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Submission
The Godly Woman
Mrs. Martha Montgomery in her series on “The Godly Woman” gives us a helpful comparison of three related terms.
When the woman was in her unfallen state God appointed her to be subordinate to the man (Gen. 2:18). This was a matter of rank and did not imply any inferiority. It was an honorable position.
So we see, first, a woman is a subordinate.
- This is a matter of rank.
- It is by God’s appointment.
After the woman had sinned, in her fallen state, God imposed subjection on her (Gen. 3:16).
So second, a woman is in subjection.
- This is the matter of her husband’s rule.
- It is imposed by God.
In the New Testament the wife is enjoined to come into submission (Eph. 5:22-24) to her husband.
Third, a woman is to be submissive.
- This is a matter of inner attitude.
- It is to be voluntarily assumed.
The inner attitude is toward the subordination appointed and the subjection imposed in Genesis.
In extrabiblical Greek it was primarily a military term that denoted a rank under another. Literally the verb means to arrange or to rank under.” The word implies a rank subordinate to one who is in authority, to whom obedience and respect are due.
It does not imply an inferiority of person but only subordination in rank. As a person you will be no more inferior to your husband, than the citizen is to his government or Christ is to God. Yet the citizen is subordinate in rank to the governor. Christ in His humanity was subordinate to God the Father. You are to assume volitionally and voluntarily a rank or office under your husband in the administration of your home and family.
It does not justify suppression by your husband but does imply obedience to your husband. Submission does not stifle your leadership, creativity, and initiative as a wife. You may well wonder if it implies that you will make no decisions, offer no argument, participate in no discussions. Absolutely not. What a vanilla wife you would be! What kind of a helper is this? It is not only your right but also your responsibility to function as a partner in this partnership. Every Christian husband should consult his wife as his closest advisor and make decisions with her interests in view. Often responsibilities will be delegated to you requiring important decisions that must be made by you. And yet, when your husband makes decisions, you are responsible to obey. That is submission.
Some of us know wives who do obey but are not truly submissive. A third implication in our New Testament word is that of respect for your husband in his position and for his decisions. A wife who obeys without respect is not in submission. You are to “reverence” (“fear,” Eph. 5:33, same word as in v. 21) your husband. The church’s reverence for Christ is your pattern. You may not agree with the decision in his position as head. The mother who enforces her husband’s rules or disciplines, but lets her children know she does not agree, is not respecting her husband before her children. Such lack of respect is most often seen the use of the tongue. Beware!
William J. McRae, Preparing for Your Marriage, (Zondervan Publ. House; Grand Rapids, MI, 1980), pp. 119-120
Submission
O Lord, my best desire fulfill,
And help me to resign
Life, health, and comfort to Thy will,
And make Thy pleasure mine.
Why should I shrink at Thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears?
Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?
No, rather let me freely yield
What most I prize to Thee;
Who never hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold, from me.
Thy favor, all my journey through,
Thou art engaged to grant;
What else I want, or think I do,
‘Tis better still to want.
Wisdom and mercy guide my way,
Shall I resist them both?
A poor blind creature of a day,
And crush’d before the moth!
But ah! my inward spirit cries,
Still bind me to Thy sway;
Else the next cloud that veils the skies
Drives all these thoughts away.
Olney Hymns, William Cowper, from Cowper’s Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York
Quotes
- Definition, in marriage: the wife ducking out of the way so that God can hit the husband. - K. Hutcherson
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Aesop’s Fable
Illustration of Aesop’s fable of the wind and the sun trying to get the cloak off the man.
- Power can’t force submission.
- Love can earn submission.
Between Two Truths, Klyne Snodgrass, Zondervan, 1990, p. 81
How Members of the Symphony Orchestra Viewed Each Other
At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose “loud” as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical. Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music. Today in the Word, June 22, 1992
Source unknown
God-Ordained Authorities
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Government: |
Rom. 13, 1 Peter 2:17 |
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Employer: |
Eph. 6, 1 Peter 2:18 |
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Husband: |
1 Peter 3:1, Col. 3:18, Eph. 5:22 |
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Parent: |
Eph. 6 |
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Elders: |
Heb. 13:17 |
Source unknown
Yield
Driving down a country road, I came to a very narrow bridge. In front of the bridge, a sign was posted: “YIELD.” Seeing no oncoming cars, I continued across the bridge and to my destination. On my way back, I came to the same one-lane bridge, now from the other direction. To my surprise, I saw another YIELD sign posted. CURIOUS, I thought, I’M SURE THERE WAS ONE POSITIONED ON THE OTHER SIDE. When I reached the other side of the bridge I looked back. Sure enough, yield signs had been placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions were requested to give right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision. When the Bible commands Christians to “be subject to one another” (Eph. 5:21) it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.
Stephen P. Beck
Alter Your Course!
The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.” The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!” Soon another message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones.” Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.” Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.”
In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest—something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril.
Paul Aiello, Jr.
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