Should Christian Wives Vote?

Full Question: Do American Christian women put their (civil) rights before their Christian responsibilities?

This came up the other day on the job site when my coworker and I were discussing elections.  What if a Christian couple disagrees on the candidate to vote for?  Should the wife submit and vote?  Or NOT vote? Or neither?

Ive asked a few educated acquaintances what they think…

Male, BA in Cross-Cultural Studies, MA in Christian Studies, 20’s, South

“The first thing that hits me is that in many ways this is an extra-biblical question, in my opinion. I think Christian worldview, wisdom, and godliness play into the discussion, but the Bible doesn’t address the Christian home too much with exception to the role of children obeying their parents, the responsibilities of a husband and wife to each other, the responsibility of a parent to train their child in godliness, and then it gives a few things on the role of women within the local church. That said, many of these (types of) questions don’t seem to be brought up in Scripture, and I would say it’s because they are related more to culture then they are to how biblical it is.

As for voting, I think that is an issue of politics more than it is of Christianity. I do, however, believe that a husband and wife should be one flesh both physically and also mentally/spiritually. Due to that, I would encourage my wife and I to discuss our votes before hand and come to a consensus as a family, but I don’t have any practical or biblical reason to prohibit her from voting. Actually, just the opposite, I think Christians have a responsibility to be the best of citizens when the laws allow, so I would encourage her to vote as that’s part of my families responsibilities to our country.”

Male, BA in Theology, MA in Christian Studies, 20’s, Mid-West

“I think a… biblical way of looking at the issue recognizes the role of women in having dominion over the earth. We have to remember that women aren’t to be submitted to men because of some ontological deficiency in them; indeed, God is only adequately imaged in humanity as male and female.

The only legitimate submission of a woman to a man is found in marriage, where wives are to submit to their husbands to illustrate the theological reality of the relationship of Christ to his Church (not a dictatorial kind of love; this is why I can’t demand that my wife wear fuzzy purple pajamas everywhere she goes for the rest of her life and expect obedience; I have the authority of a husband, not of a despot). Her being married to me does not relieve her of the responsibility to rule the earth, even if some of the authority she exercises in fulfilling that responsibility is derived from me as her head. Certainly, Christ’s authority over earth and heaven is derived from the Father, but equally certain is the truth that Christ really does have authority, and that He truly rules the earth. In fact, at the moment, He’s exercising His authority on earth through a woman, the Church!

Again, biblically speaking, men and women together rule the earth, not men with women under them.”

Male, BA in History, MA in Philosophy, 20’s, Mid-West

“That’s a good… question.  The Bible seems pretty explicit about headship in the home and in the church.  I don’t know that we can move directly to politics from there.  Maybe we can, maybe we can’t.  I think there are some clear commands in Scripture.  I don’t think they cover this scenario. We do need to take cues from the Bible when the Bible isn’t explicit.  I’d have to do a lot of study before I could give you a definitive answer on that scenario.  But we don’t have time to do that. God knows.”

Angry Children by Emlet

Emlet shares many insights on how to deal with an angry child in Angry.  The first thing chronologically to take care of is making sure that you do not confront your child about their anger hypocritically.  You must ask yourself questions like, do I get visually upset when they get upset with me?  If so, that is a sin that you have to confess before you can confront their sin with godly love.  Next, one must realize that anger isn’t merely an exterior reaction.  It comes from the heart.  Which brings the next topic: Emlet splits the evaluation of angry reactions into two aspects, depth and width.  Depth would by why your child is angry.  Is there something they don’t believe about God that would make obeying easier?  Is there some other sin that they are hiding that anger is just a symptom of (bitterness)?

The Width aspect is our practical paragraph of this topic.  Width is meant to communicate what your child struggles with while he’s trying to obey.  Some children think in very black and white terms making it difficult when they have grey situations.  Others have an overwhelming physical need like hunger that in their mind takes precedence over any spiritual lessons you had planned.  Be attuned to these other needs of your children because their attitude and maybe even their obedience will be influenced by them.

The “Prose” of Theatre as Ministry

This came to mind due to our church working on a VBS with a drama in it.  Here are some thoughts:

Pro Example: Theater can encourage teens of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in a fun, teamwork-encouraging, environment.

