Beatiful Christian Sister?

“Beautiful Christian Sister”, by Maya Angelou – isn’t. Dr. Angelou did not write it, though thousands of blogs will state that she did. E-mails continue to attribute it to her – some even include a copy of the following poem, which reads slightly differently and appears to be the unedited source.

The poem originated with Carol Wimmer, who posted the history of her poem “I am a Christian.”

However, the first stanza of the edited piece is not in the original, and it does express a truth I wish to impart to our Junior HighGirls:

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

Last year there was a series on modesty and purity in Sunday School. We focused a lesson on remaining pure for the young man God has planned for them. We asked each girl to write a letter to their future husband, explaining to him how she was preparing for their marriage, and explaining to him what she expected from him.

While the letters varied widely, each stated that they expected their husband to be a Christian – that it was very important in their lives that they comply with:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)

Is it that the non-Christian is ‘not good enough’? No – an emphatic, NO! Goodness has nothing to do with it. It is a matter of life changing goals not matching. Different paths being set, which will only cause separation in the future. When a woman’s heart belongs to Christ, a man should know Him before knowing her. She is committing herself, entirely:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18 KJV)
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22 KJV)

Somewhere there is a teacher explaining the same thing to young men. Focusing on their future and the woman who will be their wife, the mother of their children, their God-designed helpmate. For God has given instructions for the husbands, too:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25 KJV)

How can a non-Christian husband know how Christ also loved the church?