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Stay-at-Home Dads

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Marco, Oct 31, 2005.

  1. Marco

    Marco Guest

    Hello,

    I'm new here and just became a believer of Christ about 3 months ago. I'm apart of a Baptist Church here in Canada. Anyway, I do have a question for you people. I've looked through the boards and there a lot of smart folks out there who perhaps can give me advice. It would be appreciated.
    I'm a stay-at-home dad. For some reason when I found Jesus Christ it didn't seem to be an issue. In fact, when I joined my church I didn't hear anything about it. However, after I got baptized I began hearing that is was wrong and not God's wish that man stay at home to care for a house and home school his children. I was shocked. I really had no idea so many people hate the idea and in fact call it a 'liberal corruption' or something of the sort.
    Can anybody give me a Biblical foundation to why stay-at-home fathers are disliked by God? Perhaps some people can also give me their views. Thank you very much in advance and I look forward to learning from these suggestions and evidences from the Bible.

    ~Marco
     
  2. Rachel

    Rachel New Member

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    First of all Marco, welcome to the family of God!!

    All I can say is, I think it's great that at least one of you are able stay home with your children. I told my husband about this post and he said, I wish I could be a stay at home dad. I stay home with our children.

    God bless you and your family,
    Rachel
     
  3. Brother Ian

    Brother Ian Active Member

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    Marco,

    2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."" Paul was speaking in reference to the people who were basically looking to heaven waiting for the return of Christ. Paul went on to explain why they ought not to sit around and do this.

    Titus 2:5: to the women, Paul instructs that they, "be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." That is an indication, although I admit the text does not say this, that the husband is to be the breadwinner because the woman is to be a keeper of the home.

    I believe the man is to be the primary breadwinner and provider for the family. That is not to say that a woman is prohibited from working. The Proverbs 31 woman is an example of a woman who had everything together. That is the exception today. This is a little off topic, but I think in many cases where the wife works, the house is often in chaos. Laundry everywhere, dirty dishes, the house a mess, etc. A stay at home mom is not normal anymore but it should be the norm. I'm not that old (42) but when I was a kid, none of my friends moms worked outside the home. Today, in my church (about 225) I know of only a handful of wives that do not work outside of the home.

    All that being said, I don't believe you are sinning unless you refuse to go out and get a job. You didn't give any details. Maybe you are not able to work for health reasons, maybe you've been laid off or lost your job. There are a number of valid reasons to explain why a man is not working. I think its your biblical responsibility to be the provider for your family. If you have decided that your wife needs to work for whatever reason (except you refusing to work), I think its okay. As you have experienced, being a stay at home dad is not the way most families operate.

    I'm sure there are others that can put their fingers on some additional verses that will help you out.
     
  4. Petrel

    Petrel New Member

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    I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a stay-at-home dad.

    I think the reason some people have a problem with this is because biblically the husband is depicted as the spiritual leader of the household. Because culturally men are typically seen as the "breadwinning" sex, I think people get biblical principle and common convention confused and decide that fathers should work outside the home and mothers inside. However, I don't think that there's a connection between being a spiritual leader and being an income earner--in fact you're often in a better position to be a spiritual leader to your children when you are at home with them more often. I think what really matters is how you and your wife feel about this. If that's what's best for your family, do it!
     
  5. Brice

    Brice New Member

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    Welcome to the family. God bless you and it brings gladness to my heart to have you in the family of God. On topic, I think you will find a variety of opinions in this area and I urge you to be in prayer about it. I don't have a strong opinion either way on this issue, but I'm sure some people around here will have some great insight's for you. God bless.
     
  6. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Evryone neds ot work in a family. I grew up on a dairy farm and womens lib was in existence in our home. Everyone worked inside and outside. The idea of women just staying home is a modern American invention. It was not done in biblical times. Just read Prov. 31. Durng WW II quite a number of women worked in factories making war parts.

    It is good for children to see their parents working.
     
  7. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Spiritual leader and head of the home and provider of income are totally separate things. I'm sorry as a new believer you have to put up with that legalistic garbage from your church. I crushed my foot 4 months ago at work. My wife and I both worked full time. My wife gave birth to our first child on Oct. 2nd. When she returns to work, I will still be unable to work, and may not be able to work on my feet again. I may have to go on partial disability. These circumstances happened for a reason and out of our control. If it were a sin for a man to stay home and raise the children while the wife works, God would not have allowed me to be put in the situation I am in, which may very well include raising our family.
     
  8. J. Jump

    J. Jump New Member

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    I am also a work-at-home/stay-at-home dad.
     
  9. bapmom

    bapmom New Member

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    in this I think there is definitely a "good" and a "best", but that doesn't necessarily mean a man is sinning if he stays at home.

    my hubby is now a work-at-home dad, he has a home business.

    btw, ya don't have to have a dairy farm in order for the one staying at home to be workin'. [​IMG]

    Moms who "stay home" are usually not sitting around eating bonbons all day. [​IMG]

    so I bet dads who stay home are not either, at least I hope.
     
  10. Thankful

    Thankful <img src=/BettyE.gif>

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    I certainly do not see anything wrong with stay at home dads and I know of no scripture that would forbid it.

    Dads need to be an important part of their children's lives.

    Enjoy the time you spend with those precious ones.
     
  11. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I'd be shocked too, because the Bible says nothing of the sort.

    I'm sure that if God truly has his way, he'd have both the husband and wife stay home with the kids until they were adults. But that's not practically possible. It is entirely up to your spouse and you to decide on how the requirements of the house and parenting are taken care of. The only thing I'm dead against is when bother parents work all day and don't see their children. I think a child need to have the parents around until the kids go to school (and I'm talking kindergarten, not preschool). After all, why would any parent let strangers raise their kids?

    I would have given my right arm to be at home when my kids were little. I can't understand why any believer would have a problem with this.
    The wife is to be A keeper of the HOME, not THE keeper of the HOUSE. Huge difference. Frankly, most Godly husbands are more than willing to take part in being keepers of their homes. What Godly man wouldn't?
     
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