Mom's? Or Dad's?
Our culture says children belong to mothers. Just look at court decisions about custody. Just think who is generally first looked to and consulted when a child wants permission to go somewhere or do something.
Our Bible says children belong God, (Ha! Trump card!) and He gives stewardship of them to fathers. Wait! Before you run, cyber-screaming, keep reading. Does that statement check out with the BIBLE (Believer's Instructions Before Leaving Earth)?
How about the genealogies? Children are counted as belonging to their fathers: "When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh... When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan..." (Genesis 5:6, 9, ESV) The pattern does not waver in the New Testament: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1, ESV)
How about fathers not provoking their "children to anger, but bring[ing] them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord"? (Ephesians 6:4, ESV) God does not instruct parents on how they are to raise children; He instructs the fathers.
Of course, God's design includes both a father and mother on purpose. He fully intends that mothers help raise children, as is evidenced by verses like Proverbs
BUT... since you will be the mothers of the next generation, how does your preconceived notion of your role check out with the Bible?
(I'm just asking because it's challenging to
Live for Him.
Happy New Year, Perry! I would like to comment on your post (I guess I already am, huh?). It's true that our culture says the children belong to mothers.
ReplyDeleteI think that's because the Mother is generally around. Just think: with all the attacks on traditional marriage we have today & all the "alternatives" coming out you don't HAVE to get married to have kids anymore.
You can find a nice looking guy, hook up, have a kid, & then one day he gets mad & just leaves you.
So, I think our idea of "mothers" having the kids stems from how difficult it can be to track down the fathers. It's just easier to look to the mother.
And, of course, we must not forget the feminist movement either. "All" men are patriarchal, bible-bashing, losers who don't want you to "fulfill yourself" & "have your own identity." Why would we want them to have the kids? :)
Anyway, just my two cents.