August 30, 2008 8:22 AM
Memo to Jennie Chancey on Sarah Palin
Okay, so Sarah Palin is the mother of five, including a baby with Down syndrome.
Amazingly, the very qualities I think make her a brilliant choice are the things that people like Jenny Chancey and the Vision Forum crowd are carping on now.
Sometimes Christians amaze me - that they get so one-track in the legalistic structure they've added to their religion that they forget that our God is a God of grace, redemption and most of all
Throughout history He has chosen people to lead who were not worthy or qualified in the eyes of others. Almost as though He were testing not only the leaders He chose, but the ones who would benefit from their leadership.
He chose a shepherd boy to slay a giant and replace a king. He chose a poor Jewish girl to become a queen and through her intercession save her people. He chose a virgin to give birth to the Savior.
Think about the buzz among the most righteous people then. Ask yourself where you would have weighed in on the issue. Would you have blocked David from fighting Goliath? Would you have told Joseph not to marry Mary?
My message to Jennie and her devotees is to get over yourselves. God is not running the world based on Doug Phillips' teachings. He is still running the world the way He sees fit. And you are locked into a world perspective that does not allow Him to step outside the box you've created, the script He is supposed to follow.
I see Sarah Palin as an Esther - someone who is the perfect and only person who could have galvanized the part of the vote that was languishing in boredom - or despair, as I was. I was so depressed after seeing the lies and cultish events taking place at the DNC convention, I went to bed without watching past the first five minutes of Obama's film bio.
To wake up to the news of McCain's announcement was an unexpected joy. And I see it as a gift from God for all of us. But as with all of the gifts He gives us, there will be those who because of hard hearts and legalism will not want to receive it.
I don't think Sarah Palin went looking for this job. I think God went looking for her. I don't think she went looking for the governorship either. I think her story demonstrates that she was not driven by a lust for power or elected office, but a desire to serve others.
And this is how God has seen fit for her to do it.
With a media fawning all over Obama - think Chris Matthews and the tingle he says he feels up his leg when Obama speaks - and a gullible populace easily whipped up by appeals to envy and bitterness, conservatives need someone compelling, authentic and real to represent them. McCain's nomination of Palin captured America's attention at a critical moment - brought people back to reality.
This is reality folks: a mother of five children, including a baby with Down syndrome.
How will she do it all? Ask any megamom blogging and caring for a family - how do we do it all? She obviously will have a lot of help. She probably can stop doing laundry and cooking meals for a while. She will undoubtedly prioritize and let those things go in favor of spending time with her kids and seeing to her official duties. She will probably have Trigg crawling around her office. And the physical therapist will come to them rather than having to schlep Trigg everywhere.
Let's face it moms - a lot of our time goes to work that I've always taught we should enjoy. But minus that work, Palin will have just as much time for her kids as she would have if she were a housewife too.
Jennie Chancey spends a lot of time telling moms that they shouldn't send their daughters to college - while she uses her own college education via her writing skills. She tells them to be concerned only with domestic duties while she maintains a pretty fancy blog.
Like many people who become involved in a legalistic subculture - or even a government system like socialism - she is one of the ones at the top who enjoy freedoms they would deny to others. Unfortunately, the world is full of followers and some leaders take advantage of that. In doing so they become hypocrites.
I hope this event will open the eyes of some of those followers to see that God is so much bigger, more magnificent, more loving, and more full of surprises - like giving us babies with Down syndrome and unexpected assignments - than Jennie Chancey and the other Vision Forum leaders have ever experienced.
When you're bound by legalism and gracelessness, when you are busy condemning and judging and making more rules to lock your followers into your system, your eyes are on the ground. Read the Bible, Jennie. Look up to your Heavenly Father. He is not answering to your bidding. And neither should anyone else.
Thank God for Sarah Palin's obedience.
For such a time as this. . . .
~~~~~~
For more background, see (* marks past run-ins with Jennie Chancey):
The Doug Phillips controversy - Take 2
*The Doug Phillips controversy: Why my link was removed from Ladies Against Feminism
The Doug Phillips controversy: What does it mean to be a Christian leader?
Doug Phillips reconciliation breakdown
Posted in Big families, Campaign 2008, Church Issues, Down syndrome, Mothering, Spiritual abuse | Permalink
Comments
Beautiful post, Barbara!
