In class today, we covered topics about the role of a husband and a wife in marriage. Some things that stuck out to me as far as the role of the wife include:
Submission - God has created men and women to submit to His authority in their live. Someone has to make the decision for the couple, and God has placed that role upon the men. Submission to the husband is a proof of the wife's love to God. (John 14:16, 31).
-Submission starts when we do things we don't want to do. Being rebellious in the area of submission in marriage will make a wife "ugly". She is truly beautiful when submits - because she is doing what God commands (1 Peter 3:1-6).
-There is submission in the Trinity! I had never thought about that. God sent Jesus to the earth (He had to submit to His Father's authority), Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to believers (He had to submit to Jesus, but was still equal with Him). Every part of the trinity is equal.
-Satan started the rebellion of submission against God. He used to be an angel and then decided he wanted to do things out of God's authority.
-Sometimes a woman has a hard time submitting to her husband because he is a bad model of submission to his authority. If he comes home going off about his boss and has a rebellious attitude against his authorities, then what makes a wife want to submit to him? If he isn't submitting to them, then how will that affect his wife and children? They might struggle with respecting him.
-What does a wife do if her Christian husband is being a lover and learner, but not a leader? Does she talk with him about it? Does she just pray and hope things change? Does she encourage him, hoping he won't get upset?
Helper- Women were created to be helpers. They were made to "fit" their husbands to help them. To help lift their husband's load. (Genesis 2:18). Ephesians 5:22-25 talk alot about the roles. Very clear.
Husbands- God has given you the role of 1. A Learner, 2. a Lover, and 3. A leader. Ephesians 5:23-25
-A husband may be a leader in his home, but if he is not serving his family, than he would be considered a dictator. Loving is giving. (1 Corinthians 13, John 3:16, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:3-4. )
- Men are commanded to manage their homes. They should be aware of everything going on in that house (Ephesians 5:23, 6:4)
There are so many things I am learning about the roles of a husband and a wife. The main thing is, that the roles were created in a way that both reflect Jesus and His love for us. They reflect His relationship with those who choose to follow Him and know Him because they know they need Him.
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1 Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence...
6 comments:
The word submit has such a bad conotation that I really hate to use it! Submit to me is a mental picture of putting up your white flag and just giving up. I understand that thats not the type of submission in it's context, but that specific word just rubs me the wrong way. I much rather prefer terms like co-partnership, where it's obvious that both parties are equal to the relationship. The roles may be different but the value is the same. It make me sike to my stomach to think about men who would demand submission from their wife because the bible says so. Thats an abuse that agrivates me beyond anything.
I think the word submit has a bad conotation too but I don't think it's a co-partnership. That term says to me that both people are equal in status and it clearly says in the Bible that the man is over the woman just like Christ is over the man. It's an obvious partnership, but the man is the 60% stock holder.
"1 corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Each role is important and has EQUAL value BUT that does not mean that the two roles themselves are equal. I think it's important to establish and be clear about this.
Men who demand submission from their wives are not behaving responsibly and since they will give an account as to how they have governed their family it is still the wifes job to submit, unfortunetely. She will also give an account. I love this post because it lays out everything exactly as it is in the Bible and yet so many people like to pick and choose and say "we are equal in marriage" or in a lot of cases, women take hold and control because that's what we like to do! It's in our nature, just as it says in Genesis. It has taken me a long time to even ACKKNOWLEDGE this and realize what significance it has and how troubled the marriage can become if there is a constant power struggle. It's up to me with God's strength! I will be learning this over and over again my whole life.
Thanks for writing it up!
this is definitely a challenging thing to talk about....many different teachings and examples and experiences for people that affect our thinking and feeling. As a Christian, I really want to keep looking to what the Bible says about it. How God really created it to be. The one thing that makes it a little easier to think about, is that it exists in the relationship of the Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. They submit to one another.
You are right "annonymous" that men often demand submission from their wives. They are wrong to demand it in that way. As a loving, gracious, and Godly husband, he should be seeking to push his wife closer to Jesus, growing in holiness in areas of her life. To be demanding and harsh would not be a Christ-like way to encourage her to submit and respect him as he tries to lead them in their pursuit as a married couple.
The word submit in our society definitley has been associated with negative things. No doubt about that. There were alot of things that I learned and we discussed in class about that side of it too and Im going to post that ASAP.
