Colossians 3:18 (ESV)
[18] Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Last week the sermon addressed what it means for a husband to love his wife. This week we want to tackle an even more difficult question. What does it mean for a wife to submit to her husband? Before we can address what submission is, we probably need to first define what it is not. Too often in the name of biblical submission horrible things have occurred in marriage and gone unchallenged and unquestioned. That is why it is so important that in addressing what biblical submission is we need to remember what biblical love is. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Christ does not put harsh and selfish demands on the church. Yes, he calls her to sacrifice, but always for her own good. His goal, in Ephesians 5, is to present her to himself "in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." It is in that context that we ask what submission looks like.
The first thing we must understand is that submission does not view as women as an inferior part of humanity. The very nature of creation debunks that idea. Men and women were created in the image of man. Woman was designed from man's side, not from his head or his feet. Woman was designed to be a helper in the role of Creation Overseer, being perfectly matched to man. She was not designed as his servant. She is not less intelligent, less creative, nor less capable. Women are different from men, but they stand as equals uniquely designed in the image of God. So, submission is not, nor does it imply, inferiority.
Secondly, submission does not necessitate unquestioning obedience. Romans 13:1 instructs believers to, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." The words, "be subject" are a translation of exactly the same word Colossians uses when it tells wives to "submit" to their husbands. Yet Peter and the other Apostles said to the authorities, "We must obey God rather than man." (Acts 5:29) In other words, submission never necessitates unquestioning obedience. A husband is never given the authority to demand that his wife do anything illegal, immoral or unethical. There are other commands in scripture that supersede the command to submit.
Finally, submission does not require a woman to meekly accept abuse. As we look throughout the scriptures we see several appropriate responses to the possibility of physical harm. The only one I can think of where someone had the ability to avoid physical harm and yet willingly suffered it would be when Christ went to the cross for us. Responses to the threat of physical harm included an appeal to the one threatening, prayer and calling out to God for protection, hiding, and fleeing. Yes, there are times when God calls individuals to give their lives for their faith, or to suffer for their faith, but he also often provides a way of escape, and when he does so there is nothing spiritual about suffering needlessly. God has not given a wife as property to be used and abused, but as a helper perfectly designed to walk alongside man. When men treat wives as property there is nothing biblical nor commendable about enduring it if the abuse can be avoided.
Biblical submission is not inferiority; it is not unquestioning obedience; it is not meekly accepting abuse. That is what biblical submission is not. But, what is it? That's a question for another day. I hope to follow this up tomorrow with a discussion of what biblical submission is. In the meantime let us commit to the following: 1. Pray for those in abusive situations. 2. Help those in abusive situations. 3. Never take advantage of any position of authority God may gift you with. Positions of authority are for the purpose of serving, not being served. 4. Prayerfully consider how you might serve, protect and encourage those who are being or have been abused.
Father, forgive us for how we have treated women and those in vulnerable positions. Forgive our nation. Forgive our churches. Forgive me. May we see women through eyes of respect and honor.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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