The purpose of Christian drama is to glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 is a good to verse to claim for this purpose, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Through productions that are done well, in a responsible manner, and are a testimony of the workers and the gospel of Christ, this purpose can be clearly communicated.
The second purpose is to make disciples because it is commanded by God and also brings Him glory. Matthew 28:19 says “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

There are numerous ways to do accomplish this, but three main ones are recognized:
1. With the community for the community – an outreach emphasis. This means to use staff from the community and performing for the community using secular productions and locations. This would be a way for a church to really reach out and get their name known in the surrounding areas. Not being entirely affiliated with a church may also enable you to secure the financial or moral support of places like schools or business that might not otherwise be interested. We should never hide the gospel, or our Christianity, but we should always be thinking of new ways to spread it.
2. With the church for the community – a witness emphasis. This would use people from your church congregation as staff, and the main audience target be the local community. The productions would mostly be full of clear gospel content, or perhaps an analogy with a short explanation at the end. This is an excellent type of ministry to do with teenagers – they get excited about acting and witnessing at the same time. It’s also excellent for cross-cultural endeavors, something you can prepare before arriving on site but also have a significant impact with.
3. With the church for the church – a ministry emphasis. In this program, your staff would come from within your church and would be performing for your church. In this case, your director/ board would have a choice between secular and sacred productions. Most choose sacred so that the production has an obvious theme communicating an attribute of God or a work of God. An abbreviated missionary biography is also a popular choice for those wanting to emphasize missions or mission’s conference. But some choose secular because it’s spiritually neutral while still informative. This may be because the director has a little more secular experience or the pastor wants to add his own interpretation at the end – either way it’s an option. There is no wrong choice.
No matter the way you pick to organize your ministry – and it’s not concrete, your approach can change – the accomplishment of the two purposes is the goal. They are vital to the success of the ministry and the spread of the gospel. As long as these are focused on, and sought after, you will be pleasing to God.

The purpose of this second option is to reach the un-churched kids of the community in a way that normally wouldn’t be available for them and to encourage discipleship among the Christian members and multiple presentations of the gospel in their work for the unbelievers.

Life Beyond Your Parents Mistakes by Powlison

Mistakes by Powlison was good though it probably should have been titled “God Beyond Your Parents Mistakes.” One could argue they are the same, but living life and finding God can be different. Many kids and even young adults struggle with their view of God because of what they have chosen to believe about Him. If their father left them, they see Him as an absent God. If their parents abused them, they see Him as an angry God. Projecting these lies and misconceptions onto Gods character is foolish as much as it is wrong. We must view God through how He has chosen to reveal Himself – His own words.
Some practical solutions include…. the bible! Realizing the bible is true and reading what it says will help you speak Gods truth to yourself. The New Testament (and Old, really) is full of good descriptions of Gods immutable attributes. 2 Corinthians 1 speaks of Gods abounding mercy. John 15 portrays a committed God. Every book gives a new inkling into how God can help you in your (life).

New Season Encourages Forgotten Practices

This month in my town, there has been a heat wave strong enough to melt the six inches of snow that were there before.  This sudden arrival of Spring when the cold has been such a constant companion these months was unexpected, but not unwelcome.  This aura of newness to the atmosphere has made my thoughts go to something ancient that I’ve been studying lately for my church, which is Prayer.  Or rather, the lost art of it.

Many peoples first instinct when coming before a deity, even the real One, is to instantly insist for whatever they require with no thought to whether its appropriate, whether they’re entitled, or if the deity even desires the same thing(s).  I’ve heard of people who compare God to what He is not, which is a vending machine.  You cannot pray the “blessing” prayer and get one immediately any more than you can pray the “curse” prayer and see your enemies shrivel.

This instinct is selfish, based on the desire to fulfill our needs before anyone elses. Thankfully, Gods given His children the power to battle this instinct.  This power is the Spirit.  The Spirit within us enables us to have an additional choice when deciding things, that is, love.  Love is the antithesis of selfishness.  When we approach prayer in this way, insisting is no longer the first thing on our minds.

So what should be, may you ask?

Genesis 1 says that God walked and talked with man in the Garden of Eden.  This fellowship, this conversing, is one of the things He desires from His creatures.  But we are not equal with God in intelligence nor power nor wisdom.  It would seem to be appropriate that the conversations between us, then, consist of worship: worship for His omniscience.  Worship for His blessings.

The book of Psalms, song 100 gives a clear account of behaving in Gods presence.  It says “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” This verse hits on two different actions that apply to adoring God.

The first is focused on God alone, and that’s praise.  Specifically, praise for Gods character, or who He is.  Here are a few to give you some ideas:

God is infinite. —Romans 11:33

God is omnipotent. —Jeremiah 32:17,18, 26,27

God is good.—Psalm 119:65-72

God is love. —1 John 4:7-10

Praise is part of the worship experience of the Believer/Priest.  Hebrews 13:15 says “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”  It is through Jesus the Messiah, the Mediator, that we are able to communicate with God directly again.

The second action Psalms 100 hits on is thanksgiving. It could be defined as expressing gratitude to God for what He’s done.

The recipients of our praise are both God the Father and Son. Ephesians 5:20 says “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” and 1 Timothy 1:12 says “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.” 

Our response to the responsibility of gratitude is covered in several texts.  Pauls first letter to Thessalonica makes it clear that the will of God for every believer is to give thanks in ALL circumstances.  His letter to Philippi also directs us to, in every situation, present our requests to God (with thanks).

THAT is the first thing that should come to our minds when we want to communicate with God.  Adoration.  Or at the very least, adoration BEFORE asking.