Golden Tail

"Be thou comforted, little dog, Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail." ~ Martin Luther

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"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." ~ Romans 4:18-25

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Why I believe Christian women are Biblically permitted to go to university

Many people (both in "real life" and online) have asked me my plans for the future and some my views on the much-debated topic of the Biblical basis for women attending university. In light of this, I thought this post, outlining my thoughts on the issue, might be of use.

Where I would agree

• The importance of the Bible - I could not be more delighted that people of all views are attempting to think about this issue in Biblical terms rather than blindly accepting the cultural norms. Cultural norms (be they be from Christian sub-cultures or the culture in general) cannot be trusted as infallible. It is important with this, as with all issues, to search the Word of God. I have high respect for those who are willing to make counter-cultural stands simply on the basis of what they believe our Lord to be teaching.
• The difference between men and women - I also am highly delighted that people are recognising that men and women are different and have different roles to play in God's world. While complementarians may disagree among themselves as to the precise nature of those roles, it is encouraging that there are so many who agree that men and women are created different and should acknowledge their respective Biblical callings.
• The primary calling of married women - It is encouraging to see so many women (both already married and those yet single) who see that a married woman's calling is to serve her husband and (if she has children) her children - while this calling is secondary to her calling to be a Christian, her calling to be a Christian and her calling to be a wife and mother are not incompatible and in fact, through being a keeper of the home, loving her husband and children, she is fulfilling one of her primary callings as a Christian.

Where I would differ

• The permissability of married women engaging in work outside the home - While I would definitely agree that the primary calling of a married woman is to keep her home and love her husband and children, I do not believe that this is in every situation without exception incompatible with all forms of working outside the home. The woman in Proverbs 31 engaged in business activities outside the home and she is commended for it. The point, however, is that this work did not impede on her work at home caring for her husband and children. In fact, this work outside the home was one of the ways in which she served them.
• The difference between married and single women - While disagreeing with the above point and saying that all work or study outside the home is forbidden for married women, many Christians would go further and say that single women should also abstain from work or study outside the home. I would disagree, and say that single women not only are allowed to work/study outside the home, but have a huge amount more freedom in doing so because they do not have the responsibilities that married women have. Even if, however, one claims that the concept of married women being keepers at home is incompatible with them working or studying outside the home, I do not see how the Titus 2 passage that addresses married women can be legitimately applied to unmarried women.
• The role of the father in the life of his daughter - I certainly believe that children should obey their parents and as adults should honour them. I also believe that fathers in particular have a special role of protection for their unmarried daughters which should be honoured by those daughters. This is a God-given institution for the safety of women. However, I do not believe that one must necessarily live in the same house as one's father for you to be able to benefit from his protection. I also do not believe that daughters are under any necessary obligation to serve their fathers in any special way. Paul says that "the unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord...but she that is married cares for...how she may please her husband". This would strongly suggest to me that the unmarried woman is under no Biblical command to serve her father in any special capacity before marriage.

Where misunderstanding occurs

• "Pro-college" misunderstandings - Many "pro-college" advocates believe that the women who choose to stay at home are anti-higher-education for women. This is not the case. All the women who have chosen this path whom I have come across are studying privately at home in some capacity and all are highly educated, intelligent women. Another misunderstanding is that these women are "wasting their time waiting for Prince Charming". Indeed not - all those I have come across are engaging in many very important and valuable activities and are not banking on the hope of marriage, however dear it may be to them.
• "Anti-college" misunderstandings - Many "anti-college" advocates believe that the women who choose to go to university are planning for an all-consuming career and despise marriage and motherhood. This is not the case. Most of the Christian women I know who have chosen this path are hoping to get married and have children, and are fully prepared to give up career ambitions in order to fulfill such a calling.
  

The opportunities that staying at home provides to single women
Regardless of what one believes on the issue of university, I am sure that we can all agree that there is nothing wrong with staying at home! In fact, during my gap year, I intend to stay at home and do similar things to those who wish to do this for a more extended period of time. To those who have chosen such a path - God bless you! And may all of us serve our Saviour in whatever we do with joy, waiting eagerly for the time when we will be called to our eternal home.

Bible passages that have particularly helped me this year

[At right: My spring backgarden. It's so strange that most of you are in autumn! I'm afraid I was lazy and stole the picture from my Mum's blog. But as we have the same garden and as she hasn't taken out copyright on it yet, I think I'm fine. You'll notice the Jacaranda Tree (one with all the purple flowers) there. The Jacaranda Tree is the unofficial emblem of the city of Brisbane. I love going to the city at this time of year because in some sections it's one big blaze of purple - the main natural feature of the University of Queensland is its Jacaranda groves. At homegroup, people who no longer have any children studying determine when to pray for students doing exams by how close their tree is to bursting into bloom!]

