rejoice

Jesus, however does speak of the division that can happen even amongst our loved ones because of Him, and the excuses we make for not following Him. This is again, a very difficult decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly either way. It’s too easy to be driven by personal ambition and emotional manipulation, and neither one of those are a proper response to God. I think, if we’re not careful, we can give the devil too much room to hinder a woman or man of God from serving (locally or abroad) when a disapproving or approving spouse is used as the bottom line indicator of a genuine call. It is very possible that God can call a man overseas and the wife resist for fleshly reasons so I don’t see the passages mentioned above about having authority over the spouse’s body as a legitimate answer in the scenario I’ve given.

This is a tough situation. I’m glad things are working out for the Patton family. I personally don’t believe that a genuine call of God is always going to be accompanied with an approving spouse. I can’t remember the name of the missionary that went to India in the early 1900’s, but his wife didn’t approve because she liked the comforts and social life here, and made his life extremely difficult. God did bless the work in India, but his wife remained resentful and vindictive until she became deranged. I believe there is a lot to consider, and that decision should not be made lightly, but I don’t believe that the emotions of a spouse is a sure sign of God’s call. I’ve seen this with men as well towards their faithful and Godfearing wives. They become increasingly jealous and unreasonable, and the women are then usually told “the call” most not be from God.

Wow gengwall, you have a very blessed family!! Unfortunately, my B-I-L was serious. His wife used to have a beautiful smile when they took family pics, now she looks miserable.

I totally agree Truthseeker @55,

now back to reading the back and forth you Paula and gengwall 🙂

Truthseeker,
my Dear Hubby doesnt think he believes in male rule, but its pretty engrained in his thinking. The pastor (DH’s brother in-law) that married us was at our house playing cards with us, and when my bid was different than my DH, our brother in-law quickly reproved me with “wives submit to your husbands” o_o. My DH didnt even notice that I was basically being told by a [[[guest]]] to shut up and obey. I knew I was going to have to prepare myself if there is another visit from our brother in-law and prepare myself with prayer in response to my DH’s not even understanding why that is extremely degrading.

I don’t think a calvinist can rightly argue against female pastors and Deborah, without contradicting their calvinistic belief that God willed it.

Hi Cheryl,
regarding comment #8, it is unfortunate that the strong belief of women being silent while men are present is strangling some of the home fellowships. In 2006, I was searching for a home fellowship and the first response I received was a gentle reproof for looking for a place to fellowship. In this man’s opinion, it was my hubby’s job alone to look for a place to fellowship, no matter what his spiritual condition was. He then went on to say that the women in their gathering are silent….
I felt suffocated just talking to him. I disagreed with him and said why, and to my surprise he actually listened and questioned whether their practice was right.

…. and “subjugationist”. Thanks Paula, I should have looked those words up in the dictionary before typing.

To esteem others better than yourself, would be a true complementary belief. I think a more accurate term to describe a belief of male dominance could be “male supremist” or “hierarchalist” .