Popular culture says that girls and women are only strong when they act like males. Christian culture for the most part isn't much different. It is rather unsettling to discover that a woman's true strength comes from her dependence, her weakness and her non brash, non bold, spirit. 1 Peter 3 lays out some pretty crazy looking behaviors and character qualities for ladies. It lays out unpretentious talk and example, your inner person(your new nature in Christ), as well as a meek and quite spirit.
Now for a quick vocabulary lesson for some of those old terms I just used. Unpretentious means unassuming, simple and humble. Don't worry meek does not mean weak. It actually means long-suffering, strength under control. Quite doesn't equal silent or without-a-voice. What it does mean is tranquil and calm.
Simple, humble, long-suffering, tranquil, calm, strength under control. All of those are 100% opposite of the; brash, loud mouth, fiery, can take care of myself, don't need no one else, attitudes our culture says women have to have in order to be strong, safe and world changing. This is where the counter cultural part comes in. It sounds insane to promote such archaic behavior that will only lead to being a doormat. None of those character traits and behaviors mean a woman cannot have healthy relationship boundaries. In fact a woman has the responsibility to choose a husband that she can let protect her, be fierce for her and with whom her long-suffering will not be misused.
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