What is God’s “umbrella of protection” and how do we stay under it in the home, in the workplace, and in other areas of life? How, also, do we put ourselves outside of His protective authority? And how does the Church itself act as an umbrella of protection for its members?
I was meeting with a sister in Christ about the struggles in her marriage. We had been discussing the role of women. On this occasion, we were talking about submission. She responded, “I’m an educated woman! Why should I submit to him?” Since then I’ve heard many such comments. But I’ve never forgotten how saddened I was by her statement and the awareness of how much feminism has infiltrated the church.
Many of us, though we want to live godly lives, chafe against some of the Bible’s teaching on women, including submission. We’re told on the one hand that we are equal to men, yet we are to submit to our husbands and male leaders in the church. So, are submission and equality mutually exclusive?
“Let your women keep silent in the churches … they are to be submissive …” Not a popular idea in today’s world! The first time many women read that verse, they are confused at the least and sometimes even angry. It seems to go against so much that our culture values. So, is God unfair? Does He favor men?
Also, as we start the book of Isaiah, we will begin looking at God’s warnings to the nation of Israel. He was fed up with their hypocritical religion and warned them of coming judgment. But He also provided a glimpse of the mercy and grace that would follow.
A few years ago as I was reading about the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Booths, and all the animal sacrifices required, I thought about a funny thing that happened years before and how a sarcastic teenager reminded me about the cost of our redemption.
Also, what does a law about keeping our word have to say about God’s view of authority and how do we demonstrate our obedience in this area to our children and others?
The Bible says a lot about wives submitting to their own husbands. But what if you’re married to an unreasonable husband or one who is harsh, unsaved, or even sinning? How should a wife respond to an unreasonable spouse? Surely, God doesn’t expect wives to be submissive then! And what about husbands? How are they to treat their wives, even those who are unsubmissive or difficult?
Submission, it’s the “S-word” that raises our blood pressure and, sometimes, makes us wonder about God’s idea of fairness. What is submission, anyway? Is it unfair to women? Is it unrealistic? Did men come up with the idea as a way to keep women down? Or is it really a biblical concept? If so, what should it look like?
The Wife’s Role: If there is one aspect of marriage that is often turned upside-down in today’s culture, it’s the roles of husbands and wives. If there’s one issue that is usually part and parcel of marriage conflict, it’s the roles of husbands and wives. If there is one subject that is most often misunderstood, it’s this one.
The Bible has a great deal to say about wisdom and its flip side, foolishness. In this series we’re looking at what it means to be wise and, by comparison, what it means to be foolish and how to recognize...