I had a few ideas for my Friday's Free Advice floating around this mushy brain of mine yesterday (the end of the school year has this kind of effect on me). I thought about tackling the ups and downs of transition (because I am in the middle of transition right now - going from rigid routine to a more relaxed summer schedule). However, I read something this morning that literally had me cringing. So disappointing was the website I perused, that I feel compelled to change the direction of my post.
What, you may ask, could I have possibly read that would have such an effect on me? In my "vast" experience (please note the sarcasm here) of networking, I have come across quite a variety of bloggers out here in the web-o-sphere. Intriguing, to say the least, has this journey been for me. A few weeks ago I read a very well-written post about raising daughters to be homemakers. The concept sounded sweet and inoffensive at first. As I continued reading, however, the subtle, and then not-so-subtle, message - that it is God's command and calling for ALL women to stay at home and raise daughters for the soul purpose of becoming homemakers - became overwhelmingly apparent. I nearly fell out of my seat. It pained me, knowing that thousands of women read this particular blog, and look to the writer as a kind of expert and authority. So disturbed was I that I spoke up and commented. I felt like a lone voice in the wilderness. I'm not about bashing those women who feel called by God to stay home and be homemakers. I am, however, completely in opposition to the idea that the only place for a woman, in God's perfect design, is the home. I wrote a little bit about some of my thoughts on this particular subject last week.
Out of curiosity, I decided to do a little informal research this morning. In some of the banter regarding the "homemaker" philosophy (or theology, as these individuals are preaching), the name "Botkin Sisters" had come up. I had never heard of these people before, but it sounded like they are pretty influential in this movement. I Googled them, thinking I would find two elderly women with their hair up in tight buns wearing prairie clothing. What I found were two very beautiful young women - ages 20 and 23. I thought to myself, "These are the women responsible for this movement? You've got to be kidding me!" That they are lovely and attractive I believe woos young women and mothers who, perhaps, have either been raised in homes that were heavily dysfunctional, or are struggling in difficult marriages. The fact that they are in their early twenties and delving out advice and "preaching" this distorted doctrine, deeply, and I mean deeply, concerns me.
So, here is my Friday's Free Advice for you:
Oh be careful little eyes what you read in a blog! Just because a person has a blog, writes well and presents their message in an articulate manner, does not make them an expert! That includes this blog too. I am human, completely fallible and certainly capable of error. Much of what I write is the junk I'm either working through, or full disclosure of my personal dysfunction. There are times I could actually be wrong (perish the thought!). If something I write doesn't sit well with you, that might be because it wasn't intended for you. God was using a particular situation in my life to teach me something personal...and I'm just sharing my journey with you. If you are truly looking for answers to difficult questions in your life, please, please, go to the Word of God first. Don't let the blogs out there, and some are really beautiful and well-written, be the light unto your path. Let God's Word be your light. Let the blog be a source of encouragement from a distant friend along the path...but never the source of light to your path.
Does this make sense? I'm certainly NOT asking you to not read my blog anymore...that's not my point at all. :) What I am "advising" is to be careful what you read. I take the "you gotta prove it to me" point of view when I read other blogs (written by individuals that I do not know). I am extremely critical at the onset. Time will tell if a blogger is being authentic.
You may, or may not, agree with this post. That is okay. You may, or may not, take my advice. That is okay too. The advice is free, and the writer is painfully human. I think, to be completely honest, this advice is mostly for me. A good reminder that no matter what I read, or where I look, the Bible should always be the first place I go for instruction.
What say you? Have you uncovered some messed up doctrine/theology in your web/blog searches? Have you been brave enough to speak out when it might not be popular to do so? Have you read something that left you feeling shamed rather than uplifted...did it confuse or distort the person of Jesus to you? Let me know...I'm pretty sure we've all been there!