As important as the principle of mutual submission is, it is vital the we do not read into it a meaning that Paul did not intend.  Some have squeezed out the Ephesians 5:21 an interpretation that eliminates any distinction in the roles of husband and wife. Such a meaning is not consistent with the verses that follow. Paul states in Ephesians 5:23 , “the husband is to be head of the wife.”

What Headship Is Not:

1. Superiority.  A survey of history reveals a pattern of male subjugation of women that is shameful. Marcius Cato, the famous Roman statesman living in the second century B.C , wrote, “If you catch  your wife in the act of infidelity, you can kill her without trial. But if she were to catch you, she would not venture to touch you with her finger.

She has no rights.”  Even in our liberated culture, women are frequently seen as mere sex objects – another position of inferiority. What a contrast to Paul’s direction given to husbands in Ephesians 5!

Paul’s admonition that husbands and wives be submissive, “one to another” is our first clue that Biblical headship does not involve the husband being in a superior position to the wife. Furthermore, Scripture makes the equality of all believers quite clear, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

There are no classifications of Christians, neither are there differing ranks. Every believer has equal standing before God. We all have the same regenerated nature, the completeness of the Holy Spirit, and the same divine resources..  As someone aptly said, “The Ground at the foot of the cross is level. ”

The husband that has relinquished this role as head of the home is, more often that not, the husband that complains bitterly about his wife’s nagging. He might refer to himself as a “hen-pecked husband.” For some women, nagging serves the function of feeling superior. For others, however , nagging is an attempt to repeat their husband in the place of authority in the home.

They long to feel the security and comfort resultant from a husband who lovingly leads his family through the ups and downs of life.

Husbands again taking up the standard of leadership in the home is vital. Dr. James Dobson says it strongly, ” Our very survival as a nation will depend on the presence or absence of masculine leadership in the home.”

What Headship Is Not -Pastor Kirt Eure

Check Out The Article “What Headship is“

We will look at some of the causes of the controversy:

2.    Radical Feminism. Feminism, in its early days, had a fair and, come could argue, Godly motivation to eliminate the discrimination rampant in pay scales and social structures is a goal that few would argue against. Unfortunately, the feminist movement has undergone a mutation throughout this century. Instead of being satisfied with the goal of equality “ There is neither Jew no Greek, there is neither salve nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”  Gal 3:28 , modern feminist desire to eliminate any distinctions between the sexes.

One advocate for modern feminism stated, “Feminism is no longer a battle for equal opportunity in a male-dominated society, but a kind of 120step recovery program for wounded women. “  None other than Gloria Steinem once said of members of the feminist movement, “Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.”  This certainly is not a global that squares with Biblical teaching.

God has once and for all declared us equal in terms of value and worth. However, He makes marked distinctions in our roles and functions. Furthermore science also contradicts the radical feminists’ view of the sexes having no distinctions.

Many studies have been done explaining that when men’s rains experience the bath of testosterone and others hormones while developing in their mothers’ wombs, their thinking, behavior, and emotional tendencies are radically altered and remain unchanged throughout life.

For example, in a Harvard study of several hundred preschoolers, researchers discovered an interesting phenomenon.  As they taped the children s playground conversation, they realized that all sounds coming from little girls mouths were recognizable words.

However, only 60 percent of the sounds coming from little boys were recognizable.  The other 40 percent were yells and sounds effects like “Vrrrooooom!””Aaaaagh!” “Toot toot!”   This difference persists into adulthood.  Communication experts say that the average women speaks over 25,000 words a day while the average man speaks only a little over 10,000.

We must resist modern feminism’s attempt to blur the boundary between the sexes. The healthy functioning of a family is not determined by all members acting, thinking, and feeling alike.

Rather it is as the members of a family recognize their God created differences and adhere to their God- ordained roles that the pieces fit together and work properly. Families are torn apart by competition, they are held together by complementarity.

Pastor Kirt Eure – GODS VIEW POINT OF THE CONTROVERSY OF SUBMISSION – Part 2

There are certainly few topics in modern Christianity that are more controversial than the role of women in family and society. Furthermore, no element of that controversy is more certain to provoke heated debate than Scripture’s call that women be “submissive” to their husbands.

It is the intent in these next couple articles to aid you in understanding God’s viewpoint of the controversy of submission. We will not shrink from a careful study of the truths contained in Ephesians 5. Instead , we will allow Scripture to speak for itself while endeavoring to take into account the “whole counsel of God”  Acts 20:27, to ensure that the conclusions that are drawn are accurate, precise and honoring to God.

Before we define the term, let’s take time to analyze the roots of the debate and how proper understanding of certain principles can aid us in grasping the beauty of submission.

We will look at some of the causes of the controversy:

1. Subjugation and Abuse. Dr. Brian Chappell, the president of covenant Theological Seminary, had just completed a lecture on the roles of husband and wife when he was approached by professional looking women.  Confident and articulate, she addressed the speaker. “Why is it that you cannot see that by telling wives that they must submit their gifts to the support of their husbands, you make women second class?  I don’t care how nicely you state it and how kind you are trying to be. Once you make women subservient to men, you devalue us and perpetuate our oppression. Somebody must tell you that when you give these talks, you rob women for the dignity God gives them.”

Her concern is echoed by countless numbers of women thought the world. For too long, they cry, women have been controlled, abused, manipulated, and ignored. “It is time for us to rise and take our rightful place in the world, they say.  When one makes a fair appraisal of history, it is difficult for the intellectual-honest person not to agree. Based on men’s behavior toward women throughout the centuries, one could rightly conclude, “You men have been asking for it.

Now you are only suffering the consequences of your choices.”  One could speculate that the feminist movement would have been non-existent had men been the sacrificial, loving leaders God had Called them to be.

Pastor Kirt Eure – GODS VIEW POINT OF THE CONTROVERSY OF SUBMISSION