What does it mean to be submissive. I said i ask this question simply because i would like to hear opinions, and understand what it means to each person.
Submission according to the dictionary simply unresistingly or humbly obedient. I would like to define a conclusion i have come to.
I take my conclusion from Ephesians 5 21 -31 NLT. I read it over an over again, and i feel i got a clarity on this topic.
Verse 21 simply says Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Verse 22-24 tells the woman to submit to her husband in everything.
Verse 25 -29 For Husbands this means love your wives comparing it to how Christ loved the church.
There are some bible passage I would put in this context. 1 Corinthians 11 in some verses
like verse 8 emphasizing woman was made from the Man's Rib
Verse 9 Emphasizing the role of a woman as a helpmate and been made to assist the man
Before Men get arrogant
Verse 11 emphasizes that we are not independent of each other.
1 Peter 3 emphasizes Men to treat women with honor. This is plainly stated that she is an equal Partner emphasizing treating her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
I know most of this bible passages are clear to understand nothing confusing about it. It's just hard for men who want authority and don't want to be accountable to a woman. It is hard for a woman in this time of ours simply because the world has seen men as dictators and women need to win their rights back.
In the Kingdom of God we are all joint heirs no one is greater than the other.
Men are to submit to their wives and honor them. Ephesians 5:21 mentions us to submit ourselves to one another. It didn't emphasize just men but also women. Neither did it mention women submitting to women alone not men.
So the first step is submitting to each other.
1 peter 3 1-2 gives the advice to the woman simply you must accept the authority of the Man. Even if the man is not acting right you need to accept his authority. It very similar to having a boss. A good Boss listens to you and serve you as well gives clear directions. If the Good Boss becomes Bad You still have to obey him simply because he has given authority and it must be accepted. No talking of abusive spouses
Ephesians 5:25 Clearly talks to the man Love your wife. If we go by the attributes of love according to 1 Corinthians 13 we men would love their wives regardless of how they behave. Not dependent on how good they perform or satisfy our standard. We won't keep any record of ills we have to be patient, Kind, not be jealous of them even if they have more success. We cannot become irritable, We cannot demand our own way. We can never give up on them and we must endure in every circumstance when they look best and appealing and those days they become overweight or have stretch marks or become all wrinkled up or when they are ill and can't satisfy our desires.
IF we love our wives before making any decision we would consult them and put them ahead in our thoughts. think of how does it affect them.
1 Peter talks of the woman as a weaker vessel. If we have junior ones we teach them and tolerate them because we know they are young, possibly naive and have more to learn. We encourage them even when they make mistakes.
I believe as Men who would want to be authorities in their house. We have to first be a servant (not a slave) For Example Our President is our Servant simply because he serves our interest. he is not a slave who has no opinion of his own. Jesus was the perfect example of a servant. Knowing the authority he had chose to die for us, washing his disciples feet.....
When we become a servant that's when we can lead. When our wives see that we take decisions putting them into consideration, been able to handle situations and take charge and accept responsibilities. When our motives are clear as to whom we have allegiances to, when we shower them with affection. It helps a woman submit easily. If Men don't have their act together or take authority and responsibility it's hard for a woman to submit.
We may push them to having to fill in the gap we have created by differing authority to them automatically.
Women please don't marry a Man you don't trust his decisions or leadership in all areas, even though you love to be submissive you won't be submissive. Simply because you can't trust him with authority, your human mind works into overdrive you tend to take charge. The man sees you as controlling or not submissive.
Men Please don't marry a woman because she is beautiful. Don't use your money, charisma or any appealing characteristics to attract a woman. Those things wear off after living together for a year. If she doesn't believe in your leadership, decisions nor respect your occupation and financial capability. Please don't do it, you will end up regretting it. She would continually compare you & undermine your authority.
To all we can't fix ourselves talk less of fixing the other person. The only person with that Job Title is the Holy Spirit. Please lets depend on Him to change, mold, and refine our heart to continually trust in Jesus to lead us and our families. If we put God first in everything even though our marriages may not be perfect it would have peace, joy, and above all bring glory to the father.
" Men are to submit to their wives and honor them. Ephesians 5:21 mentions us to submit ourselves to one another. It didn't emphasize just men but also women. Neither did it mention women submitting to women alone not men."
When understood in it's context, Ephesians 5:21 does not tell men to submit to the wife. It is the umbrella for the following submissions...
Wives to Husbands
Children to Parents
Slaves to Masters
People commonly miss this but the verse is not telling men and women to submit to each other. In fact, every other place submission in marriage is mentioned it speaks of the wife submitting to the husband.
Clearly form the context it is not telling men to submit to their wives...It only seems to read that way if you stop at 5:21...The problem is were aren't supposed to stop reading there.
@holder to each according to the wisdom from the holy spirit. I did explain beyond verse 21. But can you explain who are the others we should submit to in a marriage. Since it says submit to one another in reference to christ.
This may be offensive to some, and I apologize if you take it as such, but as a woman I don't agree with this necessarily. I have had friends who have been going to school, then got married and dropped out because their husband wanted to go else where and do something else. If this is being "submissive" then it is something I will never be. I am a strong and independent woman who is getting an education and later a career. I will not stop my life because my husband wanted to do what he wanted. A marriage is about a partnership and compromises, it is not about one giving into the other. You make decisions together as one, not one person above the other. My parents have been together for 28 years through working as a team, not with my mom letting my dad make the decisions, if she did that who knows what situation we would be in. And I intend to be the same way, I want to be in a partnership not in a relationship where I am to submit and give in.
"But can you explain who are the others we should submit to in a marriage. Since it says submit to one another in reference to christ."
No it doesn't say husbands and wives submit to one another. Verse 21 is the end of a paragrah, not the beginning. Verse 21 doesn't just tell us how to understand verse 22. It tells us how to understand the verses all the way through 6:9
Andr...submission is ordained by God, not man. So if you disagree, you are disagreeing with God. Submission does not mean that the man is a tryant. However he is the head of the home. Of course he will consider her desires, but at the end of the day if heads are butting, he makes the final decision.
Andr, I don't agree with it either and I don't think it's the best interpretation of the text, but this board isn't much for acknowledging differences among Christians without calling someone a heretic, so I've kept my mouth shut. There are many, many sincere Christians - I daresay a majority - that don't believe this way, but they usually don't have to go to creepy internet forums to get validated, hence the lack of them here.