[Psalm 25]

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

[Zephaniah 3]

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

[Ephesians 5]

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:1-20)

[Hebrews 2]

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." (Hebrews 2:10-13)

[Revelations 2]

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Ephesians 2:1-7)

Why you shouldn't see "Australia"

Be you Australian or no, do not see the film "Australia".

Admittedly, I may not seem to be the best person to give you this direction. My exposure to this film extends only to seeing the trailer before Mamma Mia (please don't see that either) quite a few months ago and reading the rather sketchy plot summary on IMDB. However, I feel that with a little thought, any person should be able to see the problems with it from a mile off - the biggest being that of its name.

Don't see it.

Consider:

• The audacity of the film-makers in naming their production after our great land. If it had been entitled "An Australian Tale" or something of that nature, I would have been more content, but to name it simply "Australia" is down-right wrong. No film can ever properly reflect the glories of any country, much less Australia. To even imply to do so is arrogant. Especially considering the nature of the plot - consider the uproar that would have broken out in the US if "Pearl Harbor" had been called "America".


• The public image it will create. No - I have not seen it. I do not know what public image it will convey, but I do know that it will create a public image of some sort and this will profoundly affect the attitudes of the movie-going population of other countries. Surely this film should have passed by the inspection of a committee appointed by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism....and perhaps even the Department of Defence? While every film about Australia does affect our public image, this one will affect it far more profoundly than any other by virtue of its name.


• The undemocratic nature of its production. As we have seen, this film will reflect on our country. It will also reflect on us. Surely the Australian people as a whole should have had a say in determining whether or not we wish the characters in this film to set the trend for the way that foreigners view us? (Of course there is no law that says they should have asked permission, but it goes against the spirit of democracy, I'm sure.)


• The misinformation it will place in the minds of foreigners (and perhaps those of our own number) who see it. Pre-judgment this may be, but I am almost positive that the "historical events" therein portrayed will have almost no correlation to the facts of history as they actually are. It is a simple matter of statistics that 99.99% of "historical" films are not historical in the slightest. There are very few which are actually worth while. Do we really want even more misinformation spreading about our history? Do the poor foreigners want to be misinformed like this?

I think not.

"Girls are illogical"

Isn't this just a politically correct way of saying "Girls are stupid"?

To what extent does being intelligent imply being logical?

[From an (unresolved) discussion with my brother.]

I am what I am

It's funny how we often try to pretend that because we (retrospectively) are annoyed with ourselves for something we said, it wasn't really us saying it. That is, "Well, actually, I was acting out of character when I made that nasty remark to Suzy, thus it wasn't really me and people who judge me by that remark are really misunderstanding me. If they saw me in other settings, they would know that I am not really a nasty person."

Of course, that is incredibly wimpy. We were not misunderstood - we said something nasty, and people recognised that. And if the fact that we were hot and bothered at the time means that it wasn't us who said it...then who on earth did say it? And if the fact that I was in Constantinople rather than in London means I am not responsible for my actions there, then we may as well all move to Constantinople. (And there is no such place as Constantinople.)

Despite the fact that the things we say sometimes might surprise our arrogant hearts, the things we say are always accurate reflections of ourselves. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Of course, when I sin, I am acting out of character with who I am in Christ, but I am certainly still acting in character with who I still am - a sinful, unpleasant person.

There is little point denying it or trying to "hide in the dark" with a, "Oh, it was just a slip of the tongue." If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John v. 8)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John v. 7).

Because of Christ, we don't have to hide:

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be in another world, but still I am not what I used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." --John Newton

Clearing a few things up....

Before I start blogging properly (yes, I'm breaking the rules. Life is easier now. School is mainly over...and I need some light relief...and I've been breaking that rule for a while now, anyway), I have a bit of stuff to explain/do.

Why I deleted Eric's comment
Eric didn't break any of the comment rules. He was nice (i.e. not rude - I certainly do not delete constructive criticism), and he certainly did not use any bad language. Why then, did I heartlessly delete his comment? Well...frankly, I did not mean to. I was in a rush and pressed "reject" instead of "accept", thus sending aforementioned comment off into oblivion...probably into a black hole where it awaits the day when the rest of the world will be sucked in to accompany it. Sorry. :(

Anna tagged me

Changes for the better since last year:

• I was finishing Year 11. I'm now finishing Year 12.
• I have read more of my Bible this year.
• I have learned that there is more than one way to be shallow.
• I have learned some things about being nicer to my brothers. (Believe it or not, Lloyd...)
• I have come to learn a little more of the heights and the depths of God's love in Christ Jesus.

Changes for the worse:

• I lost some piano students, which is sad, though I understand perfectly the reasons that they've decided to give up piano.
• I haven't read as much in general as in previous years.
• I have wasted a lot of time this year procrastinating.
• I've grown a centimetre.
• I've neglected my budgie.

She also awarded me with a Kindred Spirit award, which was exceedingly kind. I'm going to send that the way of my oldest brother, because he has always been my partner in crime and fun. :)