There's a lot of talk in most churches about having a "Women's Ministry". I think what most people mean by this is that churches should provide bible studies for women. This is a good thing! Can we ever study the Word enough?
That being said, I wonder what women's ministry should be, as opposed to what it has become.
I like what John Piper had to say about this in his book, "When I Don't Desire God"
It is a great advantage to be wise. Wisdom is different from the mere knowledge of facts. Some very wise people have little formal education. And some very educated people, who know many facts, are not wise. Wisdom is the insight and sense of how to live in a way that accomplishes the goals for which we were made: the glory of God and the good of man. And since glorifying God involves delighting in God, and the good of man involves sharing our joy in God, therefore wisdom is the only path to deep and lasting joy.
It won't surprise us that this joy-producing wisdom comes through the Word of God..."Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom."The Word of Christ brings "all wisdom" into our lives so that we can help each other know it and live in it.
One of the challenges I repeatedly hold out to the people of our church - especially the women- is that they make it one of their aims to age into a sage. I love the vision of older women full of seasoned spiritual fruit that comes only with long life and much affliction and deep meditation on the Word of God. So many younger women yearn for older women, who are deeply wise, to share the wisdom God has taught them over the years. The joy of giving and receiving this kind of gift is great. It is a joy that comes by the Word of God. There is no better joy than what comes through wisdom. Therefore, the Word of God is more valuable than anything on earth.
Long life and much affliction, and deep meditation on the Word of God.
Reminds me of Titus 2!
Sometimes it seems to me that our greatest weakness as older women (ok, not old but older... like over 40) is that we are not comfortable trying to minister to our younger sisters. We lack confidence, courage, and sometimes knowledge of the Word. I think it's sad that we step back from opportunities to encourage and admonish our sisters. However, the blame doesn't rest solely on our age group. I have met many younger women who give you "the look", broadcasting nonverbally that they are not interested in hearing what an older woman might have to say. Then there are older women who give unsolicited advice ALL the TIME. Can you say annoying? Toss in some drama and hormones, and it's no wonder most churches opt to have nice and tidy book studies ;-)
I guess flesh is flesh, and everyone has it. My heart is that women's ministry wouldn't be a title of a program, but rather a lifestyle of mutual affirmation and encouragement in this Christian walk.
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