Submission

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BJ Clark,

I also don't know how to quote, so for now, I will just quote it with quotation marks. BJ Clark writes:

"He WANTS us to with a JOYFUL heart, without complaining, without feeling pressured to do so"

I agree. A wife is to always to submit to her husband (unless he asked her to sin), and she is always to do it with a joyful heart. We are always to obey God (and our husbands) with a cheerful heart.

"without feeling as if we are some how sinning if we don't. God does not in anyway want us to feel forced to do anything we don't want to do which is why He gave us Free will to choose."

This I do not agree with at all. Jesus did not particularly want to die on the cross, as exemplified when He said,"Not MY will, but Yours be done." It was not His will to go through the pain and suffering of the cross, but He did it. Why? Because, more important than His own will is the will of the Father. Just because I may want to sleep in on a Sunday morning and forsake the gathering together of the people of the Lord doesn't mean that I can, because it's the Lord's Day and I have an obligation to keep the Sabbath holy. Just because I may want to give into my flesh and be impure before marriage doesn't mean I can, because otherwise I would be breaking the law of God and committing adultury. Just because I may want to dishonor my parents because I don't understand why they ask me to do the things they do doesn't mean I can, because I have been commanded to honor and obey my parents. Just because I may not understand or agree with my husband when he asks something of me does not mean I don't have to do it, because I am commanded by God to submit to my husband. No, becoming a wife doesn't mean you leave your "Christian status" at the door. But your identity in Christ and as a Christian will directly affect the kind of wife you are. You will either be the kind of wife who doesn't care what the Bible has to say but instead views her relationship with her husband as a "team" and a "partnership" (the world's view), or you will listen to the Word of God and humbly accept your place as a wife. Miss SolaFide makes a great point - God commands us not to be jealous, and yet He Himself claims that He is a jealous God. Do we not obey Him and dismiss His words (after all, it isn't fair - He's asked us to do something He Himself doesn't do...). No, of course not. You and I both agree that we strive to not be jealous, regardless of what God does. We understand that His place and our place are two very different things. In the same way, if your boss gives you a job to do, as an employee you must do it. It's not because you're an idiot or because you can't make your own decisions, but simply because your "place" is employee and his "place" is your employer. It is no different with marriage. There are different "places" and we are commanded by God to be submissive wives, and to, as you have pointed out, submit cheerfully. :)

I might also add that submission is not submission when you already agree with your husband. Submission is subjecting your will to his when your wills differ.
 
Bobbie, I have to ask....are you or are you not a Calvinist? Your postings are showing free-will arminian views.
 
Originally posted by 5solasmom
Colleen, I am not sure you are speaking directly to me, but there are a few things I will try to address in the time I have to do so.

Yes, I was.


Originally posted by 5solasmom
You may wonder what this has to do with obediance....EVERYTHING...because it all has to do with the heart.

EXACTLY. Obedience IS true obedience when our hearts obey. If we relegate "obedience" to mean doing something someone tells you to regardless of their or our sinful attitude in it, we are defining obedience as merely EXTERNAL ACTION.

In this case scripture is speaking to the external. It doesn't state that one should obey only if they agree. You can obey with a joyful heart to the Lord whether you are in agreement on the issue or not. As Christine mentioned...using Christ as an example.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
At what point are you going to rebel. And are you willing to risk your marriage for it? Don't say that this is petty stuff and not marriage breaking...because the attitudes that go with it generally lead to such.

Marriages are not solely dependant on the wife. She is not the maker or breaker of a marriage. This kind of mindset relegates the failure or success of a marriage fully on the wife. I am not speaking of divorce here.

No on said it was. You are misinterpreting the mindset. We are focusing on the wives' response. If you would like, start a thread for the men's side of things.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
Also, there is a segment of this discussion that is being ignored. No one implied that when a husband speaks that the wife "snaps to". It has been stated several times, that the "request" is open to discussion...and generally does.

