Not So Risky

To answer the question posed a couple days ago...

The aged women likewise, that they show behaviour that becomes holiness, not false accusers gossipers*, not given to much wine quick to reward their many years of sacrifice with something that cannot satisfy*, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet self-controlled/moderate in opinion or passion*, chaste innocent/modest/blameless*, keepers at home stayer at home/a good house keeper*, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  Titus 2: 3-5

* from my notes on Nancy Leigh DeMoss's Titus 2 sermon

Be an example of the believers in word, in conduct, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity.  1 Tim 4:12

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake...for so is the will of God... 1 Peter 2:13 &15

These are the first three I thought of and read in context.  And there are many more references but it doesn't take much to see it's pretty clear that we are called to be stable, steady and grounded in EVERY area of our lives. Especially as women and wives.  (See 1 Cor 11 if you have any questions about God's order of headship.)  So it was probably kind of a stupid question, but it was probably not worded very well either since the answer is so obvious.

After reading Paul's letters to Titus and Timothy (young and quite possibly ambitious:), it's clear that stable, steady and grounded does not equal any sort of complacency.  And it also does not equal living inside the box, operating only within ones comfort zone.

Paul told Titus to set things in order as he had directed, he warned Titus to be on the lookout for false teachers, gave him a list of signs to watch for and told him to sharply rebuke anyone who was headed in that direction.  He gave him a detailed portrait of an ideal Christian for both men and women of all ages.  He told him to obey the authority of the government and not to speak badly of anyone (for we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, decieved, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in ill will and envy, hateful...but after, the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3: 3-4 & 7) and not to get caught up in discussions and arguments over unanswerable questions and petty little differences of opinion.

To Timothy, he also warned of endless and irrelevant discussions which cause confusion and do not further the message of the gospel.  He reminded Timothy of the purpose of the law and charged him to fight a good fight by holding on to his faith and keeping a clear concience.  He instructed him to pray for all men, for kings and authorities (Remarkable, considering Nero was emperer at this time and was a growing threat to Christians.) and gave a short outline of headship order.  He gave specific qualifications and instructions for church leaders and detailed instructions on dealing with specific situations in the church body.  He told Timothy to flee (tempations and snares, lusts and the love of money) these things and seek righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.  And that's just the first letter!

I never noticed until now how many similarities there are in the first letter to Timothy and the letter to Titus.  Those of us who are young and sometimes quick to make rash decisions or feel a pressing urgency to be more, do more (all right now) should probably take awhile and study these letters.

The conclusion of the matter:

• Continue to grow in the faith through reading and prayer.  (Duh!  But much easier to say and understand than to actually do if you know what I mean.)
• Do not be sidetracked with false doctrine.  Call it what it is.  Refer to the Bible for definition.
• Realize, accept, love and grow in my position as a woman and a wife under the headship of God, Christ and my husband.
• Understand the immense impact I can have on those around me through something as simple as obeying the law (taxes anyone?:).
• In my desire to grow, do not get sidetracked with crazy unanswerable questions that could potentially divert my attention from the main message of the gospel (Christ, the cross, the resurrection= new life, etc)

The irony is that in being stable, steady and unchanging... we are actually being radical!  So press on, ladies! 

Now the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish in you every good word and work.  2 Thess 2: 16-17

ps.  In my summaries of Titus and 1 Tim... I have no desire to leave anything out or misrepresent what Paul was trying to say.  If I misspoke or misinterpreted, please don't hesitate to set me straight.  Also, a few thoughts were pulled from the wonderful footnotes of the Life App bible.  Gotta give credit where credit is due!