"Career women are NOT Proverbs 31 women."
"She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar." (Prov 31:14)
"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." (Prov 31:16)
"She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." (Prov 31:18)
"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." (Prov 31:25)
"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." (Prov 31:27)
Sounds a lot like a modern career woman to me - has her own income, operates a business (possibly more than one), manages her own affairs, while also running those of her household. Maybe you haven't met any career women? Or maybe you don't actually care what Proverbs 31 says, and are just invoking the bible in a desperate attempt to hold onto power?
"God wants Christian women to marry, bear children, guide the house, and stay out of trouble!!!"
"Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do." (1 Cor 7:8)
"But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (1 Cor 7:28b)
"An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world how she can please her husband." (1 Cor 7:34)
You people make this claim all the time: "God wants women to get married! God's plan for women is marriage and babies!" But in the New Testament, nowhere are people encouraged to get married, only to stay married. In other words, the NT is fairly clear that if you have made a commitment to someone, you should keep it, but it certainly does not indicate that marriage is some sort of high, inherent goal for all people, or for all women. Women who leave their household duties to follow Jesus are commended, not condemned (Luke 10:38-42 being one example). Women in the New Testament serve as deacons and missionaries (Rom 16:1-2), as well as instructing others in those roles (Acts 18:24-28). Lydia owns her own home and runs her own business, and rather than criticising her, Paul baptises her entire household and stays as her guest, just as with any other convert (Acts 16:13-15).
See, I don't think you have God's plan. I think you have your plan, and you're tacking God's name onto it to get people to give it credence. To me, that looks like false prophecy, though I don't know if God would agree. So, while we're on this bible kick, let's look at what God says about false prophets:
"Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words...Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord." (Exekiel 13:6-8)
Sounds like a good position to avoid...but that could just be me.