The initial discussion centered on her obeying regardless. I did not say anything about someone saying "snap to it". I was speaking to the posts which said she should obey in everything.

Yes, if it isn't going against God's commands.
 
in my opinion, the wife is MUCH happier if she does follow Biblical commands whether he does or not

If one does the "wrong" thing for the "right" reason it is still sin, and

if one does the "right" thing for the "wrong" reason (SELF will vs. Scripture) it too is sin
 
Also, Eph 5:23 states " For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church"

so if we are supposed to submit to God with a supple and joyful heart, why should we think that our husbands should be different? Thier place (positionally) in our lives is ordained by God.
 
Originally posted by BJClark
5solasmom,

Obedience IS true obedience when our hearts obey. If we relegate "obedience" to mean doing something someone tells you to regardless of their or our sinful attitude in it, we are defining obedience as merely EXTERNAL ACTION.

When I read some things I wonder if people think when a women becomes a wife she leaves the rest of her brain and Who she is in Christ as a CHRISTAIN at the front door.

Wow! Thanks for the insult! Believe me, my brain is fully functioning. What you think is being a doormat isactually called being a servant. There is a difference. As wives we are "helpmeets" (that is the position we have been given by God, therefore a part of WHO we are in Christ). We are not to seek our own. However, this does not mean we are mindless idiots either. In fact, I believe it takes a great deal of wisdom to be a proper helpmeet.

Originally posted by BJClark
The Bible tells me as a Christian, of which I am first even before I am a wife, I am to make my Yes mean Yes, and my No mean No. It also says to do everything without complaining. If my husband were to ask me to do something that I really don't want to do and I do it because I feel I would be sinning by not being the submissive wife to every word, then I am still sinning. As I'm not doing it because I WANT to do it to please Him, but out of obligation.

Well, then I guess I could only tell you what we all have to do in that situation. Pray that the Lord changes your heart and attitude. We all deal with it, we aren't perfect, but it doesn't excuse us from at the very least obeying externally while we work on the internal. Scripture speaks much about obligations. This prevents us from making excuses for wrong actions based on emotions.

Originally posted by BJClark
It most certainly has to do with the heart, Even God does not want us to serve Him because we think we are some how "obligated" to do so, that's not love.

God does not NEED US to serve Him, He WANTS us to with a JOYFUL heart, without complaining, without feeling pressured to do so, without feeling as if we are some how sinning if we don't. God does not in anyway want us to feel forced to do anything we don't want to do which is why He gave us Free will to choose. We are not puppets on a string. But, He wants us to CHOOSE to serve Him, He wants us to WANT to serve Him out of our Love for Him, out of the very Love He has placed in us through the Holy Spirit.

if you don't want to serve in a ministry then DON'T, God isn't going to pressure us to do something we do not want to do, He will change our want to if we allow Him to do so, but He won't force or pressure us to serve.

Here is where you are leaning away from reformed teachings. Proverbs 16:9 "a man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps"
There is also a verse that states that no man seeketh after the Lord. (having trouble with my SwordSearcher right now) and that it is the Lord that draweth the heart.
God isn't sitting there just waiting for us to WANT Him. He actually CREATES that desire.

Originally posted by BJClark
And as a marriage is supposed to show Christ's relationship with the Church, it should be the same way, you submit because you WANT to submit, You do things for your spouse not just because they said too, but
because you WANT to out of your love for them, anything less is not love.

As Christine stated...Christ said that he would rather the cup be taken from him...but he submitted to the Will of the Father. And it sounds like the love you are talking about is the emotional love...not the love found in Scripture. Emotions ebb and flow. They change. I don't always "feel" like "loving" my husband or others. However, I "Love" them as in that I do that which is commanded of my by God...I support, take care of, want and do what is best for, etc. This is the love that is commanded...this is the love that Christ showed when he died on the cross.


