate for mentorship, and embracing the call to mentor and be mentored.  This passion has led her to stir up passion in others by providing resources and encouragement for mentoring that are easily accessible and applicable to your individual needs as a mentor.

When I learned she was preparing to publish a new ebook, Impact My Life, I couldn’t resist making myself a part of her ministry by helping put this resource in front of the women to whom I minister here.  I am now part of the Impact My Life Community, and am writing today to introduce myself to the rest of this lovely group of women who are also passionate about impacting lives through mentorship.  Elisa has asked us several questions, and I welcome you to explore my answers while considering joining this community by answering them yourself!

Tell us who you are:

My name is Tyanne, daughter of the One True God, wife to one husband, and mother to one son.  Prior to marriage and motherhood, I studied Sociology and Corrections, completed my bachelor’s degree, and worked in the social work field as a counselor and crisis interventionist.  I love my new role as a stay-at-home mom and wife, and I find joy in honoring God by serving our church body and other believers in a variety of ways. (Please visit the Hostess page to learn more!)

Tell us where you serve our amazing God:

I serve God, first and foremost, by living my life to worship Him, live obediently, and strive towards holiness.  Additionally, I serve God by serving others in my home, my church, and my community.  My highest service priority in this season of life is to serve my husband as his helper, and serve my son by mothering him in ways that honor the Lord.

I serve in our church by singing with our worship team, mentoring, and co-leading our ministry for moms with young children.  Studying God’s word and Writing truth and encouragement here at Lamp on a Stand is another way I am able to serve women in my family, my church, and throughout the world.

Tell us who you want to impact with biblical truth:

The more difficult question is, “Who DON’T I want to impact with biblical truth?” God’s Word holds the key to life, and without His truth we are all dead for an eternity of wailing and gnashing of teeth.  To say there is anyone I do not want to impact with biblical truth is to say I care little about the eternal destiny of those around me.  I desire to see lives changed by faith in Christ, and transformed towards sanctification by living in obedience to God’s commands.  I desire to impact all people with biblical truth, all the time.

I especially see a need for women of all ages to be inspired by God’s Word in huge ways, setting aside our fears and weaknesses to pursue God’s path for us.

Tell us why you’re looking forward to the release of Impact My Life:

I look forward to the release of Impact My Life because I desire to see other women respond to it and take action.  Elisa has taken the time to provide a simple and accessible resource that will challenge women to understand the value of biblical mentorship, set aside their excuses, identify mentoring opportunities, and be intentional in mentoring relationships.  Lives will be impacted by reading this book, and there will be a beautiful ripple effect as women step up to impact the lives of other women and young girls.

Tell us how you think you’ll use Impact My Life: 

At this time, my desire is to share this resource with others who are serving as mentors and those who should be serving as mentors but have chosen not to seek out the opportunity.  I am also currently using it as a personal kick-in-the-pants to step up and mentor more intentionally in my existing mentorship relationships as well as informal mentorship relationships.

Thank you all for taking the time to get to know me! I look forward to connecting with others through the Impact My Life Community.  If you are not currently a part of it, I encourage you to consider reading more about this ministry by clicking on the image above! Also, take the time to like the More to Be facebook page HERE!

Caution: Child at Work

Aug1

Equipping your child with the tools to get the job done!

Did you know that your child is a professional at work?  It’s true.  No matter their age or experience, they have been employed their entire life as a top-of-the-line, professional imitator.  Qualifications for this job include: Acute observation skills, heightened awareness of mom and dad’s subtle movements and expressions, strong desire to perform tasks exactly like mom and dad do, willingness to practice all day long.

My educational and professional background is in Sociology and social services. I love to study and learn about people, how they develop and grow, and the factors that seem to influence their development and behavior. Child development is especially fascinating to me, and I am particularly interested in the role of play time and toys in a child’s social and intellectual development. Through play, a child is able to take what they have learned and practice it, processing the information they have gathered while imitating what they have seen.

As professionals, they are quite good at what they do.  Not only are they good, but they are also continually looking for opportunities to expand their skills and expertise.  They start small, immediately following their birth, when they are already capable of imitating your facial movements.  (This is seen as nursing mothers are demonstrating an open mouth to entice their baby to latch.)  Their resume expands as they learn to imitate emotional expressions, such as smiles and laughter, and quickly to follow are the sounds they begin to make.  Small motor skills are soon exercised, followed by full body mobility.  It’s inspiring to see how dedicated these little ones are to their craft.

As moms, we deeply desire to foster these little skills in any way we are able.  From practicing their roll-overs at tummy time, to holding their hand as they take their first steps, we are their biggest fans.  In the first year, so much fun is had while we watch them achieve the physical milestones we’ve been waiting for.  The physical development is often the focus of that year, and many of their toys are designed to encourage their small and large motor skills.

Throughout their journeys to full mobility and beyond, we try to be intentional with helping them learn.  We read.  We teach them that everything has a name.  We identify colors.  We explore sensory objects.  We sing.  We communicate.  They learn.

One aspect of helping your child learn as a professional imitator is deciding which toys are most beneficial to their learning process.

