Dr. Laura
Schlessinger, radio talk show host, presents common sense advice, urging women
(and men) to take responsibility for their own problems and to tolerate the
discomforts of risk, rather than being “victims” of their own laziness. Although not always rooted in Biblical
concepts, it is amazing how Dr. Laura’s principles serve as moral guidelines in
today’s upside world. The ten stupid
actions women should avoid are stupid attachment, stupid courtship, stupid
devotion, stupid passion, stupid cohabitation, stupid expectations, stupid
conception, stupid subjugation, stupid helplessness, and stupid forgiving. She blames women for their own problems, and
tells them to take charge of their lives, to pick one of the “good guys,” and
stay home and parent the babies they’ve made.
She is not a feminist, nor a proponent of super submissiveness. You may find her book, Ten Stupid Things
Women Do to Mess up Their Lives, in any bookstore.
Dr. Laura’s book also
seems to have deeper spiritual applications as well. Read her book, and then consider her advice in the light of “Ten
Stupid Things Church Members Do to Mess up Their Lives.” The mess in the Church of God today is
largely the fault of the membership, of putting up with abuse by dictatorial
ministerial hierarchies who feed themselves and switch doctrines at their
pleasure. Like an abused wife, many
church members have, and continue to, allow themselves to be victimized. Some, however, are waking up.
Craig White states,
“the brethren feel that it is inevitable that more checks and balances and
accountabilities will come including systems to ensure that all participate and
use their spiritual gifts. We [the
laity] are also given spiritual gifts by God to serve in the Church and to
evangelise. Anyone trying to place a
lid on one’s spiritual gifts should be challenged immediately. For they are obstructing what God is doing
in you.” Church of God, let’s be more
participatory, rather than passive.