The End, or is it the Beginning?
We had finally found a church that is sovereign grace, believes in the gifts of the Spirit, is family integrated, homeschools, and is quiverfull. The church doctrine matched our beliefs perfectly and that it was exactly where we were going to be welcomed and would fit in. It was not to be. We spent a few short weeks there and while we loved the people, we did have a problem with two of the sermons. There were inaccuracies in the sermons due to using faulty modern bible translations. Sarah at this time had also been convicted of the need for a head covering and began to research the issue. She posted in the women’s forum that we had prayed about it and gave links to her research. Shortly thereafter her post was deleted and she was told that doctrinal issues were not appropriate on the forum and that if women have doctrinal questions they should ask their husband at home.
There we have it, the crux of the matter. We firmly believe in submission and that a husband is the head of the house, if we didn’t we wouldn’t be investigating head coverings! When I brought this up with the pastor that women should be allowed to talk to other women about doctrinal issues I was told that in their experience that sort of thing just doesn’t work well. Readers, if the older women are to teach the younger women in submission and child rearing among other things, wouldn’t scripture and doctrine be included? A great many men have been convicted by their wife’s learning. If a woman is in submission is respectful of her position and the position of other women, then there is no reason why she should not be allowed to teach other women about scripture. Women should learn from other women AND ask their husbands. Whatever a woman (or man) learns, they should share with one other that both may benefit. If there is a difference in belief then they should go to the word and study as well as to the Lord in prayer and pray for the understanding.
Telling my wife she cannot discuss doctrine with others is like telling a dog not to bark or a cat not to purr. Sarah lives for Jesus and the truth of God’s word and teaching others about Him. When I confronted the pastor about this situation as well as the problems in the sermons due to faulty bibles, I was basically told that we needed counseling because my wife wasn’t under submission. NONE of my points of rebuttal were addressed. I had responded in love and grace to the pastor and felt that as brothers in Christ that we should be open to talking to other Christians about our beliefs and proving what we believe to be true. Alas that doesn’t seem to be what most Christians want to do. They’re happy in having a set of beliefs and do not want to have to give a ready defense nor an investigation into the convictions of others.
There you have it. We have now left the church that we thought was the perfect one for us. We now have nowhere where we would fit in. What church will accept a sovereign grace family that is quiverfull, homeschools, AND wears head coverings. This begins our journey in seeking the absolute truth of the word of God and what that means to Christianity today. I hope that you will come back for updates as we continue on the path that God has set for us and wonder where he will be taking us.