This can be a daunting task for a mother.  There are probably two major factors that influence your thinking when selecting suitable toys for your child: 1) Is it cost-effective?  and 2) Is it beneficial for my child?

The last thing you want to do when buying a toy for your child is spend too much only to realize it will rarely be used and have no benefit to your child’s development.  After your child is into their toddler years and beyond, determining which toys are beneficial can become more complicated.  There are many toys on the market that are both overpriced and poorly designed, yet they are promoted very well and make claims to be educational.

So how do you find the best “tools” for your child to get to work?

Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for “real life” toys to help your child learn:

  1. Your child is a professional imitator and learns best through observation and opportunity to imitate real life activities.
  2. Ask yourself the question: Does this toy represent real life activity?  Examples of real life toys: Cooking gear and food, baby dolls and accessories, toy vehicles, animal figures, doll houses with life-like family members, pretend cleaning supplies, tools, or basic objects that can serve as a variety of pretend objects (cardboard boxes are PERFECT.)
  3. Popular toys might claim to resemble real life objects, but in reality they neither look or function like the object they are made to imitate.  Example: We were given the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Workbench.  While this toy plays fun songs and provides opportunities for little ones to pull levers, slide bolts, and hammer pegs, it does not resemble a workbench closely enough for my child to understand that he is pretending to “work” like an adult would work at a real bench.
  4. Select toys that fit well with your individual family life.  Example: My husband is a musician, so my child observes him often behind a piano or other instrument.  For Christmas last year, we decided a piano with real keys was something that would benefit our son by giving him a new way to imitate his daddy.  If your husband is a carpenter who is often wearing a tool belt, your child would probably benefit from a pretend tool belt with tools.  Also, toys that fit your child’s individual interests are great ideas as well.  My child is in love with shopping carts, so we opted to get him a life-like shopping cart for his birthday this year.
  5. Does this toy come with a script, or does it allow for imagination to lead the way? Example: A character from a popular TV show might excite the child and they may love to play with it, but it comes with a name and personality already associated with it as well as possible story lines to act out with it.  A neutral, nameless doll or action figure will encourage your child to use their imagination as they give that toy an identity and story they have thought of themselves.
  6. Never underestimate the power of puppets.  Puppets are extremely useful in helping children learn.  From finger puppets to large doll size, they provide endless possibilities for teaching your child a story in a memorable way and also giving your child a way to role-play and “live-out” a story of their own.  When I did therapy with small children, puppets were invaluable in helping little ones open up and tell me what they were thinking about.  While it was scary to tell me, the strange lady at the office, what was bothering them, it was comfortable to grab a puppet and let the puppet tell another puppet what was on their mind.
  7. Often the simplest, least expensive objects are the biggest hits!  As parents living in a materialistic culture, it can be tempting to believe that the price tag is indicative of the quality and desirability of a particular toy.  In reality, the price tag is often an indication of the marketing power of the manufacturer, not the power of the toy.  (Though there are many high quality toys with higher price tags simply because they are well made and extremely durable!)  If it’s a choice between an expensive electronic device and a $10 set of pretend cleaning tools, you are not giving your child “less” by choosing the cleaning tools.

By no means would I claim that these points should inform ALL of your toy purchases, but I encourage you to consider them next time you are out toy shopping.  Ask yourself, “What toy will become a tool for my child to imitate and pretend?”  We serve a creative God who designed us to be creative people.  Help your child to use their creativity by selecting toys that encourage their imagination!

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This post is linked up with The Purposeful Mom!
Check out the side panel for all the great blogs I link up with from week to week!
If you liked this post you might also enjoy His Mother’s Son, A day without reading is like a day without laughter, or That time I punched an eight year old. 
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Want to increase your understanding of theology?

Jul26

t {squared}

The other day, I blogged about my own journey towards understanding that theology matters.  As I shared in my post, my husband has served as my greatest teacher and motivator on this topic.  I know that not all of you are married to pastors, and not all of you are married to someone that loves to discuss theological issues.

If you are interested in growing your understanding of Theology but don’t know exactly where to start, I want to encourage you to head over to New Life Steward every Thursday where Mary Beth is writing a great series she calls t{squared} Theology on Thursdays.  She is using Grudem’s Systematic Theology as her primary source, but you don’t need the book to follow along.

Here’s what I love about it:

  • She’s taking it one step at a time, starting with the most basic theological concepts.
  • It’s clear and easy to understand.  Anyone can learn here.
  • She’s taking information from an excellent, but very LARGE, book and summarizing some key concepts for those that don’t plan to read it themselves.
  • It provides accurate references to her source, giving credit where credit is due and telling you where you can go to learn more.
  • There are application points – you won’t leave wondering, “Why does this matter to me?”

Check it out, friends! I hope you find it is worth your time!

 

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Check out the side panel for all the great blogs I link up with from week to week!
If you liked this post you might also enjoy I learned it from my husband: Theology Matters, Submission Recognition II, or A Lonely Calling
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I learned it from my husband: Theology matters!