Thank God for His justice and love. He is a just and loving God and He definitely does not withhold His love from those who seek it!!!! I know !! Trust me!! I have not done anything that would deserve God's love. I am "the worst of all sinners". I am so thankful that because of my relat. with Jesus, I can submit to a husband someday. I know that God will ordain that marriage, and I have no reason to doubt that God wouldn't see all the unjustice that goes on. He is the judge and will judge ALL someday. I can submit to a husband as I submit to God's authority in my life. My husband would not be perfect, but I would know that. God is. That would make it all more easier to submit. I feel like im repeating myself....time to get some sleep i guess! :) gnite.
Hermeneutics is the study of the Bible in context it is written in. One has to be very careful when talking about things of this nature. One of the things that keeps me deep in the Christian life is the idea that Gods word is living. There are certain things that are a cultural nuance of a society that do not pass the test of time. For instance, when Paul says that women should not speak in church, is one of those things that our current society does not accept. They have made decisions in light of this passage, such as a lot of churches won't allow women to be Pastors, but this passage is no longer taken in a literal manner. Because society has changed so does our understanding of the Living Word of God. For me marriage carries some of these same characteristics. There are things that have served past the test of time and are mandated by God. And there are a lot of things that are left very vague in scripture. As in, what does a wife do in a marriage? You get what a wife’s characteristics should be like (prov 31 types of things) But that role of submissive wife is not clearly painted. I always look to the psalms, if David, being the man after God's own heart, is a picture of what a follower should look like, then sitting back without letting God, or your husband know how you feel, would be remarkable inappropriate! Let him know, David lays all that out on the table.
Ultimately I just think we need to be careful with how we use words. Meanings have changed over time, and the beauty of God's word is that is does stand strong over all time, and is still currently alive and has the ability to be a source for our lives today.
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell has an amazing chapter on the idea of understanding the text of the Bible in our lives today. An excellent read if you’re looking to explore.
"There are things that have served past the test of time and are mandated by God. And there are a lot of things that are left very vague in scripture. As in, what does a wife do in a marriage? You get what a wife’s characteristics should be like (prov 31 types of things) But that role of submissive wife is not clearly painted."
Titus 2:1-8
1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for (A)sound doctrine.
2(B)Older men are to be (C)temperate, dignified, sensible, (D)sound (E)in faith, in love, in perseverance.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, (F)not malicious gossips nor (G)enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, (H)workers at home, kind, being (I)subject to their own husbands, (J)so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge (K)the young men to be sensible;
7 in all things show yourself to be (L)an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so (M)that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
I copied this verse because I think it's a good picture of what each role from old man, to young woman should be.
In Titus 2:4-5 It's listed out what submissive women are supposed to do:
To love their husbands, to love their children, be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands.
I would say in this day and age, women obviously take on a lot more than this! This is a basic foundation of a woman's role and included is "being subject to one's husband". I don't think the Bible is vague at all. The husband is the leader and all that means is that you submit to his authority. It doesn't mean you can't make decisions together or that you become his servant. It's easier to say than to do, but it has a lot to do with allowing someone else to take control. Women naturally want to do this and so it's veyr hard!
"But that role of submissive wife is not clearly painted. I always look to the psalms, if David, being the man after God's own heart, is a picture of what a follower should look like, then sitting back without letting God, or your husband know how you feel, would be remarkable inappropriate! Let him know, David lays all that out on the table."
Wives are supposed to be a help meet. Someone who has a different view and can discuss something is a blessing! When it gets in the way of how the man can lead, it becomes a problem though.
"There are certain things that are a cultural nuance of a society that do not pass the test of time. For instance, when Paul says that women should not speak in church, is one of those things that our current society does not accept. They have made decisions in light of this passage, such as a lot of churches won't allow women to be Pastors, but this passage is no longer taken in a literal manner."
What this says is basically that society can decide what to take and leave from the bible. Along this same thought process ...if/when the economy becomes worse than it was in the great depression will church leaders advise their people not to give to the church because they can't afford it??? People tithe right now in this culture, but it could change due to what people think? In light of that, it seems like anything could be taken and used as a principle one day and the next day tossed out the window because it doesn't fit the society anymore. That doesn't sound very biblical to me...
I lot of times we want to put our own reasoning and views into what God has already made clear to us in his word. One big reason why marriages and relationships are bad is because the reasoning started back before our parents and has come for front to us. I m one who likes things that the bible is againist and would love to reason it to a point where i feel good about doing those things. Its like this, you have a choice, either you do or you don't. No in between, you submit to Gods word and what his promises are or you don't. There really isn't a middle ground or you will still lose's. My dad always said that you eat whats on your plate or you go to bed hungry. So if i don't like it then i can go about my own way but i also face the outcome of going to bed hungry. ok ok ok, enough on that, I think you put things in a great view and if you have personal feelings and don't understand the bibles actually view, then you will lose out.
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