Book Review: Becoming a Titus 2 Woman

Peace, Martha, Becoming A Titus 2 Woman, Bemidji, Minnesota, Focus Publishing, INC., 1997, 163. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF AUTHOR Martha Peace was born, raised, and educated in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She received degrees of nursing from Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Georgia State University. Martha became a Christian in June, 1979. She ended her nursing career and began focusing her attention on her family and ladies’ Bible study classes. She received training and certification from the National association of Nouthetic Counselors. Martha is active with her family in Friendship Bible Church in Peachtree City, Georgia. She teaches teenagers and ladies’ Bible study classes. She conducts seminars for ladies’ groups on topics such as “Raising Kids Without Raising Cain,” The Excellent Wife,” Developing a Titus 2 Women’s Ministry,” Having a High View of God,” and Personal Purity.” Martha is married to her high school sweetheart, Sanford Peace. They have two married children, Anna and David. They have five grandchildren. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS Introduction: A Titus 2 woman is an older, mature Christian woman who teaches and encourages the younger women. Her ministry is based on the Scripture passage Titus 2:3-5. What is written on these pages cannot be accomplished apart from the grace of God. We must pursue righteousness and obey His Word, but he does the work through the Holy Spirit. Part 1: When I Disciple A Young Woman. Chapter 1, A New Philosophy of Life: As a young woman before she became a Christian Martha embraced three philosophies of life. One was the feminist belief that her identity should be based on her education and career. A second was “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die.’ A third came from the George Burns movie, Oh God!” God said, “Jesus is my son, Mohammed is my son, and Buddha is my son.” There are many ways to God. It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Since becoming a Christian the new philosophy is that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father and that my purpose in life and greatest joy is to serve Him and glorify Him. Chapter 2, Three Areas To Mature: Before she could become an effective Titus 2 woman God had to mature her in three areas; doctrine, character, and maturity in ministry. We are to serve in the areas that God places us instead of seeking to do something that we believe to be great. Chapter 3, Examples of Discipling Younger Women: Teaching doctrine includes writing the doctrine, verbally, stating the doctrine, and teaching to others. Have the disciple to identify areas of their life that need to be changed. Help the disciple to identify their spiritual gifts and desires and teach them appropriate methods for doing the particular area of ministry. Part 2, How does A Titus 2 Woman Act? Chapter 4, Her Character: Older women use their influence to help the younger woman to develop character that befits a Titus 2 woman. She is reverent in her behavior; not a malicious gossip, and not enslaved to much wine or anything else. She is mature and stable and not out of control. She prays that God will give her wisdom and conviction. Chapter 5, Her Response to the Younger Woman: The older woman often discerns actions or patterns of thinking in the younger woman that are sinful or foolish. She is to pray for the younger woman and teach what is good by telling the truth, studying the Scriptures to apply sound doctrine, model a godly life, and speaking about God. Part 3: What Does A Titus 2 Woman Teach? Chapter 6, To Love Their Husbands and Children: The Titus 2 Woman teaches the younger woman to love their husbands and children in word and actions. The Titus 2 woman holds the young mother accountable for how she relates to the child with kindness and gentleness. Young mothers learn to discipline their children with godly words and actions. Chapter 7, To Be Sensible and Pure: ‘“To be sensible’ is a broad term that encompasses having self-control, being prudent, and having a sound mind.” Older women teach and encourage younger women to have biblical priorities and make wise commitments; stay within her budget, and face reality. To be pure is to be holy and set apart for the Lord. One’s actions come from what is in the heart, which comes from one’s thinking. “Make no provision for the flesh,” include television soap operas, romance novels, pornography, lying in bed, some forms of music, and daydreaming. Chapter 8, To Be A Worker At Home and To Be Kind: The wife’s primary responsibility is the care of her home and family. The wife’s motive determines if she will work outside the home with the goal to glorify God. Older women teach younger women by exhorting them to work hard and not be lazy, give them tips on organization, and help them to anticipate their family’s needs. A woman’s goodness, generosity, and kindness should be expressed in performing kind and generous deeds as well as speaking in a gentle tone of voice. Chapter 9, To Be Subject To Her Own Husband: The Scriptures teach that the wife is to be submissive to her husband, but not when the husband asks the wife to do anything that is a sin. Younger women should be counseled on appealing to her husband, and when the husband is sinning. A Titus 2 woman is aware of the many misinterpretations about submission in the scriptures. Part 4, Why Should the Titus 2 Woman Teach and Encourage the Younger Woman? Chapter 10, That the Word of God May Not Be Dishonored: Paul gives Titus seven specific instructions for older women to teach younger. The reason given is that they will not dishonor the word of God. Decisions are to be made not by her feelings, but by God’s Word. A Titus 2 woman accepts her responsibility to help the younger woman to honor God’s Word. CRITICAL EVALUATION In Becoming A Titus 2 Woman, author Martha Peace effectively guides older women to become women who are able to teach younger women how to live out the instructions given by Apostle Paul in Titus 2. Peace draws upon her experiences as a young woman who was not a Christian; and having a worldview not supported in the Scriptures. After becoming a Christian she began to learn how the Word of God was making her life more meaningful and fulfilling. This book is well written. Peace gets right to the point of the seven instructions in the text. There are ten chapters in the book. At the end of each chapter there are study questions. Some of these questions contain written and action activities for the reader that helps the reader to monitor her learning and progress. Although this book is written primarily for the older women to prepare themselves to be a Titus 2 woman, this book has great value for all Christians regardless of their roll in the church. Husbands will find that they understand their wives better because he will know what she believes and the Scriptural basis for her decisions. Sunday school teachers and Bible study teachers can learn biblical principles that apply to all Christians. I recommend this book to all people that wish to honor the Word of God.