Nick
Member
Yes, this topic comes up a lot here and I hope I'm not going to be dumping more fuel on the fire, but I felt compelled to post this, as I've come accross some great material on the internet recently, and I feel this is an important issue.
There is a massive resistance nowdays against wives submitting to their husbands. Now the issue has been debated many times, discussing how important it is, different interpretations of context etc etc. But the Bible clearly teaches that a wife should submit to a Godly man, just as he submits to Christ.
I think the issue of creating a Godly Marriage is very important, and needs to be well thought out, and Biblically understood. The marriage, and therefore the family is really the centre of peoples' lives as they go about their day, and creates the basis for a child's growing up. Getting this right is important.
My point, is that looking at the following verses (NIV (c) 2010) describing a husband's role in marriage, who wouldn't want to submit to this?
Why not? Many Christian girls my age I know are fully prepared for the above, and have absolutely no problems with it.
BTW, I found this page very helpful: A CHRISTIAN HUSBAND
The whole article is an excellent read, and I encourage all to read it in its entirity, however I have put a few summary quotes from it below.
When a Christian man selects a Christian woman to become his wife, she becomes the perfect compliment for him. She is exactly what is needed to make the man a complete and whole person. The two become one: "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" (Eph. 5:31). This was the plan and the intention of God from the very beginning.
What a joyous and fulfilling experience it is when we do things in God's way and according to His eternal plan! A Christian marriage should last until death - one husband, one wife, for life. The Bible says, “The woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives” (Rom. 7:2; cf. Rom. 2:11). Whether the days together are few or many, words cannot really describe the happiness and fulfillment enjoyed by both partners from this God ordained relationship. There is no such thing as "married singles" to be found in the Bible. A Christian husband and wife are one in thought, activity, and purpose.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we read: "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." God's chain of authority for the home is as follows: God, Christ, the husband, the wife, and then the children. The husband should be the dominant figure in the family. Of course, it is impossible for the husband to be the dominant one if the wife does not allow him to be, and will not submit to his authority. It is not degrading, in any sense of the word, for a woman to submit to the authority of her husband. Instead of being degrading, it is ennobling and elevates a woman to a higher plane than she has ever enjoyed before! Ephesians 5:23 says: "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body."
A Christian husband should be the leader without being a dictator. He is to be the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. Jesus is not an uncaring tyrant over the church. He is the Savior, protector, and supporter of His precious bride! This is the way every wise Christian husband properly leads in the home. He leads by love, understanding, and example. The more a husband learns to do this, the better leader he will be. The entire family will gladly and willingly follow his leadership and obey his directives, with very few exceptions.
On the other hand, when a husband continually forces his wife to do his will or follow his whims and fancies; he denies her the privilege of making her own choice. This is not biblical, practical, or even humane.
There is a massive resistance nowdays against wives submitting to their husbands. Now the issue has been debated many times, discussing how important it is, different interpretations of context etc etc. But the Bible clearly teaches that a wife should submit to a Godly man, just as he submits to Christ.
I think the issue of creating a Godly Marriage is very important, and needs to be well thought out, and Biblically understood. The marriage, and therefore the family is really the centre of peoples' lives as they go about their day, and creates the basis for a child's growing up. Getting this right is important.
My point, is that looking at the following verses (NIV (c) 2010) describing a husband's role in marriage, who wouldn't want to submit to this?
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[a]
-Ephesians 5:22-28-31
-Ephesians 5:22-28-31
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
-1 Peter 3:7
-1 Peter 3:7
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God.
-1 Corinthians 11:3
-1 Corinthians 11:3
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
-Ephesians 5:25
-Ephesians 5:25
Why not? Many Christian girls my age I know are fully prepared for the above, and have absolutely no problems with it.
BTW, I found this page very helpful: A CHRISTIAN HUSBAND
The whole article is an excellent read, and I encourage all to read it in its entirity, however I have put a few summary quotes from it below.
When a Christian man selects a Christian woman to become his wife, she becomes the perfect compliment for him. She is exactly what is needed to make the man a complete and whole person. The two become one: "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" (Eph. 5:31). This was the plan and the intention of God from the very beginning.
What a joyous and fulfilling experience it is when we do things in God's way and according to His eternal plan! A Christian marriage should last until death - one husband, one wife, for life. The Bible says, “The woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives” (Rom. 7:2; cf. Rom. 2:11). Whether the days together are few or many, words cannot really describe the happiness and fulfillment enjoyed by both partners from this God ordained relationship. There is no such thing as "married singles" to be found in the Bible. A Christian husband and wife are one in thought, activity, and purpose.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3 we read: "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." God's chain of authority for the home is as follows: God, Christ, the husband, the wife, and then the children. The husband should be the dominant figure in the family. Of course, it is impossible for the husband to be the dominant one if the wife does not allow him to be, and will not submit to his authority. It is not degrading, in any sense of the word, for a woman to submit to the authority of her husband. Instead of being degrading, it is ennobling and elevates a woman to a higher plane than she has ever enjoyed before! Ephesians 5:23 says: "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body."
A Christian husband should be the leader without being a dictator. He is to be the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. Jesus is not an uncaring tyrant over the church. He is the Savior, protector, and supporter of His precious bride! This is the way every wise Christian husband properly leads in the home. He leads by love, understanding, and example. The more a husband learns to do this, the better leader he will be. The entire family will gladly and willingly follow his leadership and obey his directives, with very few exceptions.
On the other hand, when a husband continually forces his wife to do his will or follow his whims and fancies; he denies her the privilege of making her own choice. This is not biblical, practical, or even humane.
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