Women

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When I was assigned to write an article about “Teaching Younger Women,” I’ll admit to being challenged. As a boys’ mom, I live in Testosterone World where footballs are considered a basic need, and the commode seat is always in the up position.

I’ve got friends with daughters, though, and have watched their girls’ blossom from pigtails to prom dresses, growing into young women who know the Lord, respect themselves and have a handle on what’s important.

I also know mothers whose hair always looks like they just stepped on a live wire.

“Be glad you have boys!” they scream.

From Bible study to lunch dates, I’ve heard ladies bemoan the shallow, demeaning and dangerous ideas being hurled at the younger women in their lives. Whatever young women do, it seems they’re pressured to do it while dressed like lingerie models who measure size zero, and all to impress some hunky hottie in a cool car.

In Titus 2: 4-5, older women are instructed to train younger women “to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” (NIV)

Just skimming the surface, it sounds like a “June Cleaver-Aunt Bea-Mother Theresa” combo. No easy image to sell in Post-Woman-Hear-Me-Roar, and critics who say the Bible disses women might misinterpret that scripture as, “…put themselves last, suppress their needs, master pecan pie, stretch out like a doormat and learn to say, “yes, dear”.

Is that what God expects? Not even close. Study the Wife of Noble Character (Proverbs 3: 10-31) for proof. God wants women to be thinking, feeling, savvy, well-prepared and dignified human beings possessing both strength and compassion.

That’s what younger women need to hear, because Heaven knows—the world is out to shred their self-esteem.

Sitting in my eye doctor’s waiting room, I grabbed a magazine and wondered if I needed new contacts: was I really seeing what was on the cover of this popular teen magazine? Promoting an article inside, it read:

“Make Up for Making Out.”

Another magazine offered more cosmetic advice:

“How to Hide a Hicky.”

Wow, whatever happened to “Ten Reasons Not to Call a Guy”? It’s been replaced with, “Ten Reasons to Hook Up.” And this new relationship trend— Friends with Benefits? Ha! Sugarcoated with friendship, it STILL allows intimacy with no strings. Since when do women want that?

Call me un-hip, but it seems like mediums claiming to empower young women are more into pleasing males—with everything from peep shows in the grocery store to marital privileges without marriage.

Let’s show young women what they’re really worth, by first teaching them how valued they are by God.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NIV)

Once they know their worth, it’s easier to understand that their importance is why God inspired Titus 2: 4-5.

We should teach younger women that marriage and motherhood are two of life’s most powerful and influential roles, which is why love must shape them. Self-control and purity are choices that result in good esteem, confidence and self-respect. Staying busy at home means maintaining order, because if the house blows up, everything else follows. Kindness needs no explanation, but what about the oh-so-controversial, submitting to their husbands?

Man IS head of the household. (Ephesians 5:23). That’s how God designed it, and Jesus warned, “if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25, NIV) Power struggles have been the brutal death of many partnerships, marriage and otherwise.

Marriage is a joint venture where two people bring their own offerings to a union. They should support and enhance one another, fitting like a puzzle with all its pieces. As many Christian couples know, “I’m the boss” doesn’t even arise. If husband and wife have submitted to God, they should be like-minded and act in the best interest of their relationship and household.

Which brings up something else we need to teach younger women: prayfully choose the men they’ll grow old with, remembering that Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands to love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

That, and every scripture that can especially apply to young women, was written for a reason.

God thinks young women are worth it.

And for that reason, we need to teach it.


©Donna G. Morton January 2006

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