Does submission look like a doormat? God gives you a picture of a healthy marriage.
SUBMIT. Use this S word in church-y circles or even at Wal-Mart, and you may hear this verse quoted, word by word, sometimes pridefully, sometimes timidly, and only occasionally with proper use:
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18)
Two similar verses pop up in Ephesians.
“Wives, submit to your hubands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22)
“Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:24)
Hit Pause. Like now.
Whether you’re married, single or single again, this message is for you. The battle of the sexes, especially in our homes, endears us women to the devil, who not only wants marriage redefined — you know, guy with guy, gal with gal. . .maybe even guy with gorilla! — but also destroyed, along with the couples’ innocent children.
If you have a kid or were a kid, read on.
OK, hit Play.
While many can quote the “wives submit” verses, few remember its counterparts, one in Colossians, two in Ephesians.
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives, as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:28)
The command the apostle Paul chose for women: submit. For men, love.
Hmm. Submit and love. It this unfair? shortsighted? out of wack? Are women suppose to obey? Be doormats?
No!
Rather, both the husband and wife are called to self-sacrifice. Look at the word the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, selected for love. It is agape in the Greek. This self-sacrificing kind of love isn’t about sex or affection or brotherly kindness. It is the kind that lays down one’s life for the other.
It looks alot like. . .submission.
As a Bible study author astutely poined out, an argument in such a home would sound like,
“I insist that you have your way.”
“No, no, really, I insist you have your way.”
Wow. Just imagine the tone of your arguments, if each tried to out-sacrifice the other. Just imagine the number of marriages that would not only survive and thrive. The kids too.
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