Jul23

A peach before it is ripe is still fruit, but it doesn’t taste very good.

“I learned it from my husband” is a regular tribute to all the ways my husband is fulfilling his role in my sanctification process as described in Ephesians 5:25-26 “…cleansing her by the washing of water with the word.” You can read more about this here.

I was indeed a WIMPY WOMAN.

In 2008 I attended a conference in Chicago called True Woman, where I heard Pastor John Piper deliver a message that culminated in the statement, “Wimpy theology makes wimpy women.” (You can view the video or read the manuscript here!) Such a true statement, I believed, and such a powerful message to hear preached to over 6,000 Christian women.

Had it not been for my husband, however, I am sure I would have never wanted to attend this conference. I would not have known what Pastor Piper was talking about when he said “wimpy theology” and I would have not understood why the crowd of women responded to him with powerful “amens” and shouts of agreement. In all honesty, I probably would not have even known a pastor named John Piper existed.

“Theology,” in my early Christian understanding, had nothing to do with me. It was an advanced word, meant to be studied by advanced people. Just like the other “ology” subjects, I had no intention of looking into it any further. It sounded very academic, and even in my “academic” stage of life, I was not interested. “Doctrine” was also a word I did not care to know or use. It sounded stuffy and boring.

A case of “foot in mouth.”

It was early in our dating relationship, when we first discussed the specifics of our Christian beliefs, that I recognized my husband’s strict loyalty to what he called “biblical truth.” He was discerning with his words, and careful to gently object when he heard something that did not align well with scripture. If you can imagine, talking to him about what I believed or sharing my opinion on certain issues became a rather intimidating concept. I learned quickly that the words leaving my mouth would not be accepted as true at face value, but would be measured next to the only source of truth, the Bible. I felt the urge to place my foot in my mouth on many occassions.

I was accustomed to conversation with people who cared very little about the Bible as a standard of truth and were perfectly comfortable leaving certain things open to the relative interpretation of whomever was talking. Looking back on this now, I am appalled by how dangerous my thinking had become. I honestly believed that what really mattered was what I thought and felt, and as long as my intentions were loving then God would be glorified by my way of life. Nevermind that I was allowing myself to be the person who defined “loving,” and I was extremely selfish and worldly in my understanding.

Theology and Doctrine? I already had some!

Google’s dictionary defines “theology” as “the study of the nature of God and religious belief” and “doctrine” as “a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.”  (I chose to use this set of definitions due to the clear and simple word usage, rather than the more academic and slightly confusing alternatives.)

When my husband and I were first getting to know each other, I already had developed my own study of God’s nature and my own religious beliefs. I knew and made use of theology. I even knew and made use of doctrine, and I was acting as a teacher of doctine in my Bible studies, in daily life, and in other church related settings. Unfortunately it was wimpy theology, and it was wimpy doctrine. It was doctrine based heavily on my own worldly understanding, with careless regard for biblical truth. I was a wimpy woman and a dangerous Christian.

The Bible is our standard of truth, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17). The Bible is our source for “good” theology and doctrine, not our own feelings and opinions. In First Timothy 4:16 we are told we must watch our lives and our doctrine closely, and persevere in this for the benefit of not only ourselves but those listening to us. We are also urged to watch out for false teachers and distortions of God’s truth (Matthew 7:15, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Peter 2:1-3, and many more). My husband was my first example of a man that took these commands very seriously. He was the first Christian to point out to me that the way Christians live and teach about Christianity matters. Theology matters. Doctrine matters.

I learned it from my husband.

As I look back at the woman I was when I first met my husband, I see a person who thought more highly of her own opinion than the opinion of God. Though I loved God and was striving to be an obedient follower of Christ, I was naive to the seriousness of mishandling God’s Word. I was careless and unaware of the consequences of distorted truth and false teaching. God has not only used my husband to teach me systematic and biblical theology and sound doctrine from God’s Word, but He has used him to show me the importance of simply having accurate theology and doctrine in the first place.

God has used this lesson to transform my approach to everything. I have gone from a woman who acted on what “felt right” to a woman in tune to what God clearly tells me is right in his Holy Word. I no longer speak carelessly about topics I know little about. I am careful to protect what is true, and I am much more aware of false teaching when I see it or hear it. It is such a comfort to lean on what God says is true, rather than the flawed conclusions of my human mind. I am grateful to God for teaching me this lesson early in life, and giving me a husband that guides me closer to Christ and God’s truth.

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If you liked this post you might also enjoy I learned it from my husband, A lonely calling or First Impressions.
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Join the Movement!

Jul19

Join the True Woman Movement

If you are a promoter of biblical womanhood and have never heard of the True Woman movement, it’s time you do!

I have been very blessed by this ministry through both the online resources and the True Woman conferences that are held every two years.

Never have I been surrounded by more Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 women than the 2008 and 2010 True Woman conferences where more than 6,000 women gathered to worship and learn from influential women like Janet Parshall, Mary Kassian, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

So if you are not currently involved, be sure to check it out! God is working in big ways through True Woman and I guarantee you will benefit from learning more!