Becoming an Authentic Woman of God
Are All Christians Called To Disciple Others?
While I have always thought of myself as a Christian, I did not really act like what the Bible describes as a Christian. I never really talked much about my faith. I certainly did not go out and try to lead other people to Jesus. I just always thought that was what the pastor of the church was for. Right!
You know, one of the biggest things that I’ve learned in my recent attempts at becoming an authentic Christian is that God didn’t just call the pastors and the ministers wives and the Billy Graham’s of this world, to be disciples, and to spread his good news. He even called us wallflowers, the ones that just kind of hang along the edges, thinking that they’re doing what God wants them to do. But in reality, we are all to be spreading his good news. This is what is referred to as the Great Commission. Matthew, 28:18-20 show us this:
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Did you catch that? Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all the earth! What he did not say was to make disciples only of the pastors, priests, ministers etc., but all the earth. That includes you and me!
Now wait, don’t go running out the door just yet. I’m thinking the same thing. You know, I don’t feel in any way shape, or form qualified to be a bible teacher. I mean, I’m just learning this stuff myself. So how am I supposed to go out and make disciples of other people?
Thankfully it’s been said that God doesn’t call the equipped, that He equips those He calls. Well, honestly, I have been feeling really called lately. I feel like God is just tugging at me, telling me that He’ll be with me. And that I can do it. And that my message really does need to be spoken. So that’s what brought me here. I’m just trying to follow God’s great commission. And I invite you to come along with me, and learn as I learn. And hopefully… maybe, if we work together, we just might be able to reach someone who is desperately searching for that reason to hang on in this life or for the meaning of their life, and we can lead them to Jesus. What a joy that would be!
Stay tuned, in my next post I’ll be diving into how I have come up with what I believe to be a biblically based meaning of an authentic Christian woman.
Faith
So What Exactly Is An Authentic Woman Of God?
Now to understand what it is to be a Christian, more precisely an authentic Christian woman, you need to understand the meaning of the terms involved. Right! Okay, let’s pull out our dictionaries and get to work. Don’t forget your bible though cause we will need it to see if the “worlds” definition holds up to what God says.
So authentic that’s easy. It means to be real, to be genuine. According to the Oxford English language dictionary, it is an adjective which means of undisputed origin, genuine. Next is the word Christian. Now that can be used either as a noun or as an adjective. Noun meaning someone who has undergone a Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity. The adjective is relating to or professing Christianity, or its teaching, i.e. the Christian church. Now, woman, again, that’s easy. A woman is an adjective to describe someone of the female gender. Usually a more mature female. Okay, so that’s the worldly view. And again, it’s easy. It’s, you know, authentic means real, Christian is a person who has been baptized, woman is of the female gender. There you go. Easy as pie, right? Wrong. Think again, Sister dear.
Just because it is accurate in the world’s view, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is 100% accurate in God’s view. And, okay, I don’t know about you, but to me, if I want to be an authentic Christian woman, I think God’s view would be the one that mattered. Right! Okay, so let’s back up. What does God view as an authentic Christian woman?
So according to God, what is an authentic Christian woman? We’re gonna go through, and look it up and see what God’s word has to say. We can either use the verse finder or concordance in the back of your Bible, which helps you find specific verses based on topic. Looking I did not find the word authentic in the Bible so we will use the dictionary meaning of genuine. Now let’s keep searching.
Okay, Christian, let’s see what we can find! In Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. So a Christian is a disciple of Christ! And Looking further, Paul teaches about Christian living in Ephesians 4:17 “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Which tells me that Christians should not act just like those of the world, we should act differently. We are disciples of God, therefore we must act in a manner that reflects God, loving and forgiving.
Ok so let’s keep going. Woman is next! Looking for what the Bible says about a woman and it starts off in Genesis 1: 27. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female, created he them.” So right off the bat, God talks about male and female. Man in that particular sense, he was talking about mankind.
Looking deeper we find another reference in Proverbs chapter 31:10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
So wow, that is some serious stuff, right! There is a lot of information in there, but for this post I’m going to focus on the last two verses. She fears the Lord and works with her hands. I will dive deeper into those verses in another post. But I believe we have a good Biblical definition of what God would consider to be an Authentic Christian Woman. A female, who is a genuine disciple of Christ. A woman who fears the Lord and through her actions shows love and forgiveness. That is the kind of woman I am striving to become.
Stick around and let’s delve into this subject further in my next post. Let me know in the comments what you think! Do you agree with the definition I have come up with?
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