As part of the home school culture reflecting biblical truths my husband has been required to sign and agree with our membership in certain organizations. His participation in the majority of those organizations is non existent. He does not attend meetings, answer emails, fulfill a unit of service, or contribute in any significant way to those groups. Having him sign off on membership agreements was done as a way to acknowledge his head ship of our family and his awareness of a commitment that WE were making. Even though I am the one actively participating, his cooperation and signature signified a deeper spiritual truth, that ultimately he is the one who is responsible before G-d for his family. I know in many families this was merely a required formality by an organization and that it held no importance to them. It is not a mere formality for us. Needing his signature to join gave Mr. occasion to exercise his headship. This is something that most men in our feminized culture do not get to experience very often! After reading the following statement issued by one of the groups that we have been involved with my husband's comment was that they have taken away an opportunity. Many men will not notice the loss but others like MR. will see and know that they have once again been replaced by "the mom". "The Board, along with much valuable input from our Coordinators, has voted to remove the requirement for the husband's signature on the membership form, whether you are new or renewing.
We discussed the merits and reasons for this at length among our Leadership(Board and Coordinators) and after much prayer and discussion voted to remove.
As "the mom", you will be signing your signature on behalf of your husband and family that you agree with our Statement of Faith, agree to abide by the rules and will fulfill your unit of service."
I know many of the reasons for determining this requirement to be no longer necessary. Many moms are already just forging their husbands signatures. They are not practicing biblical head ship in the home, have little understanding of the concept and see no reason to bother their spouse for something like his signature on a piece of paper. Our society is fragmented, and many husbands even in the Christian community are divorced from their families if not legally certainly emotionally. These are all excuses and fall under the same sin that Eve committed when she asked, "Did God really say?"
A commentary by Dr. Peter Pett reflects on Psalm 11:3 which says "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ The important thing to the psalmist is that at all costs the foundations are preserved, otherwise the righteous have nowhere to turn. That involves maintenance of YHWH’s Instruction (Law) at all costs however hard it may be in the circumstances. To obtain the right in the wrong way, or not to defend it when called upon to do so, would be to destroy the right. Of course the foundations can never actually be destroyed, for ‘The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, that the Lord knows those who are his’ (2 Timothy 2:19). In the end all depends on God and on His personal and eternal knowing of His people. But it is still the duty of the righteous to uphold those foundations at whatever cost. "
The foundations must be preserved at all cost! What is more foundational than our spheres of influence as determined immediately in Genesis. Albert Mohler said, "God for our good and to His glory has set forth a pattern for his church which for instance is going to hold up a male pattern of teaching authority. All I have is the responsibility to understand the God's word is clear about this matter. It is my responsibility to obey it and to glorify God in it and to understand that if it is for Gods glory than it is for our good as well. If men are given the opportunity to sit back and allow women to do everything than a good many men will allow just that. One of our responsibilities in this generation is to get men into faithfulness and encourage them into their responsibilities as husbands, as fathers and yes as leaders in the church. "
As a Christian organization we are not taking our responsibilities seriously if our policies release men from their duties and responsibility and instead encourage them to them abdicate their God given role!
