_PNG.png)
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:22-27
there are a handful of passages in the bible that traditionally define marriage. this is one of those passages. and i think it’s time to rethink the tradition. bear with me…
submission in marriage is critical. i really believe it is the most important characteristic and without it, a marriage will never really become what god intended for it do be. the problem is, well…our traditional understanding of this passage doesn’t help at all.
first of all, the most important part of the passage is seldom included when we begin to study these verses. the section doesn’t begin with verse 22. it actually begins with verse 21.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
you see, the governing principle of every relationship…men and women…neighbors… friends…husbands and wives…is submission.
the act of submission, according to god’s word, is the act of placing the needs of another person above your own. it is the voluntary surrendering of your will…your own rights, your own wants, your own power…for the good of another. it was perfectly seen in the life (and death) of jesus.
it was carved out as the pattern for human relationships under the lordship of the one who set the example. all of us who claim allegience to christ are to follow suit. it is the divine blueprint for the foundation of human relationships. and we are all expected to pursue it.
and not just wives. it is the expected standard of behavior for husbands also! true, the passage calls for husbands to love their wives, but look at the definition of love: “…as christ loved the church and gave himself for her…”
do you really think there is anything different between love and submission? come on. remember the definition for love? love is not a feeling. it is a decision to act in the best interest of another person. it is a decision to place the needs of another before your own. so really, what’s the difference?
for centuries…as far back in history as i can research…it seems like christian wedding ceremonies have traditionally laid the responsibility for submitting on the wife. traditionally, it has been her job to submit to her husband’s plans…his dreams…his job…his decisions…his direction…his leading.
the problem is, the job of submitting in marriage is for both of us!
so what do you think? and don’t shoot the messenger…
Comments