“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:3-5

I was recently asked the question: What is the proper role of a Christian wife and mother? This subject matter is nothing new to me because being a former IFB {Independent Fundamental Baptist, *see note below} the discussion of the role of women is a common theme.

Being also from what many would consider the more “radical” side of Baptist fundamentalism I have been affiliated with groups who many would consider almost Mennonite in their attitude toward women. {I have nothing bad to say about the Anabaptist/Mennonite people. In the early nineties my family and I seriously considered joining an Anabaptist/Mennonite group in Pennsylvania.}

My wife and I travel to the Amish country in Ohio quite often and we have noticed something rather interesting. The Mennonite men are often dressed just like I dress but the women are dressed like they just stepped off of the Mayflower. I see a similar pattern among the more conservative IFB’s. The ladies and little girls often times are dressed in what I would call “Mennonite lite” look {sans head covering}. This is especially common among the IFB home school groups. One young ladies blog I recently looked at called the style the “blue jean jumper and prairie dress” look.

Often times the more conservative IFB men dress much like the world but the IFB ladies look pretty much like the Mennonites but they forgot their head covering on their dresser. Why bring all this up? Because there is more to being a godly wife and mother than dressing like you just stepped off the set of Little House on the Prairie Part 2.

I am all for modesty but I am afraid that many have unwittingly made ladies dress standards a prerequisite to our Christianity. For instance how many ladies do you know who would be willing to adopt the “Mennonitish” look if that is what it took to be a Christian? {Is that what it takes to be a Christian?}

My wife and I realized that if we joined that Anabaptist/Mennonite group in Pennsylvania it meant radical changes to HER clothing and the CLOTHING OF MY DAUGHTERS. I could go on and dress like I always dressed. That is not why we didn’t join by the way. My wife said at the time that she would live by whatever dress standards they imposed. But we didn’t feel comfortable with their overemphasis of the doctrines of Arminianism and non-resistance.

I am seeing a trend emerging among young ladies who know how to dress modestly but their husband has to work a job, take care of the kids and keep the house clean.

They love to brag that they are “stay at home moms” but I cannot help but think a better name would be “stay at home slugs”

What is the proper role of a Christian wife and mother?

This is part one so I am just laying the groundwork.

Stay tuned.

Brother Shawn

* I am still an independent Baptist and I still believe the fundamentals BUT over the years I have moved away from the “IFB denomination”.