[Edited on 9-27-2005 by LadyFlynt]
 
Originally posted by LadyFlynt


Wow! Thanks for the insult! Believe me, my brain is fully functioning. What you think is being a doormat isactually called being a servant. There is a difference. As wives we are "helpmeets". We are not to seek our own. However, this does not mean we are mindless idiots either. In fact, I believe it takes a great deal of wisdom to be a proper helpmeet.

:ditto: Very well said Colleen.


Originally posted by LadyFlynt
As Christine stated...Christ said that he would rather the cup be taken from him...but he submitted to the Will of the Father. And it sounds like the love you are talking about is the emotional love...not the love found in Scripture. Emotions ebb and flow. They change. I don't always "feel" like "loving" my husband or others. However, I "Love" them as in that I do that which is commanded of my by God...I support, take care of, want and do what is best for, etc. This is the love that is commanded...this is the love that Christ showed when he died on the cross.

:ditto: Love is a commitment, backed by actions, not necessarily feelings
 
Colleen, I am a little confused by the comment you made on me starting a thread on the men's side of things. You asked me, "At what point are you going to rebel. And are you willing to risk your marriage for it? Don't say that this is petty stuff and not marriage breaking...because the attitudes that go with it generally lead to such." Which I responded, "Marriages are not solely dependant on the wife. She is not the maker or breaker of a marriage. This kind of mindset relegates the failure or success of a marriage fully on the wife. I am not speaking of divorce here." My point was that marriage is made up of 2 people. No need to go start another thread - it was relevant to your comment.

The rabbit trails and tone within some comments on this thread are enough for me to quietly step out. My original questions and comments on the issue have still not been addressed. I am thankful that I am accepted in Christ, not by what I do or don't do, but by His blood alone. I am grateful my husband is the head and leader of our home, and I strive to submit to him with a cheerful heart. I fail, he fails. Praise God for His mercies. :bigsmile:
 
That was my point. In marriages, there are times that when the wife fails the men will fail as well as vise versa. We are dealing with wives. A woman doesn't alone make or break a marriage. But she does have a big impact on it. Many women have saved their marriages by focusing on their part alone. I would believe the same would apply in minor situations also. It does not mean that it is totally dependent upon her...but that her part is and her part affects his part.
 
Originally posted by Puritanhead
You women crack me up...
:lol:

Sorry, I must have missed something.. was something funny said here? ;) ;)

Originally posted by 5solasmom


The rabbit trails and tone within some comments on this thread are enough for me to quietly step out. My original questions and comments on the issue have still not been addressed. I am thankful that I am accepted in Christ, not by what I do or don't do, but by His blood alone. I am grateful my husband is the head and leader of our home, and I strive to submit to him with a cheerful heart. I fail, he fails. Praise God for His mercies. :bigsmile:

Romans 3:23..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
I think we all have. What is trying to be addressed here is the state of the wife's heart, Scriptural responsibililty, and attitudes and actions that result from it...

Don't be intimidated by the board. You'll find we all are quite opinionated here! LOL. Please continue to post in this thread if you have something else to add.

I've grown a lot since coming to the PB, and made some good friends. I see you're already at 4 posts. Great start! Welcome to the board
:handshake:
 
I also apologize. We do get quite intense in debates...er, discussions.

[Edited on 9-27-2005 by LadyFlynt]
 
Originally posted by BJClark
Romans922,

I am not in that situation to know at this time, but I could image there would be a few times in life with a spouse where a husband would ask something of his wife.

Actually, my husband wouldn't ask me or anyone to do something he's not willing to do himself, his idea of a leadership is someone who leads BY example, not dictatorship. And he looks at it that if he isn't willing to do it, then he isn't going to ask someone else to.

Not even Christ asks us to do things He wasn't willing to do Himself, (and not that my husband is Christ, he is Christ-like in this way) I can't imagine my husband asking me to do something he isn't willing to do himself.

So I'm curious what can you imagine a husband could ask his wife to do that he, himself wouldn't be willing to do?

I realize your not in that situation, but if you can imagine it can happen, you must have some ideas of what those things would be. So what are they? What things can you imagine asking a wife to do that you, yourself would be unwilling to do?


