Love and the Women of the Church

                                                                                                                 Vol. XIII, No. 8, Sept/Oct 2000

[Submitted by Bruce R. Cole, pastor of Hopeful BC, Montpelier, who writes: As Hopeful Baptist Church celebrated the gifted service of Baptist Women on the Sunday before Valentine's Day, Barbara Lacy, a teacher in the church's Katherine Noel Bible Class, brought a message on love - love as it applies to God's love, and to the role of women in the church. It was so "on target" I thought others might be interested. What follows are excerpts from her message, taken directly from her notes.]

My topic today is LOVE, and love as it applies to God's love, and to the role of Women in the Church. In today's world of ME-ISM, SELF-FULFILLMENT, LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE, AND ALL THE OTHER DAZZLING MESSAGES WOMEN HEAR, we do not have an easy task, but neither did the women in New Testament days. I looked to the Scriptures to find the "road map" for us to follow, as we live in a new Century.

Paul describes Love in I Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. The quality of love should be the identifying mark of Christians. It is mandatory for our faithful witness. It is also mandatory to guide us as women in our church, and as a woman in our homes.

Peter wrote, The woman's beauty should not come from outer adornment, but the inner self - a gentle and quite spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. Peter also instructed women to be subject to their husbands, so if the husband was not a believer, he might be won over by the behavior of this wife, through her example of purity and reverence.

In II Timothy we find that we should teach our children about Faith, as Timothy was taught by his Grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice.

In Paul's Letter to Titus, he lists the qualities of Women as teachers in the Church. They should be reverent in the way they live, not slanderous or overindulgent. Teach what is good, and in order to honor God and His Word, they should give guidance and be role models for the younger women in the church. They should love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, kind, and busy at home.

When we look at these qualities, they are definitely not "old fashioned" or out of style. They are the very qualities we admire in women today. One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is found in Proverbs 31:10-31. The wife of noble character is indeed an admirable woman as she ministers to her husband and family. I quote verse 30, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

We must teach love, by demonstrating love. In the days when families are at risk, we must remember that God's design still works, and we must teach this truth to Honor God.