Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.

Ephesians 5:22-23

The Bible makes it clear that the husband is the head of the wife,and the wife is to submit to him, but how does this work? With the circulation of feminist ideas in the Church, and so many abuses of"male dominance" most women believers flinch at the mention of the word "submission."

The popular perception of submission is that to submit to your husband is to accept an inferior status. When a wife submits, she is declaring she is lower than her husband,less intelligent, and not as capable as he is.

The popular perception of a husband's authority as head of the home is absolute dictatorship, without intelligent reason or compassion attached to it.

But the popular perception is not based on God's Word!

To understand the role of the husband and wife, we must see the comparison presented in Ephesians 5:23 between Jesus and the Church. One of the reasons believers freely and gratefully submit to Jesus as their personal Lord is because He has counted us as His equals, as joint heirs (Romans 8:17). We are seated with Him in equality by His choice, not our merit (Ephesians 2:6).

Although the husband is the head of the wife, he is not superior to her. Although the wife submits to his final word, she is not inferior. They are equals.

The principle of submission and authority only works when equality is understood and practiced. Submission without equality is slavery.

Whether this principle is applied in the home, the business, or the local church, submission is no problem when equality is observed. A sense of equality produces care, concern, love, and a desire to treat the wife, employee,a nd congregational member equal with those in leadership. In this atmosphere, submission then becomes a willing response to love and respect.

Husbands,if your wife seems to be anything but submissive, perhaps it is time to quit working on your role of authority and begin to show your wife her position as your joint heir and helpmeet. Eve came from the rib, not the foot! She stood beside Adam and not beneath him. Her sense of equality produced a willing submission to his role as head of the marriage, and in that regard, women have not changed at all. They still want to stand beside their "Adam" in unity and harmony.

Women desire to submit when they have a truly loving and equitable man to whom they can submit.

Bob Yandian

If you like this article, check out Pure Passion or his book, Family Defined, at the BYM Store.

Copyright 2009 by Bob Yandian Ministries.
Reproduction of this material in whole or part in any format without written permission is prohibited. All Rights Reserved.