Posted by: Angela | August 30, 2008 8:37 AM
Very, very well said! (But then again, you always say things well.) Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat | August 30, 2008 9:04 AM
It's very nice to know that Doug Phillips and Jennie Chancey don't speak for all of us Christians. :-)
It's a very confusing time, where anyone can interpret scripture the way they see fit. Is this really what our Saviour had in mind? Or is there really one truth?.....
Aisha
Posted by: Aisha Hoffman | August 30, 2008 10:06 AM
Woohooo! You are dead center with this one Barbara. I certainly hope Jennie Chancey can see the disconnect between what she benefits from and what she espouses as true. Go Sarah Palin!
Posted by: Imajackson | August 30, 2008 10:47 AM
Bravo!!!!
Posted by: Kim | August 30, 2008 10:59 AM
Barbara, You are so right about how God uses his obedient servants so fight against the strong. Although I don't know anything about Jennie Chauncey, I am presuming that she thinks Sarah should stay out of WA and stay home with her children. God uses all of us in ways that seem strange at times, but he always uses us to further His Kingdom on earth if we pray and discern what He is asking of us. Sarah seems to have been doing this all of her life and God has brought her to this point in her life to fight the Culture of Death. Her son, born with Down Syndrome, is evidence of a strong pro-life woman. She could have aborted him as 90% of mothers-to-be abort their pre-born Down Syndrome babies, but she DID NOT.
Our Presidential race is a race about the Culture of Life vs. a Culture of Death. Barack Obama is on record in the Illinois State Senate of voting against giving medical help to a baby born after a "botched" abortion. He heard heartwrenching testimony from an eye witness nurse how a baby boy with Down Syndrome was left to die in a soiled utility room. Still, he voted against this bill, THREE TIMES! Enter Sarah Palin, John McCain's VP choice. She is given the choice to abort her unborn baby boy with Down Syndrome, she refused and publicly expresses her joy in having a child with special needs and thanks God for entrusting their family with the special gift of his life. The comparison between Obama and Palin could not be more stark!
Only God could bring these people and events together at such a crucial point in time. Think about it! What uncanny orchestration the part of our loving Eternal Father!
We thank you and Praise you oh Wonderful Lord!
Julie c.m.
Posted by: Julie Klekas | August 30, 2008 11:34 AM
She hunts moose! She isn't your typical soft-hearted hormonal basket-case female stereotype.
And I love how she is messing with peoples world view. I can't say I am going to lose any sleep over the image of bigoted and sexist fundies having to watch a minority take leadership in this country.
I had reservations about her having to leave an infant for days, and then I saw photos of her slinging her infant, carrying him in the grocery store, and even pumping breastmilk. I think she probably has similar priorities as me and that baby will be just fine.
Posted by: paigeu | August 30, 2008 11:54 AM
I am very "complementarian". I believe that God intends for men to hold the leadership positions in the church and home.
That is: don't confuse the two kingdoms. Our Father in heaven has not given us qualifications for the leaders of state.
I adore Sarah Palin and I (while I would have voted Republican anyway) am now excited about this election season in a way that I was not excited on Thursday.
Posted by: MzEllen | August 30, 2008 11:57 AM
Barbara, I think you are right. On this I must disagree with Jenny and others. Sarah Palin excited my interest in the election because of her positions on issues important to me, but I also will be watching to see whether her being a woman will draw the votes who may have been on the fence about Obama.
But I have been a little conflicted. I truly believe the best for children is to be with their mom. It would seem to me that a high profile political position might make that difficult.
On the other hand Sarah Palin appears to take her baby at least everywhere she goes, and historically the White House has been very open to the children of the President and VP, so they will probably have more access to her than most children of working moms.
Posted by: Margaret | August 30, 2008 12:02 PM
AMEN!
Posted by: Evergreen | August 30, 2008 12:50 PM
BEAUTIFUL post! I am so glad you have written this and I only hope more and more people read this.
