my thoughts on the world of christian women

It's possible you remember this blog, and it's probable that you don't. But I'm going to continue finishing all of my thoughts!

I can really relate to what Paul has to say to the Corinthian church here:

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

1st Corinthians 1:10-17 (ESV)

Within the last year, I've slowly become introduced to the world of Christian women. It's that season for me: Most of my friends are getting married, some are having their first children and starting their families.

And I'll tell you what, I love it. It is so fun to watch so many people make these huge steps and hurdles in life.

I love the learning process of it all. Each woman I know is having to constantly learn something new about their new little world. I love learning from all of these women what they're learning!

Most of all, I love that everyone is different. That's definitely my favorite part. Everyone I know has a slightly different method of living, and nobody is wrong! Every family is different, in number, in personality, in background. And every woman I know is working hard to learn and do what is best for her family. I love that there are so many "best" ways of doing things!

Although there are many things I love about all of these differences, there is one thing that I don't love. I'm guessing every woman has experienced a taste of it:

Judgment.

I have definitely been on both ends of it, who hasn't? More often than not, I'm the one judging.

Many times I'll simply have a silent judging thought. Often I'll go on a rant about my opinions, unknowingly (and sometimes knowingly) destroying someone else's. Sometimes, I argue with someone and in someway, tell them they are wrong and they simply should not be washing their clothes with actual detergent. I judge easily and with confidence. And I so wish I didn't.

I feel that the current world of women we're living in is interestingly similar to the Corinthian church. I think it's both hilarious and ironic that we, as Christian woman, can sound so much like the Corinthians when they say, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter."

For instance, have you ever said, I follow "Simple Mom" or I follow "Money Saving Mom?"

Or perhaps, we tend to follow people we actually know. I follow my mother. I follow her mother. I follow my Doctor. I follow my best friend.

Just to make sure everyone is included:

I vaccinate my children.
I don't vaccinate my children.
My husband and I rent.
My husband and I own a house.
My kids are public-schooled.
My kids are home-schooled.
We are striving to be debt-free.
Debt doesn't bother us.

And so on.

Yes, I'm a Christian but I can't help but wanting to tack on an assortment of the above descriptions! More than that, I can't help but wanting there to be one right way, one right combination of the above. I want it to be gospel truth.

But there is not!

There is the simple gospel: by grace we have been saved because of the sacrifice of God's only Son!

That's it. That's all I need to be identified with. That's all any Christian woman should be identified with.

My concluding thoughts are those of my convicted heart:

I'm so thankful for the God that saved me. I'm thankful also that He is the same saving God that created me, different from everyone else in the world to think, to decide and to have my own opinions about all sorts of things separate from the gospel. These opinions I have, about any of the aforementioned topics are totally, completely separate from the gospel. In no way, should my opinions ever interfere with how I love those around me. My opinions should not keep me from sharing the simple gospel with anyone I know, either!