This post is the last of my Women in the Bible series. I started in 2020 and it has been a great learning experience for myself and I hope that it has brought some insight for you, my readers. We end with Priscilla. Priscilla is one of the first missionaries and leaders of the early church. Along with her husband, Aquila, she risked her life for the apostle Paul. A woman of spiritual maturity and understanding of the faith, she helped build the early church. While she experienced opposition to the gospel from both Jews and Gentiles, she had the great joy to spread the gospel and nurture the church. What is her story? Why is she and her husband always mentioned together? What lessons can we learn from her example?
Forced to leave Rome after Claudius ordered all Jews out of the city in 49 AD (Acts 18:2), Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, took their tentmaking trade to Corinth, a wealthy seaport, famous for its commercial might and appetites for vices. There they would become leaders of the church there. Her faith had begun many years prior in an atmosphere of strife and controversy in Rome and would be tested time and time again. In Corinth, she and her husband met Paul and witnessed the spread of the gospel as well as strife and opposition. After eighteen months, the Jews of Corinth would have Paul detained for spreading an illicit religion. Priscilla and Aquila would follow Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). There, they would meet a Jew named Apollos, who was speaking with great fervor about Jesus (Acts 18:24-25). When Priscilla and Aquila realized Apollos wasn’t teaching the gospel fully, they invited him into their home and instructed him on salvation and “the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26).
There are some couples that when one is mentioned, so is the other. They are a unit, never really without the other. They know how to make the most out of life. They complement each other. They capitalize on each other’s strengths and pick up the slack where one is weakest and form an effective team. Priscilla and Aquila were such a couple, never being mentioned without the other. In marriage and in ministry, they were a team. They worked as a team in their trade and in their church. They were partners in all they did. In an age when the focus is on what happens between a husband and a wife (i.e. conflicts, issues, etc), Priscilla and Aquila are an example of what can happen through a husband and a wife [emphasis mine]. Their effectiveness together speaks volumes about their relationship together. They didn’t stay in Ephesus. They would go back to Rome and continue to preach the gospel. Paul mentions them in his letters. First in Romans. “They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (Romans 16:3-4). Second, he instructs Timothy to “greet Priscilla and Aquila” (2 Timothy 4:19).
There are a few lessons we can take from Priscilla’s story and example. First, she worked with her husband in life and in ministry. Couples can have an effective ministry together. Through prayer, support and encouragement, couples can learn how to work within their strengths for the Lord. Second, the home is a valuable tool for evangelism. Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 16:19 that “the church that meets at their house.” Any believer’s greatest ministry is within their home with their spouse, with their children and then can extend to the greater community outside. Third, every believer needs to be well educated in the faith. Studying the Bible is how we learn to apply its principles and we teach others about Jesus. How can we spread the gospel when we don’t know it? It would be like teaching someone how to cook without all the ingredients.
In conclusion, Priscilla was a valued disciple being mentioned several times in Paul’s letters. One who made a difference in Paul’s life and in the lives of those around her. She was a woman of wisdom and faith. She is an example of a wife working alongside her husband for the Lord. She may not have realized that each task she completed, great and small, was an opportunity to spread the gospel and work for the Lord. We often don’t realize the influence we create as we interact with those in our lives. Our lives are meant to have a rippling effect from one person to another through our influence and faith. May God make a few waves, rock a few boats with our acts of faith and spread His love, grace and gift of salvation.
My Little Pony first appeared in 1983 by Hasbro following
their My Pretty Pony line. It was very popular worldwide until 1995. My Little
Pony was reintroduced in 2010 with the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
movie and cartoons. The new show introduced Twilight Sparkle, a studious unicorn
pony, who is sent to Ponyville to learn about friendship by her mentor,
Princess Celestia. She soon becomes friends with five ponies who each represent
a different facet of friendship: Rainbow Dash (loyalty), a tomboyish pegasus
who helps control weather, Rarity (generosity), a glamorous unicorn with a flair
for fashion, Fluttershy (kindness), a shy and timid Pegasus who is fond of
nature and enjoys taking care of animals, Pinkie Pie (laughter), a hyperactive
pony who loves to throw parties, and Applejack (honesty), a hard working pony
who works her family’s apple farm. Together, the power of their friendship
overcomes great evil and other problems which comes their way. The new line was
so popular that in 2013, My Little Pony: Equestria Girls was introduced. In
this series of movies, the characters are teenage girls in high school dealing
with common problems.
When the Equestria Girls first came out, I was adamant that
my daughter would not have anything to do with this line of movies and toys. As
my daughter got older and become aware of this new line, she began to beg to
watch it. So, one day, I gave in. I decided that we would watch it together.
