Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: jow@pacbell.com (Jeff Westman) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Should a wife work outside the home? Message-ID: Date: 29 Oct 90 05:45:39 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: N/A Lines: 36 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu All this talk about the wife staying at home got me thinking a bit. Perhaps what I have to say has already been stated, so I'll make it brief. Paul, talking to Timothy, said, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim 5:8, NAS). Although some have sited verses from Proverbs 31 and also Lydia in the New Testament as providing economic support, I do not see anything wrong with this. My point is this: no where in the Bible do I see the woman __COMMANDED__ to work outside the home, just the man (above quoted, plus MANY others). While I think it is okay for a woman to work outside the home, her __PRIMARY__ responsibility __IS__ the home (I'll expand on that in a second). I think part of the problem with today's marriages -- including MANY Christians', is that there is a tremendous amount of pressure put on the wife for economic support. I understand it is hard to buy that first house, etc. -- I am in the same boat as you! My wife works occasionally outside the home. I support her on this. She has told me that because there is no pressure on her, she actually enjoys her "time out". Besides, she needs a break from the "cabin fever" (and two kids!). 1 Tim 5:14: "Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear child- ren, keep house*, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach..." The word used for 'keep house' means to keep control of the household, manage it and keep it together. I recall part of my wife's wedding vow: "...to keep our home together and create an atmosphere of love and serenity...". I'm sure I've stepped on a few toes and have probably been misunderstood by more than just a few. Don't get me wrong -- I do not consider myself a liberal, conservative, chauvinist or Fundamentalist (whatever that is!) -- just a Bible-believing- trusting Christian. -- Jeff