I was in the Starbucks in Portage a week or so ago and was privy to a very strange conversation (no I was not "eavesdropping", they were just loud). This guy comes in to visit one of the employees and chew the fat. During their conversation he laments over the fact that his since his wife had been "born again", she hasn't had time for him or their kids. He goes on to say that she "is always at church...always leaves the kids with him...doesn't split up cooking the meals with him as they did before...etc..."
Essentially the crux of his problem was this: His wife's commitment to Christ was bad news for the family. Mind you, he wasn't downing Christ or the Church, I mean he did have some good things to say about ather areas of her character changing, and he could see "some" difference. But she was still so wrapped up in "Church" that he felt like his marriage was suffering.
I am reminded of a Rob Bell sermon in which he declares, "if it's not good news to everyone, it's good news to absolutely no-one."
How sad a testimony to Christ is it that this women, for all intents and purposes, has become a bad wife in the name of Jesus. What's more, what a sad testimony to His Church that they are teaching (by allowing her to become so hyper-involved) this woman that it is ok for her to neglect her family. I mean, isn't her commitment to Jesus supposed to lead her into becoming a better wife, and a better mother? Isn't that supposed to be a testimony to her family?
When did it become bad news to follow Christ and be involved in the Church?
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So sad. The traditional church fragments families in so many ways - in situations like the one you mentioned with one spouse busy with in the church walls and the other left alone, or in situations with never ending programs demanding attention from each family member - men's ministry, women's ministry, children's ministry...pre-teen, youth...really old people, old singles, young singles, middle-age-not-too-old-not-too-young-singles...you get the point. I'm praying this new movement happening in the Body will restore the family as the primary place for ministry and God-centered activity. That way hubby and the kids alike are involved and together as they should be.
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