[Edited on 9-27-2005 by BJClark]

[Edited on 9-27-2005 by BJClark]

I can imagine myself asking my wife to do something I would never do because I am a sinner. I never said it would be right or loving to do so. It would probably not be loving or right (but not necessarily, but that doesn't really matter), but the whole point of me saying that...is to ask the question 'What would you do?' or for me, "What would my wife do if I asked her to do something that I wouldn't do (hopefully I wouldn't do that, but what if I actually did do that)...what would she then do?" I would hope that she would obey me and moreso Christ (in not sinning, but also in obeying her husband because Christ has made him (husband) to be her head). That is the point: what would you do? obey or not obey...submit or not submit?
 
LadyFlynt,

I guess that would depend, on whether you feel a person continues to have free will (or freedom in Christ) on what choices they make within their Christian walk or not. Which is why we are more Free in Christ than we are without Him.

I am no longer under the LAW, I am under Grace. I make the choice to live within the Law or not, but I am not controlled by the law.

I certainly have a choice in deciding to get up and go to Church on Sunday Morning or not. I know that if I don't go, *I* miss out on a Blessing in my life. However, I still have a choice in the matter and I'm not going to feel guilty if I choose not to go one Sunday. Why? Because I know it is my choice to spend that time with God or Not.

I am even free to sin if I so choose, does it mean there will not be consequences if I make that choice? No, it doesn't, but I still have the freedom of choice or 'free will' to do so.

Jesus actually had a CHOICE on whether or not He died on the Cross of not. Notice as was mentioned above "not MY WILL, but thine" That clearly shows me HE had a CHOICE on whether to the Cross or not, and it shows me the freedoms I also have in Him.

My salvation is not dependant upon anything *I* do or don't do, however the depth of relationship I have with God is. God loves me whether I am living in sin or not, He loves me whether I am in Church on Sunday morning or not, His love for me is UNCONDITIONAL--it is not based on any set conditions being met on my part, it is all about HIM.

However, in order to BE in a relationship with Christ, I must meet certain conditions, admit I am a sinner, confess that sin, repent of that sin and seek God's forgiveness. But those are the conditions of relationship not God's love nor do they have anything to do with the depth of relationship I have with Christ. It is the choices I make on a day to day basis within my relationship with Christ that make the relationship stronger or not.

in other words, as a Christian, I have the freedom to choose what kind of relationship I want with God and how strong that relationship is, I personally choose to live within God's will and not my own, but I also acknowledge it is MY choice to do that and God is in no way forcing me to serve Him, love Him, or do anything for Him that I do not wish to do.

Just as with Christ going to the Cross, He made a Choice to submit His will to God's will, God didn't force Him to do that. Remember, though He was fully God, He was also Fully Man. And as Christians, we have just as much of the Holy Spirit within us as Christ did and yet, we can still make our own choices. Good or Bad.
 
Originally posted by wsw201
God commands men to love their wives, which to me means not asking them to do stupid things like dancing down the street singing at the top of her lungs. And no, it would not be a sin to refuse.

As always...counting on you Wayne. Thanks for being a REALIST.
 
Originally posted by Romans922
Originally posted by BJClark
Romans922,

I am not in that situation to know at this time, but I could image there would be a few times in life with a spouse where a husband would ask something of his wife.

Actually, my husband wouldn't ask me or anyone to do something he's not willing to do himself, his idea of a leadership is someone who leads BY example, not dictatorship. And he looks at it that if he isn't willing to do it, then he isn't going to ask someone else to.

Not even Christ asks us to do things He wasn't willing to do Himself, (and not that my husband is Christ, he is Christ-like in this way) I can't imagine my husband asking me to do something he isn't willing to do himself.

So I'm curious what can you imagine a husband could ask his wife to do that he, himself wouldn't be willing to do?

I realize your not in that situation, but if you can imagine it can happen, you must have some ideas of what those things would be. So what are they? What things can you imagine asking a wife to do that you, yourself would be unwilling to do?


