Nov. 19, 2007
DVD Review: The Return of the Daughters
Posted in Movies
Having read many good things from many different sources, it was with great anticipation that I awaited the opportunity to view the DVD documentary The Return of the Daughters. I was not dissappointed; in fact, the film exceeded my expectations.
The Return of the Daugters, written and hosted by Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin, tells the story of seven young women who have chosen to go against the cultural norm around them, and return the Biblical pattern for the decisions they are making in their lives and in their families. These young ladies have forgone the accepted path so many have followed, and have instead have chosen to remain under the authority of their fathers until marriage. they are staying home with their families, instead of going out on their own to pursue college of careers. That is not to say that these girls are not "doing something with their lives". Rather, each of them has found unique ways to use the talents and abilities God has given them to strengthen their families and serve their churches and communities. As they use their gifts to serve others, they are developing skills that they will one day be able to use as wives and mothers.
As a young woman who was married at the age of eighteen, I know how difficult it is to buck the trends of the culture and chose to follow God's leading rather than the pressure of the world, and even at times the Church. The Word of God tells us that a woman's highest calling is to be a wife and mother, and yet Christians often put pressure on a young girl to go to college and "make something of herself". And yet, knowing God's call on my life was to be married and raise a family, what a waste of time and money it would have been for me to spend four years and thousands of dollars preparing for a career that would have countered God's desire for my life.
As my husband and I raise our daughters, we want them to see from God's Word the true picture of a Godly woman, one who is content at home, who desires to raise Godly children, who is a help-meet to her husband, who serves others with willingness and generousity. We only have one chance at life; what a shame that so many Christian women waste that chance on the pursuit of things that have no eternal value. How sad that so many Christian young ladies who do marry after college have to fight the independence that has been trained into them for four (or more) years, learning how to be dependent and submissive after having tasted of the autonomy and individuality college life has offered. I am so thankful that the Lord spared me the struggle of re-learning how to be under the headship of my God-given authority. I went from the covering and headship of my father directly to that of my husband, and I believe I have been spared much of the struggle many young women have as they enter marriage. I want my daughters to be spared the same struggle. I also want them fully prepared for the work of managing a home, the joy of loving and helping a husband, and the blessing of caring for and raising children. As a mother of girls, this is a wonderful gift I can give them. They will have headstart in the truly important things in life, the ones that have eternal impact. The work of the home is the greatest ministry a Christian woman can have, and I want my daughters to have a vision of what they can do for Christ's Kingdom as they serve their families, love their husbands, and raise up godly seed for God's glory.
I am so glad the Botkin sisters have made The Return of the Daughters. This is a film that can have an incredible impact on the Church and on the culture around us. The Light that shines from the families featured on this DVD can only come from Christ. May that light shine ever more brightly as more families catch the vision of these faithful ones and show the difference He can make in the lives of His people.
Comments
Nov. 19, 2007 - :)
Posted by Anonymous
Thank you for the thorough review. I have been considering buying this documentary as a gift and this has definitely swayed me to do so, despite the many negative reviews I have read (obviously from those who are content conforming to the ways of the world). Thanks again, God Bless.
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Nov. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Christian mother of sons and daughters
I am unaware of such teachings in Scripture. What specific Scripture verse(s) or principles do you reference for your following statements - "the Biblical pattern...to remain under the authority of their fathers until marriage" and "The Word of God tells us that a woman's highest calling is to be a wife and mother"? Thank you.
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Nov. 24, 2007 - In Response to above comment
Posted by KayinMaine
Christian Mother of Sons and Daughters,
Thank you for your comment (see above). I would like to respond with the Scripture you have asked for reference to.
I feel my statement that a woman's highest calling is to be a wife and mother can be substantiated throughout Scripture. For example, we see in the Creation account in Genesis (see especially chapter 2, verses18-24) that God created woman specifically to be a helper to man. She was taken out of man, a helper perfectly suited to assist him in the work which God had called him to. 1 Timothy 2:13-15 reiterates this, and also adds that women "shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety". It is clear from this passage that being a wife and bearing children is very important to the very purpose of women.
In 1 Timothy 5: 14, Paul says that younger widows should remarry, bear children and keep the home, so that there will nothing in them to reproach.
Titus 2:4-5 tells us that older women should teach younger woman to love their husbands and children, to be people of character, and to be keepers at home. This is important work. No where in this passage do we see that older woman should be teaching anything other than how to be a godly wife, mother, and homekeeper. In this passage, we are told that if women are not fulfilling this role of godly woman, wife, mother, and keeper at home, the Word of God will be blasphemed. This is a serious warning.
