SUBMISSION

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Permalink Reply by William Bixby on August 23, 2010 at 9:36pm

Is the man the head of a woman in everything or just in case they are married? "the husband is head of the wife", we have in Ephesians 5:23. I can imagine her trying to be subject to all men, with all their different personalities and ways, and be subject to her husband, at the same time. I don't think so. But the head of a body is so good and needed for the body; but the head can not make it without its body. And the head is very sensitive to what's happening in the body, to its feelings and needs, though the body is so subject to the head. So, I see that in God's love a man and his lady are mutually dependent and mutually trusting, even more deeply than how a head and body are together. Each is needed. The lady is her man's helpmate, helping him learn how to love, how to live and share with God, get correction, and learn with her how to share in their marriage. They so need each other, though as body and head.

And we have, "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3) I understand this means that our church leaders are not to lord themselves over the sheep; leaders must not dominate and must not be controlling, but win our obedience and submission, by their example. And their example of how to lead should be feeding each husband so he is also leading his wife and family by good example. So, if she needs to be humble and submissive, he needs to be her example of this (c:

And part of this, for me, includes how I must not try to force or charm or trick or intimidate or guilt-trip a lady into doing what I want, but first be submissive to God, trusting God to decide and guide her in how she shares with me. It says, "Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) So, we are commanded to test every single thing and every married thing. So, as her head, I would encourage her to make sure with God about everything, and trust God to guide her to do what He me leading her to do, "submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21) And I think this is how He would have me relating with my wife, not using any coercion, and relating "without complaining and disputing," as Paul commands in Philippians 2:14. So, with her I should be well aware that always I need to be praying and discovering how God corrects and matures me more and more in how to love.

So, a lady of Jesus being submissive to her husband is not acting in puppet unthinking un-testing obedience. She is his helpmate; he needs her help with how to relate with her and be her head. Even the head of a human body is very needful of the sensory feedback it gets from the body, and the head is very careful to direct the body, based on what the body is feeling and needs. So, in God's love we have sharing and communication deeper than words, in marriage, I would say. "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment." (Philippians 1:9)

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Permalink Reply by Christine Joe. on August 24, 2010 at 6:57am

Thanks so much ...this really helps .

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