Revmitchell, I really used to believe in the philosophy of women and children first.
Then, as a teacher, as I began to see how children who lose one or more of their parents (for whatever reason) are truly messed up, I began to rethink that position in a discussion with friends one day.
I don't know exactly why we were talking about sinking ships. :1_grouphug:
Besides, IF I were married and this case happened to me.......I wouldn't leave my husband.
I would help him get the children and the infirmed and couples with young children off the boat, but you can be rest assured, for me to get on a life boat without him, he would have to knock me unconscious and put me there. :tongue3:
It's not a matter of moral right or wrong.
There's not a scriptural reason to require or disallow people to mandatorily serve or not based on gender. Each society can decide for itself whether or not it wants to require that of women.
You know that's no longer a maritime custom, don't you? During muster drills, shorter people go to the front, and taller ones to the back, regardless of gender.
Again, there's no scriptural mandate on that.
There's no right or wrong.
It's strictly a matter of societal custom.
I do not believe that at such moments the unity of family and staying together is the priority. I certainly do not buy into the idea that is one of us dies we all should die. If someone breaks into my house they will have to go through me to get to my family. It is my responsibility as the Father and Husband and as the strongest member of the family to protect the others. Plus there is just an internal drive to do that very thing.
What is the limit of application of first binding the strong man before his goods can be spoiled? RevM makes a very good point. A wife and children are his "goods". A man to find a wife has found a good thing! Why are we today disconnecting morality from bible as some one tried a few posts back? Is socierty irretrievable? "Women voting, awakens the ire of the liberation movement which was to set women free of the protection God provided under her husband, and has her instead on the frontline of the battlefield. From a level of pride reacts those who forget the woman is the human centerpiece of any christian home when morality is disconnected from bible. "Women & children first" is an act to free them from being "spoiled" when the "strongman" has been bound by his duty of "saving the ship". Somewhere we'll find that women voting is a tendacy to usurp authority over a man by taking on a duty which does not belong to the weaker vessel. Not a slur against her womanhood, but securing her ladyship ;-)
The church and denomination my parents attend don't allow women to vote, let alone hold church office.
But they will let them serve coffee and donuts and clean the sanctuary.
(sarcasm on) How nice of them Peggy.. keep them women cleaning and servin food!...
(sarcasm off)
(The rest of this post
is not meant toward you, Peggy.. )
The more I read on the thoughts of our fellow Baptists, the more I appreciate the branch of flavor of Baptist I am a part of... ABC-USA...
Yes, there are some very liberal element in our denomination, but at least we don't treat our fellow sisters in Christ as property only to serve the men-folk...
I am proud to be ABC-USA... and even more proud after reading some remarks on her...
(NOT saying that SBC is bad... I have never been SBC.. but I defineatly wouldn't join Aarons or Paul's church.. .There is not enough money in the world to sit foot into their churches...
I wouldn't corrupt my family)
Women are not a man's property. If I were married and we were on a sinking boat I would want my wife and children to get off safely (regardless of what happened to me). I'm no hero but I do try to put other people, mainly my loved ones, ahead of myself.