Post-Mill Kitchens
by the “Weaker Vessel”, Ericha Van Brimmer
"He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
Matthew 13:33
It has been a bit over a year since the "Pandemic" known as COVID-19 brought the entire planet to its knees.
People began to collectively lose their minds, entire states closed their borders, toilet paper became scarce, and strangely, Sourdough bread baking became all the rage. I'm not sure if it was boredom or necessity that made this ancient form of baking such a popular pastime during the lock-downs, but Sourdough made a tremendous comeback.
I'm not one to typically jump headfirst into lock-down trends, (Tik-Tok is annoying...come at me) but anything that gets a gal back into her kitchen certainly can't be a bad thing, right?
After many weeks of failed attempts at growing my own starter, I finally got a bubbly brew ripe and ready to bake with. I was likely more excited than I should have been.
Don't worry, this article isn't really about Sourdough at all. Actually, I simply want to encourage my Complementarian/Patriarchal sisters to make their kitchens and their perspectives more postmillennial.
I know that eschatology isn't something that many young mommas have a ton of time to research, so for those of you who may be unsure of what the term "postmillennial" means, I will give you a brief explanation.
Postmillennialism is an optimistic end times belief. We believe when Jesus said on the cross "It is finished", He actually meant it. And when He commanded us to disciple the nations, He gave us the power to accomplish such a task.
Jesus was victorious in His redemption plan. He conquered His enemies, putting them to open shame (Colossians 2:15), He is ruling and reigning on His heavenly throne where He sovereignly ordains the expansion of his Earthly kingdom. (1 Cor 15:25-26)
We all have a job to do! Good King Jesus won back the title deed to Earth and He has asked us to stake a claim on His behalf.
What does all of that have to do with Sourdough and being in the kitchen?
Why should Christian women become postmillennial in their minds and in their kitchens?
Like the parable you read at the beginning of this article illustrates, the work of bread-making is a fascinating operation.
How such a small amount of yeast can influence water, flour, and salt to become something nourishing is nothing short of miraculous. Something so small and unassuming manipulates, changes, and resurrects everything that it comes in contact with.
Paul, in Titus 2:5, tells women to be "managers of their homes".
In embracing the home managing role that God has assigned to you, you may begin to further understand how your seemingly small contributions act as yeast, permeating culture.
2020 was the year we all "stayed home". For many, the reality that materialized was ugly.
Too many Christian homes have been neglected. It has become nothing more than a wasteland of untapped potential.
I cannot tell you how many social media posts that I read making light of the situation.
So many men took over kitchen duty because their wives refused to learn. Many women offered up pragmatic reasons for their abdication. I think we can do better, ladies.
Managing your home is actual work. We ought not be looking for the easiest way to get a task done, but rather, we should look for the most glorious way.
Household management is more than just keeping up with carpooling, appointments, laundry and perhaps, heating up an occasional can of Dinty Moore for dinner. That is the lowest form of management. Though I don’t deny there may be seasons of life that allow for Dinty Moore to be an actual blessing to your family, we would do well to evaluate what Proverbs 31 says about the virtuous housewife.
She is one busy lady! She is always looking for ways to bless those in her home, and she looks for creative ways to make a profit/return on what God has entrusted to her. She is increasing her skill and her bandwidth.
She isn't trying to rule in the city gates like her husband is, or hand her task to him when he gets home from work. She is joyfully managing what he has afforded her, and wants to make the most of it. Her husband praises her for her hard work and diligence, and so do her children.
The Proverbs 31 woman is thinking postmillennial. Small acts of obedience bring large amounts of resurrection-like change.
Simply staying home, learning skills, raising covenant children, and expanding on the things that your husband and God have entrusted to you is what God will use to take back his treasonous creation. Every time you struggle to bake a loaf of Sourdough, God is reminding you of His postmillennial plan.
It is glorious, praiseworthy, and it is an encouragement to your sisters around you.
Despite the feminist claim, domesticity is not a dirty word. To the glory of God, and in His service, delve deep into your managerial assignments, and watch as God blesses your work.
"Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates."
Proverbs 31:31