[Edited on 9-27-2005 by BJClark]

[Edited on 9-27-2005 by BJClark]

I can imagine myself asking my wife to do something I would never do because I am a sinner. I never said it would be right or loving to do so. It would probably not be loving or right (but not necessarily, but that doesn't really matter), but the whole point of me saying that...is to ask the question 'What would you do?' or for me, "What would my wife do if I asked her to do something that I wouldn't do (hopefully I wouldn't do that, but what if I actually did do that)...what would she then do?" I would hope that she would obey me and moreso Christ (in not sinning, but also in obeying her husband because Christ has made him (husband) to be her head). That is the point: what would you do? obey or not obey...submit or not submit?

Actually, I can see times where a spouse would ask the other to do things that they themselves would not do, merely due to the roles each is in.
 
Bobbi, it sounds as though you are creating God to be someone who waits on us and is reactionary instead of someone who has already predetermined history.

?
 
Originally posted by BJClark
LadyFlynt,

I guess that would depend, on whether you feel a person continues to have free will (or freedom in Christ) on what choices they make within their Christian walk or not. Which is why we are more Free in Christ than we are without Him.

I am no longer under the LAW, I am under Grace. I make the choice to live within the Law or not, but I am not controlled by the law.

I certainly have a choice in deciding to get up and go to Church on Sunday Morning or not. I know that if I don't go, *I* miss out on a Blessing in my life. However, I still have a choice in the matter and I'm not going to feel guilty if I choose not to go one Sunday. Why? Because I know it is my choice to spend that time with God or Not.

I am even free to sin if I so choose, does it mean there will not be consequences if I make that choice? No, it doesn't, but I still have the freedom of choice or 'free will' to do so.

Jesus actually had a CHOICE on whether or not He died on the Cross of not. Notice as was mentioned above "not MY WILL, but thine" That clearly shows me HE had a CHOICE on whether to the Cross or not, and it shows me the freedoms I also have in Him.

My salvation is not dependant upon anything *I* do or don't do, however the depth of relationship I have with God is. God loves me whether I am living in sin or not, He loves me whether I am in Church on Sunday morning or not, His love for me is UNCONDITIONAL--it is not based on any set conditions being met on my part, it is all about HIM.

However, in order to BE in a relationship with Christ, I must meet certain conditions, admit I am a sinner, confess that sin, repent of that sin and seek God's forgiveness. But those are the conditions of relationship not God's love nor do they have anything to do with the depth of relationship I have with Christ. It is the choices I make on a day to day basis within my relationship with Christ that make the relationship stronger or not.

in other words, as a Christian, I have the freedom to choose what kind of relationship I want with God and how strong that relationship is, I personally choose to live within God's will and not my own, but I also acknowledge it is MY choice to do that and God is in no way forcing me to serve Him, love Him, or do anything for Him that I do not wish to do.

Just as with Christ going to the Cross, He made a Choice to submit His will to God's will, God didn't force Him to do that. Remember, though He was fully God, He was also Fully Man. And as Christians, we have just as much of the Holy Spirit within us as Christ did and yet, we can still make our own choices. Good or Bad.

:ditto:

Sorry to butt in, but I don't think Christian Liberty has anything to do with this. If you make a distinction between law and grace, doesn't necessarily matter here.

It is in Ephesians/Colossians/1 Peter where we see God command "Wives submit...". Do we have choices as Christians? Yes. Are they free? It doesn't really matter in this context. Even if we do have free will as you are defining it (I am not arguing), women are still commanded BY GOD to submit to their husbands (Husbands are commanded to love their wives). There is no CHRISTIAN LIBERTY in commandments. YOU DO IT, bottom line. We are commanded not to murder. We have the freedom to murder or not murder (ok, thats fine), but the point is we are still commanded to not murder. Therefore if one does murder, it is a sin. What is sin? You could define it as doing something not according to God's will. Well God lays down His will throughout Scripture, some of it is through commandments. Would you say that the 10 commandments are not binding today?

