No More NFW
The cornerstone of Nationalized Foolishness for Women (NFW) was placed by the first woman, Eve, when she failed to trust God and attempted to define her own truth. Throughout history, the daughters of Eve became quite skilled in the practice of foolishness. Modern women may believe themselves "enlightened," but they are, much too often, simply foolish.
Foolish women are dangerous. They put themselves and others at risk. In time, their foolishness can weaken families, communities, even nations.
Foolishness does not mean lacking intelligence or having a low IQ. In fact, some women (or men) who are brilliant may, in God's eyes, be foolish. For example, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). In Proverbs, the fool is one who doesn't have a proper fear of the Lord. "Fear" is not what you may think. "Fear" of the Lord is more than surprise or terror. Proverbs teaches us that the woman (or man) who fears the Lord clings to Him. To fear God is to trust Him. "The fear of the Lord," says Proverbs 1:7, "is the beginning of knowledge [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Eve did not cling to or trust God's Word. She did not fear the Lord but, as if trying to be more spiritual than her Creator, actually spoke for Him. In her dialogue with Satan, she added words to God's instructions for life (compare Genesis 3:2-3 to 2:16-17). Denial and doubt of Truth caused Eve to became foolish.
Are the daughters of Eve doomed to foolishness? No! Eve (Hebrew: chawwah) means "life." There is hope expressed in this name because, as the bearer of children, Eve would eventually bear the promised Seed of Wisdom and Salvation: Jesus Christ.
Wisdom in Christ is the opposite of foolishness. The remedy for foolishness is for God's Word to remain the daily companion for modern woman. When God's Word is trusted and used by older women, they can train younger women.
My mother and grandmothers did not lay the Bible aside when training me. It wasn't so much that they read daily to me from God's Word, but more like they lived in daily trust of God's Word. I watched them make choices that showed fear of the Lord. Even after poor choices were made, I heard them confess foolishness and ask for wisdom. Was I willingly trained? Nope! Did I resist old-fashioned ways? Yep, as surely as I breathe air. After all, wasn't I more enlightened about life than the older women in my family? Hadn't my ideas evolved light-years beyond theirs?
Ahh, but time and experience have a way of changing our perspective and adjusting our attitude. Being reminded by "older" women to return again and again to God's Word of wisdom helps us leave foolishness behind. According to God's order of things, the "older" woman of Titus 2 both instructs and warns "younger" women.
But, what happens when generations of older women do not train younger women in Truth? What happens when older women do not fear God or cling to Him, but instead let themselves be swayed by their own feelings or worldly ideas?
About the time I was in high school, mothers were encouraged to supplement God's Word with trendy ideas and social experimentation. Girls were raised to be more like boys. A feminine daughter too often became a mild social embarrassment, but an aggressive tomboy daughter was a source of pride. A quest for a masculinized body set girls on a path toward a more masculinized emotional life, but completely ignored the innate differences between male and female or their reasons for having sex. Purity was no longer seen as a virtue and modesty nearly disappeared. Anything naturally womanly, especially anything related to childbearing, had to be managed, minimized and worked around a career outside the home. In some cases, social experimentation with girls was wrapped in a spiritual aura. Gloria Steinem believed, for example, that a major source of girls' troubles is their alienation from ancient goddess-centered religions. (Excerpts from Barbara Dafoe Whitehead in "The Girls of Gen X," The American Enterprise, Jan/Feb 1998) The time was ripe for abortion which allowed women to compete on the same playing field as men. Some women called abortion a "sacrifice," but it was made on the altar of "self".
What has been the result of this social experiment? Since 1977, the "happiness index" has been trending downward for young women. The happiness of high school senior girls between 1976 and 1995 fell significantly. In the 90s, young women expressed the most frustration with their own bodies and men. (Whitehead) A modern generation of women is freer, but not necessarily more content.
That's how it is with foolishness. Foolishness is what happens when we fail to cling to God's Word and use it for "teaching...for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). We become foolish when we are untrained.
So, what can we do? We can help young women discover that their value is not in what they do, how they look, or who they're with, but in Whose they are. We can train them to trust the Father God rather than follow their fickle heart. Wise cultures became healthier and happier cultures whenever they trained young men to practice control of their male nature. Training a young man to control his sexual desire and aggressive tendencies benefits all. Men who didn't learn how to control themselves were neither personally content nor helpful to others. Wise parents and societies also knew the importance of helping girls control their natural desire to be ruled by emotions. Girls who let emotions guide their behavior were neither personally content nor helpful to others. We need to expose the foolishness of modern feminism that demands boys control their nature but cries "sexism" when girls are taught the same.
Wisdom in Christ is the opposite of foolishness. For this reason, the mentoring ministry of Titus 2 for Life exists to oppose the NFW. Titus 2 for Life is not popular, cool, nor worldly enlightened. It is, rather, rebellious. NFW has been examined and found wanting. It fails to nurture happiness and contentment. It is empty of hope.
Christ is "the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the Word (John 1:1). In Him "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). In Christ, we are no longer held captive to foolish living but are "wise to salvation." With such wisdom we can practice self-control. Be eager to do what is good. Grow in contentment. And excitedly anticipate the appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Two years after a Titus 2 Retreat, a 40-something woman wrote, "Thank you! Thank you for helping me realize that I can leave my foolishness behind and look forward to a changed and hope-filled life."
By Linda Bartlett
First published by Lutherans For Life in the Spring 2010 issue of LifeDate