What Do You Think? Can a Woman be a Good Mother AND a Good VP at the Same Time? Is it Wrong to Try?

Several friends over the weekend have emailed me blog posts from evangelical writers who are not so happy about McCain’s pick for Vice President, Sarah Palin. Most notably cataloged by a contributor to the politically left-leaning “The Daily Kos” blog:

…you'll see that plenty of evangelicals are far from "fired up and ready to go" for this Republican ticket…

Whatever their political differences, evangelical Christian bloggers share a general philosophy about a woman's proper role in the family and society. As the recommended reading list of the Biblical Womanhood site suggests, they are not big on moms of young kids working outside the home. Ladies Against Feminism is frequently found on Christian blogrolls, and that blog is adamant about God wanting women to focus on home and family.

Kos goes on to quote some of the bloggers who are apprehensive about what it means for the United States to have a woman in high political office.

Not only do I believe that a pro-family candidate would prefer to see Mrs. Palin at home taking care of her children, I believe a pro-family candidate would also avoid validating and advancing our culture’s desire to completely erase gender roles.

And…

The message is "men and women should have equal access to the same roles". The reality is, that's not how God created HIS universe to run. He created them male and female, and yes, by their very biological design, nature screams at our dull senses "YOU ARE DIFFERENT"! Created for different purposes, created to compliment one another in their life work.

And…

I am confident that Mrs. Palin is a delightful, sincere, thoughtful, and capable woman with many commendable virtues. But in fairness, there is nothing "traditional" about mothers of young children becoming career moms, chief magistrates, and leading nations of three hundred million, nor is this pattern the biblical ideal to which young women should aspire.

And… 

I can assent to Sarah Palin's conservative views and even applaud them, but I mourn for a nation whose men have forgotten how to lead their families and their land in the way our Founders envisioned and the way God intended. A wife and mother has already been elected by God to the highest office in the land. She has her own particular husband to help, his calling to make successful, and her children to nurture and train to the glory of God. How could the vice-presidency possibly compare with a task that God has personally designed her to fill? 

Read the complete blog post: Not all evangelical conservatives are thrilled with Palin

Evangelical leaders appear to be in almost complete unison applauding the Palin choice. Obviously some evangelical bloggers aren’t so excited about Palin, but is there really widespread "dissension in the ranks" on this one? As our audience here is made up of mostly evangelical Christians, I’m wondering what you think. Is it disingenuous for Christians to say they support family values, and then endorse a candidate who is the mother of young children? Are you and your Christian friends unhappy that this wife and mother will be out of her home, and presumably distracted from her family life?  Do you think God’s design for women would prevent a wife and mother from running for high political office?

Many would  probably point to the "Deborah Principle" in regard to Palin or other right thinking women who end up in political leadership. The idea refers to the story of the prophet Deborah in the Old Testament, whom God called to lead the Israelites when no men would step forward to take the job. Blogger and author Doug Wilson points out:

An issue that will be discussed among some conservative Christians is the propriety of electing a woman. Evangelical Christians are overwhelmingly hostile to feminism, and so what is with that? I have argued before from Isaiah 3:12 -- "children are their oppressors, and women rule over them" -- that feminism is one of the things Scripture uses as an indicator of God's judgment on a culture...  But as a biblical absolutist, and not a simple traditionalist, I also want to make room for the occasional Deborah. Life is funny, and you should remember that in the Bible Deborah was the dame who upstaged a fellow named Barak. Kinda spooky when you think about it.

Read his complete post: Kinda Spooky When You Think About It

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