So, because of Christian Liberty...(in your definition of it, you can do whatever you want) so...where sin increased, grace abouned all th emore, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be? - Romans 5:20-6:2a

Christian Liberty doesn't allow us (or give us free will) to do whatever we want to do (sin or not sin). It gives us liberty FROM SIN! "For freedom Christ has set us free (from sin); stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (which is sin)." Italics added for clarification of context.


[Edited on 9-27-2005 by Romans922]
 
Originally posted by Romans922

So, because of Christian Liberty...(in your definition of it, you can do whatever you want) so...where sin increased, grace abouned all th emore, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be? - Romans 5:20-6:2a

Christian Liberty doesn't allow us (or give us free will) to do whatever we want to do (sin or not sin). It gives us liberty FROM SIN! "For freedom Christ has set us free (from sin); stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (which is sin)." Italics added for clarification of context.


[Edited on 9-27-2005 by Romans922]

:amen:
 
Your original post:

Originally posted by 5solasmom
Those who say it doesn't matter if the hubby is in sin or not, but that what matters is that the wife submits if it isn't sin for her ~

The idea that a woman is not in sin by doing something foolish at the demand of her husband (assuming his intent is to abuse his leadership, showing clear disregard and unconcern for his wife's HEART) is hard for me to grasp. I wonder....is she encouraging HIS sin by doing so? in my opinion, this isn't an across the board issue. There will be times she can submit to something even knowing her dh has a wrong motive etc. but there are times when she must not.

Yes, she must not when it would be a sin against God to do so.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
Let's take another example. Husband is a drunk. TELLS wife to drink with him, not get "drunk"" but have some wine while he get's blasted. So according to this mindset, she is to submit (assuming here that she has no "conviction" against general alcohol consumption) because partaking alchohol is not a sin (drunkeness is), therefore for her, she must submit to his request.

I've already answered this...there is no harm in her sipping a glass of wine at his request...whether he be a drunk or not. As she is not sinning and has no convictions against it, I do not see how she is encouraging his sin. Particularly when she has probably confronted him on his sin and he is the one insisting already aware of her feelings on the issue. To assist in his drunkeness would be for her to be drinking when he is trying not to or to take it up herself.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
The argument that a wife submits in "everything" regardless of the man's sin in requiring her to is an interesting argument being that the word used to support this thought does not exclude those things that are sinful....we obviously (and rightly) imply it based upon the rest of scripture...which is my point - the word itself does not literally MEAN "everything"... another example of why we do not isolate scripture from context or build a theology around an obscure verse etc. So we already KNOW and agree that it can't mean "everything". When I have time, I plan to study this entire passage out more deeply, but this is my initial thought on it.

Okay, waiting to hear. However, all things would be all things that are not contrary to God's commands.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
The marriage relationship is compared to Christ and the Church. That's where we look to come to a proper view of headshiip and submission. It is not controller/controllee. Relationship is inherrent.

No one stated it was controller/controllee. It is where one is in authority and the other is not.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
Where is the biblical support for the idea that "a wife is to submit if it is not sin, otherwise, her refusal to submit to any request not inherently 'sinful' IS sin, regardless of the husbands sin in requiring it"?

The scripture states to obey in all things. It does not state to obey only when our husbands hearts are right.

Originally posted by 5solasmom
Sin is not OUTSIDE of our hearts. If my dh told me to dance and sing in the street, it would hurt me that he would expect me to, as I would feel he does not care or love me very much to make me do such a thing, cause me extreme embarrassement and shame, and seriously mar my testimony for Christ to those who see it. But I guess, because those are heart issues or problems/sins in me (because I should do it cheerfully regardless), I must "get over it", since the act itself is devoid of sin (ie. dancing and singing in the street is not sin) and do it anyway, or I would be a rebellious and disobedient wife.