I have been having discussions with women i know who have been making comments about how Palin won't be able to balance her family and her job and you are right to point people to mega moms to answer this question. I have always been able to find a great balance between my family of 11 and doing lots of communtiy work, which has included running many church programs and working on elections in my town. I have never had a problem getting my kids everything they needed, including therapies and such and have always had a hot, homemade meal on the table every single night. (which is more than I can say for some moms I know who have only 1 or 2 kids)
I think until people walk in the shoes of a mega mom, they need to keep their mouths shut and just sit back an watch. They may be amazed at all a woman can accomplish when they set their minds to it.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Posted by: debi B | August 30, 2008 1:37 PM
I just read the blog in question and had to quote this:
"I can assent to Sarah Palin's conservative views and even applaud them, but I mourn for a nation whose men have forgotten how to lead their families and their land in the way our Founders envisioned and the way God intended. "
She is going to *emasculate* the men who dare to recognize that a woman might provide a perspective and a type of leadership that is unique and beneficial?
Will somebody please pass the puke bucket.
Posted by: paigeu | August 30, 2008 2:06 PM
Oh Barbara, I agree! This is what I am saying on my blog as well! I wrote in my comment section that I've seen you and other mega moms in action, and I really feel that just by virtue of mothering,managing, nurturing, educating, and advocating for a large family a woman is able to handle so much more! (I would vote for you, too!) :) Think about the diplomacy that mothering many requires!
I so, so, so agree.
My concern has not been with her "right" to hold office, I've only been concerned with her son and family. I don't think she's going to neglect them for a second, any more than most of us mommies who sit down to blog!
:)
Posted by: Holly | August 30, 2008 2:22 PM
Oh, I so agree with you! And may God continue to raise up male and female godly leaders in our country for future generations.
Posted by: Pam | August 30, 2008 2:34 PM
Came back to say, that isn't it sadly ironic that we pray and pray and pray for years that God would help us remove the scourge of abortion? We cry over these precious Down Syndrome babies, and say that "someone in charge should do something about the 90 percent who are aborted?"
The God sends someone, maybe a little someone with a little something extra, who will (maybe, just maybe) grow up beautifully in the public eye and change hearts and minds - and we can't accept him or his mama because she's not the right gender? They don't fit our profile or sense of order.
I'm with Dr. Dobson. I'm pulling the lever! :)
Posted by: Holly | August 30, 2008 2:48 PM
I am very thankful for McCain's pick. What an inspiration to all the other moms out there, those with special needs children especially. God really knows what He's doing! I'm so glad to have a strong Christian VP in the running with McCain, one who values life and truly understands what "making a choice to keep a child" means. She didn't take the easy way out. Sarah Palin choose to push through and triumph in a time that would have left others questioning their faith. That's exactly the kind of person I want in the office. One who stands for what she believes in someone who walks the walk instead of someone who just talks to the talk to get votes. Thanks, Barbara, for keeping your comments free flowing and also being a woman like Sarah Palin. You've walked the walk too!
Posted by: Shauna | August 30, 2008 3:15 PM
I couldn't agree with you more!
Posted by: Emily | August 30, 2008 4:09 PM
I haven't voted in any election, except a school board election, since Bush ran against Gore. There has been no one I wanted to waste the paper on,local,state or federal. I still felt that way until yesterday am...I am so looking forward to November this year..I feel hope again!!Thank you Sarah Palin!!!
Posted by: sue | August 30, 2008 4:28 PM
Barbara, when I was hanging out in the VF camp the one thing it did for me was to make me critical of every. little. thing. Almost nothing made them happy. Their paradigm was so narrow that there was almost no one who could satisfy their perfect requirements. I gave up trying. It was not health to MY bones, that's for sure. It IS a cult in many ways. It's really too bad. A good thing taken too far.
Posted by: Kim | August 30, 2008 5:29 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you Barbara. I wish more educated, Christian women such as yourself would "sound the alarm" about Jennie Chancey, Vision Forum, and these other false teachers in the church.
Until yesterday, I was very hum-drum about the election (and Nov 4 is my birthday!). I couldn't in good conscience vote for Obama, but McCain didn't seem right either on several levels. I was going to, for the first time in my life, not vote or write in a candidate.
And now, I am going to vote for McCain-Palin, not because I like his veep choice, but because I see that he is willing to truly make changes and not just talk about them (unlike someone else?). I see that he does value women, life, families and those with special needs.
As someone said, we complain and complain about no one doing anything about abortion, and then we criticize a pro-life candidate for the job sheerly because she is a WOMAN? Please.
I think God has a hand in all of this, and I'm finally excited.
Posted by: NormalMiddle | August 30, 2008 7:16 PM
I appreciate the heads up about the vision forum.......SIGH........
