You’re struggling because you entertain personal opinions that raise questions and doubts in your heart. You are drawn to (or attract) people who think along these lines. Consider your previous thread. Its the same thing.
it is a sin to add to your natural appearance? really? where did God say so?
I think you would be better served with a book or bible study that includes thought provoking questions which allow you to consider the topic without condemnation. Elizabeth George has several for women. Cynthia Heald has a positive demeanor you may appreciate.
As for the site, I’m familiar with it and understand their ethos. There are others of the same stripe I frequented in the past. I mentored women with a similar disposition. I know their mindset.
However, their makeup has many elements which contributes to their surrender and enables them to live out a form of headship that would be less appealing or appropriate for others. If you’ve been blessed with positive examples of masculinity and femininity in your home and observed mutual respect between the sexes. The idea of replicating the same isn’t difficult. If you married someone whose leadership you hold in high regard. It isn’t hard to follow him.
In most cases, women with that background exude qualities very appealing to their complement. They attract men who desire to be caretakers and head of household. Oftentimes, they influence one another. The nuances of her personality may reflect elements he prefers or emphasizes. Pliability is a mainstay of these connections. Pleasing him brings them joy.
Most Christian women aren’t wired that way. There’s nothing wrong with you. Some women thrive in service-driven relationships and the rest need a different flavor. Its fine to read different viewpoints. But if the message isn’t edifying or challenging you positively. You may want to rethink it and focus on more profitable pursuits.
~Bella
I generally admire your posts, as they are often wise and feminine and you seem to be a very humble and beautiful soul. I will, however, contend with one of your statements in this otherwise appreciable response:
There is something wrong with her, and other women who think like this.
There is one fundamental truth that is almost always missed or ignored (willingly or otherwise) when approaching biblical gender roles that instigates the arrogance of women and diminishes the resolve of men. That fundamental truth is
why God created them male and female, i.e. the symbolic language communicated in the genders. The Bible is unequivocally clear that man images the glory of God, and woman the glory of man, and for that reason man was not made for woman but woman for man (1 Corinthians 11:3-9).
We are designed as actors in the theatre of the world, proclaiming the greatest story in heaven on earth until Christ comes, being a display before the world and the angels (Ephesians 3:9-11). Thus, women who are obsessed with striving for equality with the man deny themselves, and cast off the distinct glory and beauty for which God created them. Being a representative of the church, they are as disgraced as a rebellious people to God, having the same inclinations and pretended glory as Satan, who could not bear subordination. I am not saying women who struggle with this are unsaved. Rather, their struggle is one of seeing the beauty and honour in surrender, and if lost will produce for them a real dishonour in Christ's Kingdom that they feared in ignorance now. They will be disgraced when, having chosen the higher seat for themselves, Christ will move them down to the end of the table because a more distinguished woman has arrived (Luke 14:8-11).
Who are they that are distinguished in God's Kingdom? "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." (Mark 9:35)
And what does the Scripture say is the mind of Christ? Striving for equality, as is the carnal and childish ambition of feminism? Conversely, it says: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)
To see a woman grasping at every possible opportunity for pretentious equality when God in the flesh Himself wouldn't do this, and thinking it to be a godly pursuit, is incommensurate arrogance. For those who represent the church, it is comparable in spirit to that of a cult, where the actual (i.e. not symbolic) church begins to exalt its own religion and raising its philosophies to being equal to doctrines of God. It is as a man who thinks it disgrace to be in submission to God. Yet the glory of a man is found in surrender to God, as a woman's is found in subordination to man. A perfect example of the beauty of God's people who appreciate this truth in the presence of Christ is found in Revelation 4:10-11:
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
I long for the day when I can kneel at the feet of Christ, lay down my crown and acknowledge His greatness in absolute surrender to it. I live every day now trying to cast off all pride in His presence, because I know the utter ugliness and putridness of it and reject it as a cancer of the spirit that is only fit to be burned away. That there would be more women who would cast down their crowns and so illustrate something so lovely. But "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)