One, so I can see what it was about and then tell her why she couldn’t watch
it. But by the end of the movie, I realized that I was wrong about this show.
First, I would like to introduce the movies in which the toys are based on.
Second, I will discuss what I liked about the show. Lastly, I will discuss some
of the criticisms that I have read from other parents.
First, My Little Pony: Equestria Girls premiered on June 26,
2013 in which Princess Twilight Sparkle is transported to a human-like world of
Equestria after her crown in stolen. There she meets the human equivalents of
her friends. Together with her friends, Twilight Sparkle must stop Sunset
Shimmer, retrieve her crown before the portal between the worlds is closes.
This movie had a lot of lessons about friendship, standing up to bullies, and the
ability of people to change. There are great musical numbers which are real
catchy. One of my favorite songs is “Time to Come Together,” a song about
coming together, pooling unique and individual talents to achieve a goal. The
second film, Rainbow Rocks, premiered on September 27, 2014. Princess Twilight
Sparkle returns to Equestria to help her friendships as Sirens plot to take
over the school and the world. Again, the message of friendship and overcoming
differences is the main theme of the movie as Twilight Sparkle and her friends
are able to overcome the power of the Sirens. A third movie, Equestria Girls:
Friendship Games, is set to premiere on September 26, 2015. In this film, the
students of Canterlot High School get ready to prepare for the annual
“Friendship Games,” a sporting competition against their rival school, Crystal
Prep Academy.
I have three main reasons why I enjoyed the first two
Equestria Girls movies. First, the lessons of standing up to bullies as well as
standing up for others. Twilight Sparkle stands up to a bully for Fluttershy,
who is shy and timid. In a society in which bullying has become a big problem,
we need to be able to teach our children in different ways that we treat others
like we want to be treated. Children need to learn that standing up for someone
is just as important as standing up for yourself. Second, I like to see a group
of girls with very different personalities be able to come together, despite
those differences, and rise to the challenge or goal that they are facing. This
scenario is the center of Rainbow Rocks, when the girls’ pride and selfishness
keeps them from working together. They soon realize that they are more powerful
together. The importance of teamwork and how some situations in which
cooperation with others is key in order to see it through. Lastly, I enjoyed
seeing the lesson that people can be redeemed. They can see the error of their
ways and strive to better themselves and be a better person to others. This
lesson is seen with Sunset Shimmer who was the bully in Equestria Girls and is
trying to undo the damage done in Rainbow Rocks. It is a lesson that sometimes
someone just needs a chance to prove that they have truly changed.
The main criticism of the Equestria Girls features the
design of the characters. According to one reviewer, the girls are same body
type and the same style of clothes (top, skirt and legwarmer shoes). The girls
seems too sexed up to be appropriate a la Bratz or Monster High. Another reviewer
commented that “you have to look and act a certain way to be fun, cute or
normal.” I wonder if she saw the same movie I did. The six main girls do have
the similar body styles, however, they do not act or look the same. Fluttershy
is timid and quiet while Pinkie Pie is outgoing. Rainbow Dash is athletic and
Rarity is a girly-girl. How this acting or being the same? To me, they are more
polar opposites. Polar opposites who still are able to become friends despite
their differences. Another criticism is the “need” of a love interest in the
story. I’m sorry but every Disney princess has had a love interest (with two
exceptions) and no one bats an eye. Why are these films different? Third, the villains
near the end of the films are too scary for young viewers. I think this criticism
has a valid point. However, what is deemed too scary is on a child by child
basis. For example, my daughter is three and a half and has no problem watching
scary images in cartoons but my niece who is two months older, does. It’s an
example how age does not indicate if a child is ready.
In conclusion, I have been proved wrong about the Equestria
Girls. I found myself being able to identify with each of the main characters. The
first two films, at least, are fun and filled with many lessons on about
friendship, teamwork and giving others a chance. I will have to view the third
film when it premieres to see if it follows the same standard. I am still apprehensive
about my daughter having the Equestria Girls dolls, but for now, she is content
with watching the movies and playing with the My Little Pony dolls. If your
children are expressing interest in the Equestria Girls, I recommend watching
it yourself before taking a decision. These movies may not be for every child
and, as parents, we need to be actively aware what is available for our
children and decide what is appropriate. If we see something we don’t like, we
need to teach our children why a certain behavior is inappropriate. We can’t
just turn off the TV and say you can’t watch that without an explanation.
Children aren’t stupid. They will wonder why and seek it out without your
knowledge. I recommend giving My Little Pony and My Little Pony: Equestria
girls a chance. It is filled with life lessons which everyone in the family can
relate to and learn from.
