Men are welcome to reply.

The answers I've gotten from friends and elders in the church is very bleak. But the institution of marriage should be a beautiful part of life, not with woman as a slave and man on a power trip, but both as a part of each other, united, a team.

What do you think?

You are absolutely right.

I believe it to be this way, and not as a finality, just my understanding in my present state:

Words are difficult to understand as orated by some people. It is hard to understand what someone is saying when they say, "Woman should be subservient to man". Questions arise such as, " Is he saying this out of spite, pride, or as revealed to him by God?" It is very hard to know this so we must draw our conclusions of it's accuracy by what the bible says.

It is difficult also to respond to such a statement when we do not have this clarity.

1) Man, in marriage, should solely be sold to Christ. A complete servant to Him as Christ is to His bride, the universal church. He should love his wife and understand her position and treat her with grace, mercy, love, and understanding as Christ treats us.

2) Wives, in marriage should be the exact thing to their husbands as their husbands are to Christ. Even if he is on a power trip, that does not justify her rebellion against him and treating him how he has treated her. We see this in Matthew 5. On the same token, if the wife is rebelling, that does not mean he has the right to treat her badly. Especially as when he does this, he is doing something that literally scares me, to tell you the truth. When a man reacts to a rebellious wife in anger or treating her badly, then he needs to stop and think what would happen if Christ reacted the same why to his rebellion.

Yes men, do you ever rebel in servitude? If you say no, you are a liar. Go read James chapter 4. You are called an adulterer when you put the world first before Christ. Not only an adulterer, but an enemy of God's!

We are in the flesh, and we WILL fail at some point. That is what grace is about, and why it abounds. That wonderful, merciful grace of God the Father our Lord Jesus Christ.

3) The simple thing about marriage is that when men submit to Christ in their husbands' role, and the wife submit's to their husbands in their wives' role, there is harmony. There is obedience to each other in God's sovereign will. There is no room for pride and arrogance or believing one's role is more important than the other.


Folks, I believe one of the problems of today is the misunderstanding of the word "servant" or "slave".

Please read Genesis Chapter 21. It is a prefect example of the life of a slave or servant. It is a glorious thing when the master is Jesus Christ.

We need to understand how many things boil down to selfishness and humanism/self. We almost always take things the wrong way in the wrong light.

We answer to Christ and Christ alone, not to mankind. If we strive to please people we cannot strive to please Christ. Make sure our conversation is true and do not worry how others take us. Who is man that we are mindful of him?


Just my two cents worth,

Love in Christ,

Jim

But what does a woman do when her husband doesn't play his Biblical role, and horribly mistreats her? I've heard women applauded for staying in that situation, but is that the best thing to do?

Well, first off, I would say she would need to pray about the situation.

Next, she should take it before the church. If she is not a Christian, she has more critical problems besides her husband, like her salvation.

The Church would need to be involved if she seeks it. If nothing is then resolved, that is between her and the Lord.

You have to have one understanding in anything and everything: God must get the glorification first and foremost. He must be glorified above and beyond anything we could ever do. All decisions should be based on prayer and consultation of the Holy Spirit or any decision we make will be wrong.

An answer to your question is not that simple as the Lord will deal with everyone differently, BUT, never at the compromise of His Holy Word. She needs to seek the Holy Spirit and get the answer. Whatever the answer is, she will know that God will get the glory, and it is the right answer. Again, remember that the end result is always God's glorification and not our desire to see something happen and hope God blesses it. It should be our desire, in any circumstance, that God's will be done, not our desire be fulfilled.

I know it is not that simple to a lot of people. But it is very simple to the Christian who's utmost focus is upon God getting the glorification no matter what.

I heard a story on time that went like this:

You see, we can never understand why things happen to us. In truth, when we complain, we may very well find ourselves complaining against God's will and work in our lives.

The moral of this story is that as long as you are commiting your will to God and obeying in truth, do not complain about, or question, your situation. God will take care of it, no matter how intolerable or hopeless it seems. Remember that the focus is always upon the Lord, not us.

I wish I could show people the revelation God gave me tearing through the selfish overlays, about how God's will and plan will never be thwarted, no matter what we do. Ultimately God's plan will be fulfilled whatever we choose to do. If we choose to become a servant by adhering to His will and conforming to His plan, we will have happiness. If we decide to choose the path of self gratification and not work in God's plan, we will be happy for as long as whatever we are searching for makes us happy, which is not very long.

Obey Christ first, all else will fall into place:

I hope this helps,

Love in Christ,

Jim

Wow, what a great post. I just realized it was written 8 months ago but God is never late, it was confirming what God is trying to teach me.

No matter what my circumstances... I am to obey Christ.

Thank you!

In that case let him know if he will keep on that way, you will be force to play your role un-Biblically. Pray that he will ask you what the Bible say about being a husband and wife.
My grandparents told me once to follow my parents as long as they are doing what God says otherwise I am to go to them (my grandparents) for refuge. In the same manner that I told my wife to be "subservient" to as long I am within what a Christian should be (because we married us Christian).

Oh no!!! Absolutely not!!! I cannot even believe that you would advise anyone to live their life outside the teaching of the Bible. Where do you come up with that? My goodness, that is dangerous! A person who plays their role outside the teachings of God's Holy Word is in danger of the wrath of God.

Quite to the contrary the person is expected even the moreso to live within the teachings of the Lord in order to be example to the other.

There is absolutley no support anywhere in the Bible for your position that anyone should purposefully attempt to "play" their role outside of it. My word!

In Christ,
George

Absolutely right George! One cannot justify responding to evil with evil.

This may tend to be a reaction by weaker christians(to act unbiblically in response to their unbiblical spouse), but one must recognize that this is wrong.

Love in Christ,

Jim

(1 Peter 3:9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Grizz.. : I believe that men should rule their roost... but don't go over board on it... But as far as lets say for instance: a wife having an inheritance, the husband shouldn't play the dominant role over it because it doesn't belong to him. he should be there for her and give her suggestions when he feels she needs them.

Where a man gets off screaming and yelling at his wife, Moreso if he has a good one, is BEYOND me. as far as I'm concerned a man doesn't have the right to scream and yell at his good wife..

NOW: If his wife is a gossiping hen that wants her way in iif not all but many ways, then he should put his foot down.

Now fellas with this problem, I don't mean beat them.... Just stand Strong in what you say and don't for the life of you give in.

Husbands: Treat your wives like porcelian dolls, but be firm in Gods Word and your roll as a husband.

Go to the flower shop, get the flowers fellas....

Go home, cook a meal for the two of you.....

Put light sweet romantic music on.......

After dinner.........
Fellas, take your wifes shoes off and give her feet a rub down she will never forget. So what are you waiting on?? Get with it man!

Wives: When your husband comes home from work, sit him down, hug and kis him,slip off his shoes, {without the clothes pin}... you can do it.

Ask him what he wants to do... go from there... FELLAS NO SLEEPING YET,
YOUR WIVES ARE TRYING TO GET ROMANTIC!

Wives: after words, give him a sholder rub that will knock his socks off...

Hey it takes 2. Don't let the fire burn out, when God gives you something or someones pecial,show God you appreciate and love it or them.

May God Bless and Keep you all.

Grizz..




God Bless.