Living to Not Blaspheme or Bring Reproach Upon Christ

Living to Not Blaspheme or Bring Reproach Upon Christ

There are two places in the Bible that specifically say that our failure to obey the Word of God results in blaspheming the Word of God and causes the adversary to speak reproachfully.

…that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:4

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
1 Timothy 5:14

What does it mean to blaspheme the Word of God and cause the adversary to speak reproachfully?

“That the gospel may not be injuriously spoken of, on account of the inconsistent lives of those who profess to be influenced by it. The idea is, that religion ought to produce the virtues here spoken of, and that when it does not, it will be reproached as being of no value” (Barnes’ Notes).

If we are not being sober, loving and obeying our husbands, bearing and raising children, discreet, chaste, keepers of the home and guiding the home, we show a watching world that our faith in Jesus Christ has no value since we look just as the world looks. We live our lives like they do and Christ in us has no effect to transform lives.

By living our lives as Christ has called us to live, the watching world will see a difference in us. They will see sober-minded women who think and act biblically. They will see women loving and obeying their husbands and adorning themselves with submission. These women will reverence their husbands and only speak highly of them.

They will see women who love bearing and raising children, knowing that they are precious blessings from the Lord. These women will want to be home and raise their children for the Lord. They will discipline, train, and teach them the ways of the Lord so they will shine like lights in the darkness.

“And this they say is what is meant by the woman’s being an helpmeet for man, that while he is abroad about his business, she is , ‘sitting at home’, and keeping his house; and this they observe is the glory and honour of the woman” (Gill’s Exposition).

The world will see women who are discreet, chaste, and good. These women don’t demand their way or want to pursue their goals and be served, but are content with the will of God and serving their families. They love being home and working hard there, thus their homes are places of beauty, rest, and order. God is glorified in their homes, in their marriages, and in their lives.

“If Christians profess to be influenced by a supernaturally strong and sacred motive, and then fail to do what lower and ordinary motives often succeed in effecting, the world charges the failure on the lofty motive itself, and Christ bears once again the sins of His people” (Cambridge Bible).

The adversary is eager to exaggerate the faults of a few, and to lay the blame on the whole Church and its doctrines” (Jamieson-Fausset Commentary). Many cry “hypocrite” when they see  Christians who are not obeying the clear Word of God and use this as an excuse to not attend church or to believe in their Creator, then cast blame on all Christians claiming they serve a weak God. Don’t be a hypocritical Christian who causes others to look poorly upon the name of Christ by living in disobedience to His clear commands.

“And give no occasion to Jews or pagans (the adversaries of Christian religion) to speak of the church, or any particular members of it, reproachfully, as living beneath the rules of morality and decency” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary). But we, as women who love the Lord and want to glorify Him in all we do, are careful to live our lives according to His clear Word. We don’t try to water it down or say it’s not culturally relevant because we know it is and that it’s unchanging. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“That is, either that Satan, the grand adversary of the saints, might have no opportunity to reproach them, and cast in their teeth their unbecoming walk, or accuse them before the throne; or that any enemy of the Christian religion might have no room nor reason to speak evilly of Christ, his Gospel, truths, and ordinances, on account of the disorderly conversation of any that profess his name” (Gill’s Commetary). We don’t care if we are laughed at and mocked because we know Whom we serve and Whom we have to give an account for our lives. It doesn’t matter if we are few in number because we don’t compare ourselves to those around us but only to God’s living and active Word to make sure we are living according to His perfect plan for us.

“All, of every rank and age, who think they love the Lord Jesus should remember that the ‘enemy’ is ever watching their words and works; never should they who wear the colours of the great King forget the charge of the King’s son, ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’” (Ellicot’s Commentary). All that matters to us is that we bring glory to our King and our Savior for He alone is worthy and His ways are perfect. We understand this because our eyes are opened to truth and our hearts are softened to it, unlike the many who are blinded by their sins and “hold the truth in unrighteousness” (know the truth but refuse to obey it).

“The practical worth of a religion is not unfairly estimated by its effects on the lives of those who profess it. If the observed effect of the Gospel were to make women worse wives, it would not commend it to the heathen; ‘for the Greeks judge not of doctrines by the doctrine itself, but they make the life and conduct the test of the doctrines’” (Expositor’s Greek Testament). Our faith doesn’t make us “worse wives”; it makes us better wives because we understand truth and that God’s Spirit works mightily within us, therefore, we are able to cheerfully submit to and obey our husbands because when we do this, we know that we are obeying the Lord and this is all that matters in life; pleasing and serving our Savior.

7 thoughts on “Living to Not Blaspheme or Bring Reproach Upon Christ

  1. I often think about the very two verses you quoted at the beginning of your post, Lori. We women possess such a heavy responsibility to testify to Christ’s power to save and live transformed lives. When we don’t do so, the results are disastrous. When women who profess to be Christian divorce their husbands, follow the feminist script and prioritize college and career over marriage and motherhood, and so on, we look just like the women of the world and cause the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Thank you for teaching us to take living godly in Christ Jesus seriously and to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

  2. Hi Lori, I was wondering if you have ever spoken on having an abusive parent? I have just endured yet another viscous attack from my mother. I have tried to honor her as I am commanded, but after 35 years of this I just don’t think I can do it anymore. Thank you for your thoughts.

  3. Im not Lori but ive been dealing with an abusive father. My first piece of advice would be is to put boundaries in place. You need to be able to protect yourself from emotional and physical harm. Your husband may be able to help work out what is and is not acceptable. Secondly, but just as, if not more importantly, fill your mind with Gods word. Thirdly, while they are my parent, i dont have to put up with abuse. Once boundaries are established, if they are broken, i would no longer invite them into my home. But meet them in a public place. In my fathers case, i have been forced to start applying for a restraining order. But those are the exception. Continue to show love to her. But love doesnt mean holding them close and putting up with abuse. Sometimes it means keeping a safe distance. Id send her nice letters and photos of the kids every now and then. And as i said, invite her out to dinner. But home is meant to be a safe space for you and family, id keep it that way.

  4. I should add, i dealt with a family member who would ring up regularly when my husband wasnt home and verbally bash our beliefs and my husband. They claimed to be christian as well. So i ignore all calls unless my husband was home, and they would be put on speaker phone. She rang up one night while my husband was home. And she started her usual manipulation thinking he wasnt home. When she had finished her tirade, my husband calmly but firmly put her in her place. She never did it again. If the abuse is over the phone, calmly but firmly ask her to stop, and she refuses, hang up. You dont have to stay on the phone and take it. If its in your home, show her the door and politely tell her how to use it. Then lock it behind her. You can do these things and still be respectful.

  5. Can I add to your list “when women who profess to be Christian…..” when those women poison their own bodies to reject their God given purpose to be the vessel of God’s gift of life in their womb …,

  6. Thank you Anon M. Unfortunately, my husband has never intervened- not even when I was on the verge of suicide. It has taken me a long time to see the way you see but I know I need to “protect my heart”. With God’s help- cause I cannot do it alone or I would have- I will.

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