This has been addressed already. 1) you have the right of appeal 2) it reflects more upon your husband than upon you...however, God never said that he wouldn't put us in embarrasing situations and there are ways of handling them graciously. (BJClark comes to mind ;) )

Originally posted by 5solasmom
I don't get it (and for those who may be wondering, neither does my dh).

Mayhaps you should read testamonies of those that are or have fought for their marriages in this way.

Women of Faith
Marriage Restoration sites
"Daughters of Sarah" book
"Grace Enough" book
 
LadyFlynt,

Please do not take what I said as insulting, I did not mean it that way,

And you actually do not know what I consider being a servant or a doormat, I've been both. As a previous doormat, I certainly didn't feel I had a choice in anything, if my Now ex-husband said 'Don't go to church', I didn't go to church under the belief I was being 'submissive' to what he wanted. When he wanted to me to stop associating with my Christian lady friends, I stopped, again under the belief *I* was being submissive, when the reality was I actually DID have a choice in whether I went to church and who to fellowship with as God led me, why because God isn't going to tell me NOT to fellowship with other believers, but even in his asking me NOT to do those things he wasn't technically asking me to sin or even do something sinful, but he certainly wasn't leading me TO God by asking me not to go to church, and not fellowshipping with other female believers. I was in essence putting my husband's will before what I knew God's will was for my life, and basically placing Him before God in my life. So again, please do not take what I said as an insult.



Well, then I guess I could only tell you what we all have to do in that situation. Pray that the Lord changes your heart and attitude. We all deal with it, we aren't perfect, but it doesn't excuse us from at the very least obeying externally while we work on the internal. Scripture speaks much about obligations. This prevents us from making excuses for wrong actions based on emotions.

Actually, my attitude has been changed greatly by God over the past few years, as has my relationship with Him grown by leaps and bounds, by recognizing the choices and freedoms I actually have, in realizing that God's will comes even before my husband's will, and I follow God first.



Here is where you are leaning away from reformed teachings. Proverbs 16:9 "a man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" There is also a verse that states that no man seeketh after the Lord. (having trouble with my SwordSearcher right now) and that it is the Lord that draweth the heart. God isn't sitting there just waiting for us to WANT Him. He actually CREATES that desire.

I believe I said God gives us that desire.
We are not puppets on a string. But, He wants us to CHOOSE to serve Him, He wants us to WANT to serve Him out of our Love for Him, out of the very Love He has placed in us through the Holy Spirit.

As Christine stated...Christ said that he would rather the cup be taken from him...but he submitted to the Will of the Father. And it sounds like the love you are talking about is the emotional love...not the love found in Scripture. Emotions ebb and flow. They change. I don't always "feel" like "loving" my husband or others. However, I "Love" them as in that I do that which is commanded of my by God...I support, take care of, want and do what is best for, etc. This is the love that is commanded...this is the love that Christ showed when he died on the cross.

Actually, no I'm not refering to emotional love, I'm refering to unconditional love, the love you have for someone that gives others the freedom to make choices, good or bad, and yet you love them anyway even if you don't agree with their decisions.

It's the same love that has allowed me to truly forgive a man who molested me my entire childhood, and desire to have a relationship with him today. As I realized God allowed Him to CHOOSE to sin or not, just as God allows me to make the same choice, to sin or not. It is the same love that has allowed me to see this man as God does, a sinner in need of a Savior, JUST like ME. It's the same love that has allowed me to see my own sin as JUST as BAD as this man's sin, and worthy of my own death and eternal seperation from God. Even though our choice of sin has been different, it was still sin, and still worthy of the same death and eternal damnation. (and even more pointedly, allows me to truly see myself the same as I see Him, equally a Sinner in need of a Savior)

I have learned His sin was not greater than mine, and my sin is not less than his, just different sins, but again, worthy of the same hell fire and damnation and eternal seperation from God. And again, just as I had a choice to sin or not, so did he.

So, no, it is not an emotional love I am speaking of, but a love God has brought me through a great deal of pain to understand and appreciate.

