Key to Life
Again, the subject for this Key to Life is too extensive for a single KTL Article and so we will split it
into two sections. One this time and the remainder for next.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. {23} For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ
is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. {24} Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in everything. {25} Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, Ephesians 5:22-25
This time we shall see what the Bible has to say about the roll of the wife, the wife is to submit to her
husband. This passage says to submit as unto the Lord. This is the picture: the husband stands before his wife and she submits
because superimposed on his image is the image of Jesus Christ.
Now, what is this idea of submission? Let’s start out what it is not! To understand clearly the nature of submission, it is also necessary to explain what it is not. Here we shall list
four things that should not be confused with Biblical submission.
First, submission does not imply inferiority. It is a serious misconception to think that submission
to authority involves the relationship of someone who is inferior to someone who is superior. This is simply not so. The value
and worth of all individuals is equal before God; equality of personhood is not affected by relationships of submission. The
obvious example of this is that Christ the Son submitted to God the Father, yet they are fully equal in their essential deity.
Second, submission is not blind obedience. It is not saying "Yes, Master; your wish is my command"
to whatever the one in authority asks. It is not a passive, uncritical, robot-like following of orders. This means that discernment
is necessary to determine whether the one in authority is trying to require behavior that is contrary to the will of God.
As Peter well said, in Acts 5:29, "We must obey God rather than men." Husbands should welcome and
encourage the input of wives when family decisions must be made.
Third, submission is not mere external compliance with the decisions of authorities.
Compliance on the outside coupled with a spirit of rebellion in the heart is not true submission.
Real submission comes from the heart. This is the sense in which it must be truly voluntary. From the standpoint
of obligation, submission is mandatory. But here we are talking about motivation, not obligation. To be truly submissive we
must train our hearts to want to obey and follow the lead of those over us.
Fourth and finally, submission is not the same as love or loving service.
Now I must point out that Scripture is quite specific, the wife is to be submissive to her own husband. It
is not optional, it is not voluntary. It is a God given obligation. There is much to be said about the motive for submission.
It should be done with a right heart attitude, it should be unselfish and it should be motivated by love.
Now as to what Biblical submission is: I see four concepts in the idea of submission: obedience, respect,
affirmation, and love.
We will continue this subject in the next KTL article.
