Thoughts on Submission

Disclaimer: Please read the whole post before giving up.  These verses are widely misinterpreted.  I am a sinner and do not claim to be a perfect person.  I simply want to share some thoughts that have been weighing on my heart.

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the word… In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.” Ephesians 5:22-26, 28

This set of verses is arguably one of the most misinterpreted set of verses in the Bible.  I know, as a believer, I misinterpreted these verses.  Then, I was taught better.  Thank goodness for pre-marital counseling!  

Let me tell you what this verse does not say:
It does not say that the husband rules over the wife as if marriage is a dictatorship.
It does not say that the wife is always to do what her husband asks of her.
It does not say that the husband and wife cannot make decisions together
It does not say that Jesus believes men are better than women.  

Let me tell you what this verse does say:
It does say that wives are to respect their husbands.
It does say that husbands are to respect their wives.
It does say that husbands are to love their wives the way Christ loved the church. 
It does say in order to love your wife you must love yourself.

How can we misinterpret the beauty of these verses?  Yes, it says for women to submit.  Do not look into that and go all feminist.  It simply means that wives need to respect their husbands.  Jesus does state that the man is to be the spiritual leader.  So ladies, don’t step on their toes.  Let them do their job as the spiritual leader.  

How beautiful a comparison: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the word.  This is a bigger deal than the whole submitting part, to me.  God is asking husbands to love their wives like Christ loved the church – that’s a pretty big commitment!  Much more of a commitment than submitting (read: respecting) your husband.  Therefore, husbands love so much that you would give yourself up for your wife.  If you love your wife, you then must love yourself.  I’m not talking about in a vain sense.  I’m talking about you have so much respect for yourself and God that loving your wife comes natural. 

With all that is going on in the world, this is a good reminder for us all.  I am a sinner.  I fail.  I don’t love my husband every day the way I should.  I don’t submit and respect him every day like I should.  Thankfully I have a glorious Savior that died for me, to cover my sin.  I was taught the beauty in these verses and wanted to pass it along.  The big picture is: Selflessness > Selfishness.

Are you ready?

I really enjoy the friends that I have that urge me to be a better Christian - hold me accountable I guess you could say.  I don't have many like this, but the ones I do, I cherish.  I was discussing the whole Isis situation with one of my hold-me-accountable-friends today.  I'm not super educated on the Isis situation.  I do know that it's scary.  I do know they are probably killing a Christian right now while I type.  My hold-me-accountable-friend really made me think - Am I ready?

Jesus tests many in the Bible.  You are probably familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah.  Genesis 22 is the story of Jesus asking Abraham to take his son to the mountain to be sacrificed.  His one an only son that he and Sarah had patiently waited for.  Did you get that?  Jesus asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Are you ready to be sacrificed for what you believe in?

You can read about the Temptation of Jesus in Luke 4.  In short, Jesus was tempted by the devil for 40 days in the wilderness.  The devil constantly tempted him and Jesus responded, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."   In the end, Jesus said, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."  To which the devil responded by leaving after every temptation had ended.  Did you get that?  Jesus said you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.  Are you ready to say that?

Jesus asks us to take up His cross and follow Him.  

"Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul." Matthew 16:24-26

Did you get that? Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  Are you ready to deny yourself and truly follow him? Did you get that? For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Are you ready to give up the whole world and die for what you believe? 

What if these people gave you the opportunity to forget about Christ and living your life for Him? Once you forget and take up their ways, you become free and you see your family again.  You get all of your worldly things back.  You have "freedom."  Would you do it?  

The Egyptian Christian men, that I'm sure you've seen the picture of, appear to be content.  Of course, that's relative.  Who can really be content when they're about to be beheaded?  I can tell you who - followers of Christ that are confident in what they believe, fight for what they believe, take up the cross, and don't back down.

So my fellow brothers and sisters - are you ready?  Let's take up the cross and defend what we believe in.