In 1 Timothy 3, we see in the qualifications for church officers that a man's wife can actually disqualify him from serving as an elder or deacon. She has an important role as his helpmeet and the mother of his children, important enough that she must be examined in her walk with God just as her husband must be.
The guidlines for a godly woman in 1 Peter 3 are specifically in relationship to her role as a wife, that role being so essential that she can even win an unbelieving husband to the Lord by the kind of wife she is.
The qualifications is 1 Timothy 5 for widows seeking support from the church lists, among other things, that the widow must have been a good faithful wife and she must have brought up children.
The Proverbs 31 woman--that paragon of Christian womanly virtue--is highly praised for the industrious service she performs for her family. Her husband trusts in her, and her children call her blessed.
Psalm 128:3 says that a godly man will be blessed with a fruitful wife and many children. In other words, a woman can be used of God to be a blessing to a man by bearing his children. This is an important role.
Proverbs 14:1 says that a wise woman builds up her home--her family is extremely important to her. In contrast, the foolish woman of Proverbs 7 (whom Solomon warns his son to stay away from) is said to be "loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house." It is not important to her be in her home; in fact, she is out in the street seeking to betray her husband and destroy any man foolish enough to fall prey to her devices.
There are many more Scriptures that could further illustrate this point, but time and space do not permit listing them here. I think it is clear from the verses I have listed here that God's view of wifehood and motherhood is very important. Scripture clearly tells us how vitally essential the work of wife and mother is to God's Kingdom.
My statement that a girl should remain under her father's authority until marriage is a principle seen throughout Scripture. We see in passages like Judges 1:12-13, Exodus 22:17, 1 Samuel 17:25, 18:20-21, Genesis 24 and 28 that daughters were given in marriage by their fathers. In Numbers 30, we are told that fathers were to have the option to override any vow their unmarried, grown daughters made with which they did not agree.
In Judges 11:29-40, we read the account of a father who made a vow to God concerning his daughter which she had no knowlege of or consent over. It was his decision as her father, and he had legitimate authority to make that decision.
In 1 Corinthians 7:36-38, a father has the authority to allow his daughter to marry or to not allow it.
Psalm 144:12-13 gives a beautiful picture of daughters as polished corner pillars in their father's palace (or household).
Not only Scripturally, but also historically, it has been the normative practice for young woman to remain at home until marriage. Only in the last century, with the influence of feminism, has this practice changed. As we saw in the Scriptures above pertaining to wives, women were designed by God to be under the headship of men (also see 1 Cor. 11: 3, Eph. 5). The only cases in Scripture when a young woman was out from under her father's headship are negative ones, such as when Dinah left home and was taken advantage of (and then her brothers took vengeance, and it was not a pretty picture--see Genesis 34).
I hope this has answered your questions, Christian Mother of Sons and Daughters. If you need more Scriptures, or if you would like to discuss this further, please email me (see link on sidebar).
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Aug. 5, 2008 - The Return of The Daughters
Posted by Anonymous
I just viewed Return of the Daughters, and I was awestruck with the beautiful way our daughters of God are depicted as strong, wise, and helpful mates to the whole family. I urge every Christian household to view this film and understand that God's ways are not our ways. He set the blueprint before us for building the christian family. The order of headship is what God has set in motion. I loved this film and blessed in many ways. Thank you Botkin Sisters
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May. 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I was so glad to see such a positive review on such a wonderful film. I was so sick of reading the degrading reviews and looking at your post was so encouraging. My family and I watched Return of the Daughters last year and knew this is where God wanted us to be. We showed it to some of our friends(all of whom are still planning for college.) But that's ok. My sister and I tell people we are going to be stay at home daughters and serve our fathers and use our gifts that God gave us to benefit our families rather than glorify ourselves.
It's sometimes hard being the only one but it's so good to read things like what you wrote. When I see the horrible things others say about Vision Forum or the Botkins I can only say what the blind man healed by Jesus said to the religious leaders.
"What you say, I don't know. What I do know is I was blind but now I see."
Our family has hope for the future because of God's plan for daughters and the family and I'm so grateful that He put me in a time where I can learn from a DVD. It absolutely changed our lives. Thank you for writing about it so others can see and hopefully watch it.
A Stay at home daughter from,
http://www.daybyday-lydia.blogspot.com/
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