Preparing Women for
the Future: What's the Plan?
Sarah Flashing, September 2007
Every day it seems
that conservative Christians are taking a hit from the liberal
left who argue that because Scripture doesn't speak specifically
about topics like abortion or embryonic stem cell research, then
it doesn't have anything to say about those topics at all. It's
true that Scripture doesn't address every possible subject under
the sun, but it does provide the framework through which we can
process our day to day living. Consequently, in humility and
love, we can address even the most complex areas of our lives
without compromising the authority or integrity of Scripture.
What does that have anything to do with preparing women for the
future?
Today women of all ages are faced with a plethora of choices and
confront difficult decisions, most of which Scripture has little
or nothing say. Bible studies and small groups do their best to
promote the character and virtues necessary to live in today's
world and succeed in promoting a biblical life ethic. This works
well for the women who are involved in these groups. But the
challenge of living in today's world - and in the near future -
is understanding what we confront. It's not enough anymore to
know "right from wrong" for at least 2 reasons: 1. our world has
declared that there is no right or wrong because truth is
determined by the individual, and 2. It's not always clear that
an action or decision is wrong or lacks virtue because it might
covered in a blanket of warm words or arguments: therapeutic,
self-esteem, merciful, reasonable, etc.
Preparing women to live in this world in the future - and even
the near future - necessitates that we address actual issues
women face, it's not enough to teach about what makes a woman
virtuous or excellent....that needs to be there, but there needs
to be more. Wherever and whenever possible, reach out to experts
or find resources to address specific areas of a woman's life.
How is technology making her life easier and more complex at the
very same time? What is the affect of assisted reproductive
technologies on a young woman and her [future] husband and
[future] family? Why does it matter that she understand that she
understand the influence of pornography on the family? How can
we be responsible citizens that care about the environment and
also be respectors of the image of God in all persons? How do
people think and does it actually affect their day to day
living? Can an evangelical Christian woman have a career? How
does the Christian worldview shape our work, worship and
womanhood? These are just a few of the topics that all women
need to talk about today. Think about how to prepare women for
the future and work this into your ministries as much as you
can.