Barbara- I am so excited about Sarah Palin!! I could not stop thinking about her last night! God is still in control, is'nt he? I hope to see her little boy " grow up" in the white house, with the world's eyes observing his sweet face. :)
Time for the prayer warriors to pray the Mccain/Palin team in!
Posted by: Lisa | August 30, 2008 7:31 PM
I was wondering how soon this topic was going to be mentioned on the LAF website.
I am not surprised that Mccain had trouble finding strong conservative traits in the countrys' men between the me, me, attitude of the baby boomers and the slacker attitude of generation x and y. Not too sound too judgemental I know not all men in the age groups previously mentioned are like that, unfortunately my husband isn't old enough to run for president yet :-)
I do believe we are in a decline similar to the times of Deborah so it should be no shock a women is asked to take on a major role in public life.
I guess it can can be compared to FDR during the great depression when the only was to save capitalism was through some socialist economic policies. Now the only way to save the traditional American family might also be with a nontraditional leader.
I just can't believe after watching the convention how a man like Joe Biden whose children are so obviously his treasure can think it is ok for other children to be aborted and thrown out as medical waste.
I hope and pray a McCain/Palin victory can help reverse Roe v Wade. I hope and pray harder her family doesn't suffer in the process.
Posted by: melanie | August 30, 2008 8:46 PM
In Jennie Chancey's defense, God has used her and the work of Ladies Against Feminism to work good in many women's lives. I am very thankful for the positive impact some of Mrs. Chancey's writings have had on my life. I came across LAF at a time in my life when God was changing my views on many issues, such as being open to children (which I wasn't for the first few years of my marriage) and appreciating the work that goes into being a wife and homemaker, and the value that those roles have. God used the work of LAF to produce good fruit in my life and in my marriage, and I'm thankful.
I think that sometimes with issues that are very contrary to popular culture (even popular Christian culture), it takes a person or an organization harping on a message to get it across. I think, for example, of Keith Green's blunt, impassioned railing at concert attendees to repent; of his upsetting the Christian music industry by encouraging Christian artists to give away their music like he was doing; and of his counter-cultural emphasis on community living. He was definitely weird and definitely extreme (and sometimes wrong in his extreme-ness), but also very impacting in the kingdom of God.
Sometimes it takes a person who gets really focused on one issue - like Randy Alcorn and his extensive work on the abortifacient effects of hormonal birth control - to get through to people.
I think there is a need for the message encouraging young women that they CAN choose being an at-home wife as a vocation. That idea is revolutionary to many young Christian women, and a huge relief to those who desire to be homemakers, wives, and mothers full-time rather than seeking an outside career. LAF and Mrs. Chancey do go to extremes in promoting that idea, I agree. But I appreciate that they're advocating the legitimacy of wife-hood as a vocation.
I am "wicked excited" (to use a Rhode Island-ism) about Sarah Palin as VP. I think she's an incredible woman. I was committed to voting for McCain already, but now I have real enthusiasm for voting a McCain-Palin ticket. I do wonder how Palin will balance such a demanding job with the needs of her husband and family, but I think you made a great point, Barbara - with many of the housekeeping/homemaking demands lifted from her for a season, I think Palin will be able to focus on the VP job as well as her kids and husband.
I find it sad that some people would discourage voting for McCain because they wouldn't want to see a woman in civil office - voting for a third party is only going to help Obama. But I just wanted to speak up in the defense of Mrs. Chancey - I do think her work is doing some good, and is not without merit and use in the Christian community.
Posted by: Becky Miller | August 30, 2008 9:55 PM
I saw this post's headline in my Blogher box below the ads and was curious so I clicked on over.
Excellent, excellent post. I may just have to link here :)
Posted by: Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt | August 30, 2008 11:24 PM
Well Said!
This is one Alaskan who is going to MISS our great governor, should she become VP, but who is SO thrilled at Palin being on the ticket. She flat out rocks.
:)
Posted by: Molly | August 31, 2008 12:03 AM
She's a down to earth person who is real and in touch with Alaskans, we've been thrilled with the job she's doing even though I was skeptical enough in the beginning not to have voted for her.
I know several people-including my father--who know her well and say she's just what she seems.
Posted by: Michelle at Scribbit | August 31, 2008 1:14 AM
barbara,
thanks for NOT being afraid to stand up to the cultish rhetoric shoveled out by vision forum and the like. the moment one questions anything of them, you are accused of being on the "other side". thank you for articulating what many of us think but don't know how to put into words!
