Don't Marry Who? - My Review

Okay. Here I am this morning at 7:20. I should be leaving my house between 7:30 and 7:45 to get to work by 8:30. I was googling "Proverbs 31" to see where Glorious Tapestries fell in the rankings. (There are a lot of ministries and blogs on the subject...as of this moment, 1,940,000 to be exact! I guess Christian women really need edification and support. Who knew? Well, they say, "there's nothing new under the sun".)

Anyway, I came across a post in the blog, The Evangelical Outpost archive, entitled, Don't Marry a Proverbs 31 Woman, by Joe Carter. In it, the author comments on an editorial on Forbes.com by Michael Noer, Careers & Marriage, Don't Marry Career Women. 

While the Noer article was certainly denigrating, I was more appalled by Carter's assertion that the church would equate the world's version of the professional woman, described in Noer's editorial, with God's version in Proverbs 31.

In his blog, Carter attempts to disqualify Noer's hedged statements. But then, follows up with a loose comparison and an assumption, stating:

The primary difference is that becoming a professional woman entails acquiring qualities to build an impressive resume, while becoming a Proverbs 31 woman requires obtaining qualities to build an impressive character. But just as Noer warns against marrying a career woman, many Christians would advise (in reality if not in theory) that you avoid marrying a Proverbs 31 woman.

Huh? Did I read that correctly? Did a man of God just assume that the entire Body of Christ feels this way?

Now, I must add that Carter tried to add balance by admonishing Christians, "to carefully consider how the qualities and virtues presented in Proverbs 31 can be translated into our own time and culture. As Christians we need to present a more robust view of the role of the noble wife that is rooted more in the Bible..."

The Proverbs 31 woman is an accomplished career woman...but she is also an efficient homemaker, a capable, nurturing mother and a loving wife who honors her husband. While she is a running an efficient home, she may even simultaneously home school her children or run a business out of her home. She determines her roles by drawing from her specialized, God-given talents. 

Proverbs 31:11 says, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil". And verse 12 says, "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Verse 28 says that her husband openly praises her: "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

Any Christian who warns against this kind of marriage is sadly misinformed and needs to have his mind renewed by the Word of God.

I'd also suggest he have the elders of his church pray with him against the spirit of intimidation. 

Comments

[Nikki]

There are many men that are intimidated by a strong woman. But a man of God should know that our strength doesn't make them weak. The kind of relationship written in this passage fully discribes the type of relationship my husband and I are working to have. If Mr. Carter doesn't suggest that a Christian man marry a Proverbs 31 Woman, what kind of woman would he suggest they marry?