And when others say women don't have a choice, but to submit or even to serve God, based on what God has taught me, I have to disagree, we always have a choice to choose to follow and submit to God and or our husbands or Not.

[Edited on 9-28-2005 by BJClark]

[Edited on 9-28-2005 by BJClark]
 
"The scripture states to obey in all things. It does not state to obey only when our husbands hearts are right."

Absolutely! !!!!!! !

The only exception I could possibly think of would be where his request clearly violated God's moral law as well as government's law: as in a command "here, go murder someone" or "go rob that bank".

In this case I believe God's heirarchy of authority comes into effect. And if I had to guess since 99.99% of cases do not fall into the exception catagory, especially for the people on this board, I'd say the point is moot.

hmmm...Can you telll I'm in a rambling mood? Can I blame it on my chocolate shake? ;)
 
BJ,

I didn't take you too strongly on the "brain check" statement...I threw is back to show how needless and out there it was. Not really offended.

Please see Romans' post on Christian Liberty.

As far as being a doormat vs servant...there are women on here who DO understand in similar manners that you do. However, do not let what was FORCED on you affect how you view scriptural commands. We are speaking of requests here. Neither are we saying that you have to obey under ALL conditions. We stated the condition...would it be sinning against God to obey your husband in his request?

RABBIT TRAIL:
I'm still a bit concerned though. You stated that Christ could have chosen to disobey the Father. How so, considering that the Son and the Father are in constant agreement? It is not possible for the trinity to disagree when they are one. How is it that you would view that Christ's "decision" was what all was dependant upon? Did not God predetermine all things as they would happen from before the beginning?
 
LadyFlynt,


As far as being a doormat vs servant...there are women on here who DO understand in similar manners that you do. However, do not let what was FORCED on you affect how you view scriptural commands. We are speaking of requests here. Neither are we saying that you have to obey under ALL conditions. We stated the condition...would it be sinning against God to obey your husband in his request?

And even asking that I not go to church or ending Christian female friendships was not asking me to sin against God, yet the reasons he asked was because of his own sin. And I submitted (based on the teaching that a wife must submit in EVERY THING, as was taught in the church I had previously attended, the preacher even told me I was sinning if I went to Church, because I would be going against my husband and yes, He even confronted him and he chose to ignore them) and by my not following God first, I was not being fed, I was in essence starving Spiritually.

Someone mentioned is it a sin for a wife not to drink with her husband if he asks her to, well, is he going to church? Will your drinking with him lead him to Christ? I would say NO; That was one of the many issues in my previous marriage, he wanted me to drink along side him, and I again submitted to him in this area, it led me back into a sin from which God delivered me years ago. But then again, to not submit to my husband in EVERY THING was also a sin. I finally said NO to drinking with him and God blessed that decision, and my struggle to quit was not long.

I personally believe that by submitting in that area you are in fact enabling his sin, you are in essence telling him that you agree with that choice, when in fact you don't.

I'm still a bit concerned though. You stated that Christ could have chosen to disobey the Father. How so, considering that the Son and the Father are in constant agreement? It is not possible for the trinity to disagree when they are one. How is it that you would view that Christ's "decision" was what all was dependant upon? Did not God predetermine all things as they would happen from before the beginning?

Because Christ was fully man, He could have chosen to disobey, He would not have had to prove to us with His Temptations in the Garden that it is possible to overcome sin with the Help of the Holy Spirit, it was because He was also fully God and filled with the Holy Spirit, that He didn't give in to those temptations. And because He knew what was required of Him from the beginning of time to reconcile us with Himself, He submitted to the will of God the Father.

But even beyond that, God could have very easily chosen from the beginning of time to destroy mankind and not send a Savior at all.
He could have very easily chosen to send us all to hell for eternity, but in In His grace and mercy He Chose to reconcile us with Himself by coming and paying our sin debt for us. But He didn't HAVE to do that. Did He?
I don't believe that He had to.
 
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