A Picture of the Perfect Bride
**I apologize for the title. . . I was going to write something else, changed my mind and thought I could change the title during editing! Should be: I am a Submissive Wife and This is Why. **
I thought I would take a moment and explain something that I believe has been misunderstood and twisted in today's culture. It's something that has bothered me for a few years now. It is actually something that I mentioned in my testimony, and someone commented, actually calling me "Submissive Sara". I didn't know how to respond, as I get heated when in the moment. So here is my heart, being poured out to show you where I stand on the subject of submission.
I believe in wifely submission. I know that some of you are thinking "Sara, I hope you are not being mistreated! Be careful that you are not taken advantage of!" among other thoughts. I am not, nor have I ever been mistreated in any way by my hubby or any other important male figure in my life. Yes, I know those marriages exist where the wife is literally a possession, is mistreated or even abused. That is not how God intended marriage to be. Ever. If you are being abused seek help. If you fear for your life, or the life of your children, run. God does not wish for any of his chosen to be treated that way.
God created man and woman in His image. Man and woman are equal. . . but have different roles as seen here: Eve was created as Adam's helper. And of course we all know the next passage, the curse given shortly after sin entered the world. Here is a quote from a book that changed my life and saved my marriage. Be sure to note that the word 'rule' was no mistake either. Just as some women have the desire to lead the household, some men have the tendency to rule by force.
Now let's look at the New Testament. Just to prove we're not being outdated. After Christ's death on the cross we no longer have the need for some of the rules in the OT, for example Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, canceling out the need for animal sacrifices. [bible]Ephesians 5:22-33[/bible] Here is an outline for the submission of the wife, and the love of her hubby. We, women, are to submit to our husband, in the way we submit to the Lord. It is an act of obedience. There is an order listed here, that God gave us, way back when Adam and Eve roamed the earth. God is the head of Christ, Christ the head of the husband, and the husband the head of the wife. It is mirrored in the relationship of Christ and His Bride, the church. V. 24 says wives should submit in everything, to their hubby's. The only one you should submit to, over your husband is Christ. Here is a big key as well, we are to submit to our hubby's just as the Church is to submit to Christ. Wow. Christ died for the Church. This passage also illuminates that our hubby's are comanded to love us, as Christ loved the church. . . to be willing to give up their lives for us. But the Church is to Submit to Christ, just as we are, to our hubby's.
I think it's important here to note that Christ never harmed the church, He doesn't 'rule' over it. He lovingly leads the Church, gladly accepting new members who submit to His will, having paid the ultimate price long before any of us here today were born. This is one area that submission gets a bad wrap. Here is the truth as I see it: 1.Submission is a gift 2.Submission can not be taken by force 3.Being submissive is not being a doormat. 4.Submitting to your hubby sometimes takes great strength and faith in God. 5.Submitting means not being in control (ouch!) *Pssst. . . Ladies, sometimes they're wrong. . . and that's ok! They are only human after all, as are we. Just don't hold it against them and seek God together.
Let's look at another NT passage, [bible]1 Peter 3:1-6[/bible] Quick note here: Sarah, Abraham's wife, submitted even when her hubby was wrong. . . and she is praised for it!!! This passage helps me tremendously when I know my hubby has not been in The Word, but verse one implies that submitting to a husband who 'does not believe the Word' will be the strongest witness a wife can provide. I could go on here from personal testimony. . . but that's a whole other blog!
Here is my favorite, the passage I live by (ok, well, try to live by) Titus 2. I like to look at this passage as a guideline for everyone. It touches on men and women alike, young and old. I challenge you to read the whole chapter, but here I will focus on [bible]Titus 2:4-5[/bible]. The older women are to train the younger women to love their hubby's and kids, and to be subject to their hubby's 'so that no one will malign the word of God.'
Wow! This is a hard concept to grasp for most women, and as I said before, I hope that I have not offended anyone. I just wanted to explain what I mean in my testimony when I say I am submissive. I am a strong, healthy adult who has a mind of her own, and is not helpless. What makes me submissive is that I give him the final say, and follow his will. I even speak up and disagree with him. But once my opinion is made known, I still follow his will, even if it means not getting what I want.
God Bless you all, and please let me see your thoughts. If you disagree, let me know why and back it up with scripture. And don't call me "Submissive Sara" That sounds antagonistic.
~Sara
BTW, this is all something that God hit me with from 6 different sides with this last year. It was preached on for a few Sunday's in church, at the same time we were going over it at a Women's Bible Study, as well as in two different books I was randomly reading. Plus a good friend noticed a change in my behavior and we went back and forth disagreeing (lovingly) over emails for a couple of weeks. This just goes to show how important it is. One day I will blog on the 6th way God hit me with this and saved my marriage.
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Author: oneofhisown
Location: Louisville Nebraska USA
Gender: Female
Age: 27
Blog Entries: 22 (archive)
Blog Comments: 168
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So really I never worry about his decisions as i know that my God will ultimately have the last say!!!! 
but there is one person (beside Kbird 
) whom I would never wave my sword against and that is my husband.