Wednesday, April 25, 2007

More Lies We Listen To

Tonight my husband will be teaching a lesson on 1 Peter 3 to the youth group at our church. It will be interesting to see the teens' response when they hear the part about wives submitting to their husbands. I expect the guys to bow up and act like "Yeah, that's right. Ya'll better submit!" I expect the girls to respond that it's not fair. I could be wrong, but we'll see.

The response to verses like this are always emotional. I've heard it all:
  • That was written by a man!
  • It doesn't really mean submit. It means _____________.
  • I don't like that verse.
  • That was a cultural thing. It was intended for the audience of that day.
  • We've come a long way since then!
  • I agree. But my husband.........

Here's the deal: God is unchanging. His word says wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. That's the end of the story for me. But then, I'm not like everyone else.

What I'm interested in is why this is such an emotionally charged topic. I believe it is because of the many lies even we Christians listen to in this world. I'm having trouble pinning down exactly which lie it is that causes us to not accept this teaching. Is it because we've been told our entire lives that women have rights? True, in America we enjoy more rights than many countries. We also have more rights than women did when 1 Peter was written. But, does that change God's command? I have the right to vote. But if my husband told me to not vote a certain way--then I WOULDN'T DO IT! Boy, I know some people who would get fired up over that statement!!!

Or maybe it's because we've been told that men should not be dominating. A man being "in charge" of his family is not politically correct. No longer do people believe that a man wears the pants in the family. And guess what? He really doesn't--at least he's not the only one. Now, 1 Peter addresses how a husband should treat his wife. There are biblical guidelines there. But we've been told that marriages should be 50-50. So that makes it pretty hard to swallow the concept of submission, doesn't it?

Perhaps it's because we believe we as women are more qualified for the job. I know some folks who think this. Why should they submit to a husband who doesn't have a clue when they themselves know how to run the house/make decisions/provide for the family, etc. We have been very empowered.

So, I guess all of these lies are wrapped up in the blanket of feminism. They are so inter-mingled it's hard for me to list out the exact lie that is blinding us to the truth. I do know that Satan's plan is working. We are so engrained with feminist thinking that we cannot even accept a command of the Lord. It's a very sad thing.

There is something we can do about this...but that's another post!

3 comments:

  1. I just found your blog and wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your thoughts on family and feminism, etc. My girls are teens now, and I'm having a devil of time trying to unteach the unbiblical idea that submission is no longer required these days.

    Thank you for this!

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  2. Great post on feminism. Everything I am trying to undo was most likely taught to me in the name of feminism and political correctness. Keep speaking the truth, sister!

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  3. Brenda, meet Brenda. Brenda from Rocking Chairs has been one of my favorite blogging friends since about my beginning.

    Anyway.

    I appreciate the way you were able to express these points. The behavior of some has been very discouraging to me of late; what's pouring out of the heart is not very faithful.

    Truth is, even if/when there are moments or episodes in which I have a better answer or more efficient way, I purpose to submit to my dear Husband because my submission to him (little "h") is a clear expression of my submission and belief in *Him* (capital "H").

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I don't get to talk to a lot of actual grown-ups during the day, so your comments make me really happy! :)