Motherhood/Homemaking & Redemption (d)

Driving home: And this is so because for the last 40 to 45 years there has been a constant, vicious, relentless attack upon the desirability, dignity, and nobility of a woman's role and function as wife, as mother, and as homemaker.

Martin imagines conducting a poll among 5-15 year old girls in public schools, asking what they hope to be when they grow up. He predicts that almost none would say 'wife, mother, and homemaker,' illustrating the pervasive influence of secular feminism against these roles.

Those who have organized and commissioned us to conduct this poll have made sure that there would be a cross-section in our survey of country schools, suburban schools, inner-city schools, so that we would get an accurate readout of what 5 to 15-year-old girls in America think about who are under the overriding influence of the public school system and the secular perspectives that govern in that system. We've been commissioned to go to these various schools in this cross-section of the country with one question. We are to ask these girls, this question, what do you hope to be and to do when y...

4:50 - 6:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Evaluate the teachings you have received about women's roles, especially if they contradict biblical principles, and consider whether God or secular ideologies offer true fulfillment.

Looking out his study window, Martin imagines telling a bird it's in bondage to the air, its nest, and the tree, or telling a rabbit it's in bondage to the ground and its hole. This analogy illustrates the folly of aggressive feminism telling women they are in bondage to their God-given design (husband, womb, home), just as a bird is designed for the air and a rabbit for the ground.

And while I was praying, I was looking out my study window. Most of you who've been to my study know I have a lovely picture window. You can have the joy of looking down. This morning there were rabbits, squirrels, oh, sometimes as many as 20, 25 birds.

47:25 - 47:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Turn to your Bible and ask God to reveal your identity as a woman, and the ordinary sphere of your greatest spiritual safety and usefulness for His glory.

Martin quotes Danielle Crittenton, a non-Christian woman, and her book, 'What Our Mothers Never Told Us,' to show that even secular thinkers are recognizing the negative consequences of aggressive feminism and the 'bill of goods' women have been sold.

I'm made for the limb on the tree. Aggressive feminism and telling two generations of women, you're in bondage. This whole idea that your ordinary sphere of usefulness, your ordinary sphere of knowing who and what you are meant to be as a woman and you've heard me quote her before, Danielle Crittenton, a non-Christian woman, has written a landmark book called What Our Mothers Never Told Us. And she with others has come to see how they've been sold a bill of goods by this notion of aggressive feminism. If I'm talking to any woman, who knows better where your highest fulfillment lies? God or som...

49:47 - 51:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Turn to your Bible and ask God to reveal your identity as a woman, and the ordinary sphere of your greatest spiritual safety and usefulness for His glory.

Martin cites Simone de Beauvoir (never married, lived as mistress) and Betty Friedan (married, kids, divorced) as examples of prominent feminist leaders whose personal lives do not align with the wisdom they offer to women, questioning their authority to speak on marriage and motherhood.

Simone de Beauvoir never married, lived as a mistress godless philosopher. To keep him happy, he even lined up his other mistresses to cohabit with her. Gloria Simon, Betty Friedan was married, I think had a couple of kids but divorced. There are dozens of women sitting in this place today who are more fit to speak about marriage, motherhood and home making marriage.

51:10 - 51:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Never be ashamed of your God-given role; magnify your ministry as wife, mother, and homemaker.

Martin shares that when he tells people in doctor's offices he's been married for 46 years, they look at him like he's from another planet, illustrating the rarity of lifelong marriage in contemporary society and providing an opportunity to share the grace of God as the 'glue' of his relationship.

I've had more opportunities when I've talked to people in the doctor's offices and tell them I've been married for 46 years. They look at you like you came from another planet or another galaxy. I mean, people just don't stay married for 46 years in this generation. And then I'm able to tell them, it's the grace of God.

54:23 - 54:40 Read in full sermon