I have a confession to make: I’ve been holding back.

One of my favorite things to talk about is theology.  I like to talk about what I believe, and I like to explain why I believe what I believe.  But I’ve been hesitant to do that here.  I was concerned about being a stumbling block (more on that in a moment) so, although I’ve written some clarifying posts regarding misconceptions of my theology in the past, I’ve generally refrained from defending my theology except as it applies to hands-on household things.  This week I’ve been admonished to be less timid about it, so I’m going to be very open about the concerns that have held me back so far…and then be less cautious and trust you to read my posts through this lens. 🙂

The Foundation

We women, if we’re married, or if we’re living at home with our fathers, are not the spiritual heads of our households.  That makes me talking to you a little bit awkward — especially since I don’t know your exact situation.  If I present a theological concept, several things could potentially happen.

• The concept could already be very familiar to you, in which case you may either skip it, disregard it (if you already know you disagree), or allow it to remind you of something you already know (assuming you agree).
• The concept could be new to you, but you don’t find my rationale compelling, so you read it and dismiss it.
• The concept could be new to you, you find it very compelling, so you take it back to your husband and ask that the two of you study it together.
• The concept could be new to you, you find it very compelling, so you study it on your own, concluding that you are more spiritual than he is, because you “know more than he does.”
• The concept could be new to you, you find it very compelling, so you take it to your husband, who does not agree, and you are displeased with him and his decision.

Those last two options are the ones that concern me.  I don’t want to be a stumbling block to any of my readers!  I don’t want to stir up discontent or strife in your home, or encourage you to dishonor your husband (or appear to be dishonoring your husband, myself).

However, I’m aware that because we all come from different backgrounds, we have the opportunity to expose one another to new ideas.  I know that I have been able to request that my husband and I study certain things that I would not have known about had I not heard of them through a friend, and that has been beneficial for us as a family.

My Request to You

So here’s my request to you: Knowledge without wisdom puffs up, so if anything I should write provides new knowledge for you, please use it with wisdom.  Honor your husband always!  If I write something here that you believe is worth studying further, don’t beat your husband over the head with it, or get uber-independent about it; please take it to him and request that he look at it with you.  If he is leading your family in a different direction than what I have to say, follow him!  I’m not your head.

(And if you should ever want/need more information, just ask!  I’m happy to explain further and/or provide more resources.  And if your husbands want to be connected with other men to explore certain doctrines further, we can manage that, too. 🙂 )