Posted by: julie | August 31, 2008 4:13 AM
Shalom Barbara,
I really agree with what you said and I have a link to something I think you would find very interesting. It is a pretty in-depth read, but I think every woman who is a Believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should read it and study it. I think just like myself, a lot of us would be totally surprised as to how we have, at times, misinterpreted Scriptures.
Here is the link: http://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/Role%20of%20Women.pdf
You have a very nice and encouraging blog. Thank you!!
Many blessings and shalom to you and your family.
C.A. Worcester
Posted by: C.A. Worcester | August 31, 2008 12:21 PM
I can believe that some women can balance a high profile career and motherhood with the help of housekeepers and nannies. But the Vice Presidency and an infant? I just can't buy that.
Posted by: Danielle | August 31, 2008 12:30 PM
So let me get this straight - Jennie Chauncey can't share her thoughts about Sarah Palin being nominated but you can? Is the country in such a state that everyone is going to flock to LAF and convert to "radical right wing Christianity"? I doubt it. I would like to think that there is enough room for everyone to have their say, even if you disagree with it.
Me, I don't know how to feel about it Palin. When I watched Palin give her speech I got goosebumps and teared up. Maybe for the hope of what will come and maybe a bit for my thoughts that women should stay home if at all possible. Probably because I am so torn about the state of our country that I would put a woman in the White House if it meant that our future had a better chance than with Obama. But regardless of all that, Jennie Chauncey has just as much right to argue her beliefs as you do yours. She is an American too you know.
Mrs. Damian (Ouida) Garcia
Posted by: Mrs. Damian Garcia | September 1, 2008 1:02 PM
Dear Mrs. Garcia -
I don't recall anywhere in my entry saying that Jennie did not have the right to share her ideas.
I simply disagreed with her.
It is hopeful because McCain was being urged to select a "pro-choice" candidate and instead he honored his pro-life convictions.
And now we can see that Sarah Palin is a woman who doesn't just talk the talk, but walks the walk.
Posted by: barbara | September 1, 2008 1:39 PM
Thank you for this good reminder that God can use the unexpected and unlikely--even people who make choices that are out of step with His law--I was reading about Jacob this morning, for example. I do plan to vote for McCain/Palin.
Please be careful about slandering another Christian--The Chanceys are acquaintences of our ours. They are lovely gracious people trying to live out their faith in relation to God's Word. They don't just talk politics--they are actively involved in local and state politics and making a difference in the community. Also, Jennie does not believe no women should go to college. See FAQ #14 on her website. http://pub32.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?usernum=2692425141&catid=3267#q14
--she just gives some good food for thought as to having a big picture plan with our children, and as we all do, her views are formed out of her own experience--college is where she turned from her family's faith and got into some of the lies of the feminist movement.
It is a constant struggle for us all as to how to determine how to live out our lives according to God's Word in the time and place in which He has us living.
Posted by: ennistbp | September 2, 2008 11:17 AM
ennistbp,
I agree that we are all struggling to determine how we are to live our lives according to God's Word. But what the Chancey's are doing isn't "struggling to learn" and graciously sharing their opinions-----Jennie is writing articles declaring that her opinions are God's opinions, and that those who do not follow her opinions are following Satan/world/evil/blasphemy, etc.
I'm all for everyone having the right to say what they think. But Chancey does not leave much room for dissenters. She and Vision Forum and their ilk are already sure what God's way is, and lump all the rest of us in with the Devil.
I'm sure she is a very nice person. I used to communicate with her when I was in the patriarchy movement, as well as wrote articles for LAF, etc. But being nice does not mean that one is right. And it also doesn't mean that those of us with concerns can't stand up and voice them. Chancey is likely VERY well-intentioned. But that doesn't translate into being correct.
If people are being led to Christ, then we can graciously agree to disagree. But in the case of Vision Forum, LAF, etc, they're not being led into Christ but into a world where obedience to their interpretation of gender roles equals righteousness. Paul spoke very firmly about this sort of thing in Galatians 5, not mincing any words.
Posted by: Molly | September 2, 2008 12:23 PM
Hi Barbara,
I am a new lurker to your blog..I LOVE IT!! This is an excellent post, and I couldn't agree with it more.Thank you for all you do!
Posted by: Heather | November 10, 2008 12:40 PM
