Fine Evening

Dear Folks,

I just got back from a walk with my second son and my daughter. The evening was splendiferous, wet with moist air, cool from the winter season. We did not need jackets, but long sleeve sweatshirts seemed about right.

I read from a book just now, Theory of Paster's Wife, by D.D. Kim Hung Whan, a South Korean woman. Her book was published by 생능출판사 (Life & Power Press). ISBN 89-7050-516-4. Fourth Edition 2005.

Granted, it is easy to see how modern women from South Korea, Land of the Morning Calm, will quickly judge this woman to be lacking in wisdom relative to themselves (even though these modern women will probably never write anything relevant to Christ which a person will copy into his weblog decades later...), not only because of the woman's incomplete acquisition of English (She was born in 1928.), but also because of some of her statements regarding the submissive role of women, which these women would rather not adopt.

I will quote the astute elderly lady here below:

Beginning on page 22

5. The Posture of a Pastor's Wife

"A wife of noble Character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones (Prov 12:4)."

The pastor's wife's position is very complex in that she can always give a good or bad influence on church members. Church members naturally tend to accept the pastor's wife's behavior, and in response imitate her in their lives. Imitating good behavior is desirable but imitating bad one can be destructive to a church, especially when the unbecoming behavior gives direct impact to the members regardless of her intent.

6. The Pastor's Wife Responsibility

Pastor' wife has major responsibility to show good example in the church. Let us read Esther Chapter One and examine carefully what it teaches. Have you ever thought about the consequences of disobedience?

1) Woman:

She is not in the leading role but a submissive role. She is not in creating roars, but arranging it. She is not in teaching others, but in learning from others.

2) Let us learn obedience through Abraham (Gen 22:1-19)

(1) Abraham did not ask for reason, logic, nor seek any kind of discussion with God. Asking these is a sign of disobedience.

(2) He acted immediately. God's will demands immediate response.

(3) He did not complain (murmur). Complaint is provoking God.

(4) He did not worry. He trusted God, by believing him in all situation.

(5) He pleased God. He fulfilled the demand of God's will and completed the requisite for obedience.

3) One can learn in the Bible about submissive relationship between men and women.

(1) Obey even it is difficult (Gen 22:1-10).

(2) Obey even it is easy (2Kings 5:11-14).

Verse 13 is the recorded statement of Naaman's servant. "If the prophet had told you some great things, would you not have done it?"

(3) Obey at any time (even in a deep sleep at night) (Matt 2:13-15)

(4) Obey without condition.

Abraham: "Even though he didn't know where he was going" -- He obeyed (Heb 11:8).

A Centurion: "For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, Go and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it" (Matt 8:9).

* There is no husband on earth who does not follow his wife.

In the time of Japanese imperialism, my uncle was a principal, and he went to Japan, and he received Japanese military drill. One morning a military commander said to the soldiers, If anyone follow the counsel of his wife all the time, Stand right side of the flag, and if anyone follow not the counsel of his wife, Stand left side of the flag. Then almost all of the soldiers rushed into the right side of the flag, but only one person moved to the left side. The military commander was surprised and came down from the platform, and gave a greeting to him, and told him "[Japanese phrase]", that means, You are a respectable person. The commander asked him, How can you not follow your wife? But this man said, "No, that is not like that, My wife said to me this early morning, Because I had some strange dream last night, Please do not go to the crowded place, That's why I did not go to right side." The commander heard and said, "[Japanese phrase]" There is no man on the earth who do not follow his wife.

4) Women should elevate their husbands and serve them like heaven.

There is a slight difference in Chinese character, describing husband(夫) and heaven( ).

Chinese character for husband(夫) is different from the character for heaven( ) slightly, by adding one stroke upon the heaven. This slight difference between heaven and husband makes it necessary for the women to submit to her husband like heaven.

This was the word from the Rev. Bea Min Su who served as a Minister for Agriculture long ago. He was the first agricultural minister in South Korea, whose meritorious deed in introducing farming life in the rural area was applauded by many, and he also established a school of farming in Daejeon -- South Korea. He initiated a new movement called "New life boiler, House Heating System."