Why am i visualising the woman's sewing circle...a.k.a. "Stitch n B!tch", that all Presbyterian Churches seem to have?
In all seriousness, i believe that you may be over reacting a bit, and perhaps buying into a dichotomy that is false. That Dichotomy is that there is Scriptural instruction, and then there is Practical instruction.
i've always had a problem with that because of the a-priori assumption that doctrine derived from the scriptures is not practical. Women need to know doctrine as well as any man, and they need to be able to communicate that doctrine. The cults haven't gone out of business, and most women have children. Biblical instruction on how to deal with the nice little old ladies from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, or those two handsome young "Elders" from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is about as practical as it comes, and VERY biblical. Let's lay it out on the line here...That doctrine of women not teaching and usurping authority reserved to men applies only to and within the assembly of the Saints. The cultist, and outsiders have absolutely no authority over a woman of faith. In point of fact, It is the woman of faith who holds authority over unbelievers. Nobody has proscribed the office of Evangelist from the female. In point of fact, nobody has forbidden the woman to perform the Biblical injunction to "give an answer for the hope that lies within you".
There is an old Army saying: Profficiency means Repetition. The injunction to "study to show thyself approved, is not reserved to the wearer of the male uniform. i have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM with women teaching other women the basics of the faith, the Catechism, the Confession of Faith, and yes, Bible doctrine. After all, in the case of the cultists at one's door, who do you suppose will be home to answer? While two income families are becoming more common, they're not yet the norm.
The admonishment to train up a child in the way (s)he should go has not been abolished. Who spends the most time with children? That's a key point. The next generation of leaders will come from...BINGO! our children.
Let's not overreact to what has been overreaction.
Very well said.
Isn't that where they do scrapbooking now?
LOL, Sounds like the last place I would want to be.
In all seriousness, i believe that you may be over reacting a bit, and perhaps buying into a dichotomy that is false. That Dichotomy is that there is Scriptural instruction, and then there is Practical instruction.
No, I am looking at principle and application. Titus 2:3-5, "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
This kind of instruction seems like a more "hands on" personal kind of teaching.
Women need to know doctrine as well as any man, and they need to be able to communicate that doctrine.
I agree and there are plenty of church services, Sunday school classes, bible classes, etc. led by pastors and elders for women to attend. In the first place, though, wouldn't it be a novel idea if a woman's husband taught her doctrine?