The L and o f Women
by Dr. Dick Hillis Director, Overseas Crusade
W ith the . close of the “Triple Alliance” W a r, Paraguay was left with a female population nine times g reater than her male population. The w ar against Brazil, Argentina, and U ruguay almost sounded the death knell to Paraguay ’s manpower and history. So fierce was the fighting that the women had to bury their own husbands and sons. When the war was over the only remaining males were boys under 15 or men over 60. Children forgot to play. Now they only had time for work. The older ones cared for baby brother and sister, while mother became father and at the crack of dawn headed for the fields. F rom morning until late at night she worked with spade, hoe, and rake. Work in the house was often neglected. Floors went unswept and clothes unwashed, as day after day these weary women dragged their tired bodies to and from their fields of toil. Here was a land of women sick of heart and bone- tired, but not daring to give up. Only they could re build their nation and their homes. Things have slowly changed, but even the changes have added to their problems. Daughters breaking into the flower of womanhood could find no mates. They were bereft of the joy and privilege of marriage and motherhood, unless they were willing to share another’s man. This, they thought, was their duty. They too must help rebuild the nation. As the boys became men, they dreamed of being stronger, taller, and braver than other men. They were fiercely loyal. Each man must have within his heart the courage and do the work of nine men. These young men were welcomed into every manless home. The older women gave these growing builders of the nation the best they had. The younger women were glad to mother their children. W hen a child was born he was called by his father’s name. The young mother accepted full responsibility for the little one and never again lived with the child’s father. Today things are better in Paraguay — better but not really good — for the ratio is still three to one.
Two out of every three still cannot have husbands and homes of their own. Paraguay’s sad social condition should call forth both sympathy and prayer. I have recorded it that you might lovingly pray for this little nation. How ever, there is also another force moving me to write. In one sense the situation in Paraguay parallels that of missions today. In the missionary force there are three women to one man. Is not this battle against the powers of darkness a m an ’s job? Did Christ expect the women to occupy the front lines while the men stayed at home? W h y is there this disparity of women over men in God’s arm y? Does Christ not appeal to men? Is Christianity effeminate? W as Christ? W ith fiery eloquence our Lord turned to the great est religious leaders of the time and cried, “W oe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 2 3 :1 4 ). There is nothing effeminate in that fearless de nunciation of sin. Recall the time the crowd walked Christ to the edge of the cliff. They were intent on His destruction. W ith blazing eyes He turned on the mob and as H e fearlessly walked back through the crowd, not one dared move a finger. Christ is a man’s Man. Strong men don’t follow cowards. Strong men align themselves only with men stronger than themselves. Look at a few of Christ’s followers . . . the brilliant, fearless Saul of Tarsus . . . the towering intellect and courage of Augustine . . . the boldness of Polycarp . . . the dauntless spirit of men like Latimer, Livingstone, Morrison, and Taylor. Yes, the list goes on and on. Christ was a man’s Man and He deserves these kind of men to be His disciples. So, as women, I ask you to pray for such men today . . . men for the “ front lines” of spiritual battle . . . men with the bodies of athletes, the minds of scholars, the judgment of statesmen, the courage of soldiers, and the dedication of true disciples.
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JU N E , 1963
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