THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD

Some women today think of family life as an unbearable drudgery. Many feminists tell women that they cannot find fulfillment by being wives and mothers, so instead they should leave home and pursue careers. It has gone so far that women who do stay home almost feel inferior and guilty. But Titus 2:4,5 says that young women should be taught “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be … keepers at home.” Surely it is difficult for young mothers to stay at home and lovingly care for their families. It often requires hard work, tears, and many sacrifices. But excelling at anything worthwhile in life takes hard work. Consider the joys and rewards of the job. Psalms 127:3 says: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” What other job produces a final product to compare to that of motherhood: loving children who will someday mature to productive, God-fearing men and women? If women will not sacrifice in their younger years to raise children, they will not have those children and grandchildren to hug their necks, love them, and care for them in their older years. 1 Timothy 5:3,10 says: “Honor widows that…have brought up children…” Years ago, before modern philosophies prevailed, motherhood was an honorable profession. It ought to be the same today. Proverbs 31 includes the following statements: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies … Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (verses 10,28). Let us show our appreciation for our wives and mothers. Let us speak out for the joys of motherhood. May it again become honorable for a woman to be “a joyful mother of chi1dren” – Psalms 113:9.

SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION?

Some people say Christians should stay out of government issues (applying this, of course, only against religious conservatives, not against religious liberals). I agree that local churches should not endorse or finance candidates, but the issue goes much deeper. Consider some practices that government officials currently debate: homosexuality, abortion, gambling, divorce, pornography, and contraceptives for unmarried teens. Who can deny that all these involve deep spiritual principles? Our Lord commands: “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all…” – 1 Timothy 5:20. How can we obey our Lord if we remain silent about fundamental issues affecting morality and marriage? Many faithful servants of God instructed government officials regarding such issues. Nathan rebuked David for adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:1-15). John the Baptist spoke against Herod’s improper marriage relationship (Matthew 14:1-4). Paul warned Felix about his immoral conduct (Acts 24:25). Modern Christians can imitate these examples by public statements, by letters to elected officials, and by our vote. The apostle Paul often appealed to his rights as a Roman citizen as a means of protection from evil (Acts 25:10-12; 22:24-29; 23:12-33; 16:35-40). Why should American Christians not likewise seek to protect ourselves from evil by exercising our rights to vote and to write our representatives? Many current government decisions have major impact on families. But God commands parents to protect their families and provide a wholesome upbringing for our children (1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 6:4). If my vote can help protect my family by providing a more wholesome environment in which to raise my children, why should I refuse to vote? To claim that Christians should keep out of politics is to misstate the issue. Christians are not the ones who have left our sphere of interest. The problem is that politicians have made a full-scale invasion into the realm of religion and morals! In that realm Christians are not only permitted to act, they are obligated to act.

ARE YOU GUILTY OF LYING?

Proverbs 6:17 says that “a lying tongue” is an abomination to God. “Lying” means telling a deliberate or intentional falsehood. There are many forms of lying. Could it be that we are guilty without realizing it? For example, hypocrisy is a form of lying. 1 John 2:4 teaches that, if a person says “I know God” but does not keep God’s commands, that person is a liar. Yet many religious people profess great dedication to God all the while knowing they have sins in their lives that they have no intention of correcting. God says they are liars! Another form of lying is making false promises that we could keep but simply choose not to. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie … Has He said, and will He not do it?” The implication is that, when a person makes a promise he could keep but refuses to do so, he has lied. God does not do this, but people often do. What about you and me? Then there is the half-truth, in which a person tells things that are technically correct but deliberately leaves out important facts or tells the story in such a way that leads people to reach a false conclusion. In the Old Testament, for example, Joseph’s brothers sold him to be a slave. Then they took his coat, dipped it in animal blood, took it to their father Jacob, and said that they had found this coat. Jacob, of course, concluded that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, which is exactly what the sons wanted Jacob to believe, though they never came right out and said so (Genesis 37:31-33). Nevertheless, they had deliberately deceived their father to believe a falsehood. Are you guilty of lying like this? Ephesians 4:25 says we should put away lying and speak the truth to our neighbors. Revelation 21:8 says that “all liars” will have their part in the lake of fire, which is the second death.