Make-over Part 6: Are you a Teacher of Good Things?

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;”

And the list follows of these “good things.”

• to be sober
• to love their husbands, to love their children
• to be discreet
• chaste
• keepers at home
• good
• obedient to their own husbands

It’s interesting, that even today, I was warned, by a well-meaning reader, to “not teach false things.” And let me just say, that is an excellent warning!

You have no idea how this verse sends chills to my bones. And it is, perhaps, why I so often keep saying unpopular things in the face of persecution. I am obligated by Scripture, to teach those things listed right there in print for me to teach.

And you are too.

I’m consistently astonished at how few Christian women are teaching these things, and even more at how many Christian women are scolding those who do. Look around and see the frightening repercussions.

For I am told (and so are you) that if we do not teach these things and do them ourselves, the Word of God is blasphemed. I’m not a rocket scientist. And I figure that the Bible was written to be understood by the common person.

So I challenge you to “teach these things.” Teach them gently, and boldly, for it’s not an opinion we protect…it is the very Word of God.

A friend of mine gave such a poignant analogy of some of those areas where many try to dance around and find loopholes. How often do you hear, “well, the Bible doesn’t say you can’t ____”?

She said, on those issues where the Bible doesn’t explicitly deny a practice (usually because there wasn’t even a name for it in Bible times), look at what the positive command is. Usually a command nullifies an opposite one (i.e. “Go right.”, by implication means, “Don’t go left.”).

“The Bible doesn’t say a woman with a family CAN’T have a career”…

But what does it say? “To be a keeper at home”, and “look well to the ways of her household”, and “be in subjection to her own husband.” Anything that interferes with those commands needs to be seriously reevaluated.

So teach! You older women (meaning, older than the ones you’re teaching), it is your obligation. And we start with our own daughters. Teach those things that are good, according to what God has laid out, virtually in a list form. These ARE good things. And they will bring health to those who listen.

Part 7:  Make-over: Contentment is Lovely

Part 8:  Make-over: Wise Women Build

Part 9:  Make-over: The Total Beautiful Woman