Biblical
Submission
God has designed the man as the leader and
woman as his helper/companion. When anyone is a leader, they have people
underneath them whom they influence and set an example for; in many cases, they
even make decisions for an entire group. The same goes in marriage. The man
leads and his wife follows and honors (respects) his leadership. The man is to
sacrificially love and lead his wife as Christ does His Church—what a high
calling! Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of submission. Submission is not
mean to be painful slavery, but following God’s authority structure joyfully.
For more information on Biblical submission, look up Nancy Leigh DeMoss and
Bill Gothard, they have some excellent materials.
Submitting yourselves one to another
in the fear of God. 22 Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of
the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of
the body. 24 Therefore
as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So
ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife
loveth himself. 29 For
no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as
the Lord the church: 30 For
we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two
shall be one flesh. 32 This
is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of
you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:21-33 (KJV)
How do
you view submission? Based
on the passage above, how do you need to adjust your view?
God is
the one who designed submission. It is a good thing.
