"I don't usually use the word but I have always had heroes....and one of the most long-standing of those may be Joni Eareckson Tada....that wonderful Christian woman about my age who at 17 years old became quadriplegic from a diving accident. I am always in awe at her faithfulness and her testimony."
The above paragraph is from a very recent post. I once asked a question in these posts...."Who will have more crowns in heaven....the Apostle Paul or Joni Eareckson Tada?".
As a brand new Christian....back in late 1982 to early 1983....and about to embark upon a near decade long study in apologetics and the cults....it was the devotional writing of Corrie ten Boom that captivated my newly beating heart the most....and in my forty-plus years now....it is probably Christian women friends that would come to mind when I think of praying Christians. So how do we reconcile Paul's words about women....particularly of some widows who...."cast off their first faith....and besides they learn to be idle....wandering about from house to house....and not only idle but gossips and busy-bodies....saying things which they ought not," (1 Timothy 5: 13,14 NKJV) Paul wrote glowingly about other women in the church and partners in his work....so why these comments?
I'll give you three examples from my experience. In the first....this wonderful Christian woman....whose main desire to serve God was in spreading the good news of His salvation....had through the influence of others....primarily from charismatic women's cell groups....become as she thought....a leader and teacher in spiritual warfare. Everything was in the casting out of demons. I witnessed her and friends of hers literally march around a coffee table....casting out the demon of alcohol from some one not present....and they regularly marched around communities....casting out the demons in the air.
A second woman that I knew was from our church....a sweet children's Sunday School teacher....who when I met her years later....again after she moved to a charismatic church....it seemed that she could not say one paragraph without quoting something that the Holy Spirit had personally told her. Whatever it was....it could not be called a conversation that we had that day that I met her again.
And a third....a seeming prayer warrior if there ever was one....who could not go a paragraph without offerings something up in prayer....and this over a few years....but she had no interest in finding a church....or listening to a sermon....or reading a book. Everything was prayer....the contents of which were developed from praise music....which was her only source of instruction in the faith. There came a day when added to her praying....was strong Christian advice for someone....instruction as if from God....the only problem was that it was bad advice....for she never had genuine instruction in the faith....only music induced emotion.
Paul gave more specific concerns about men....but in this culture today....they do not raise a red flag as comments on women might. I have more concerns about myself....and my own faithfulness....than these comments on wayward Christian women in the faith....but I feel that I need to at least address this issue....as I see many Christian women today....captivated and taken by the most anti-woman false prophet that one might even imagine....and this because music or some other alternative to steady sound doctrinal teaching....lured these women off of solid ground....into a swampy quagmire of doctrinal compromise and misplaced passions.
Note: I'll add here an anecdote on the very best Sunday School that I ever attended....this back in the early-to-mid-90s. She was elderly....probably 80 years old at least....and she waddled instead of walked. The church had a wonderful pastor....the best preacher that I have ever sat before....but there was a mixture of newly reformed and general evangelicals in the session of elders. So it was hard to find Sunday School teacher for the adults....but this lady stood up and said....'ley me try.' So each Lord's Day morning....as the dozen or so of us were already seated....she waddled into the basement Sunday School class.....set her little cassette tape player on the table....inserted a teaching by R. C. Sproul....and we all were greatly blessed!
