Today’s Passage: “For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands” I Peter 3:5.
Few topics regarding our Christian walk as women are as misunderstood as submission. Today, an article appeared in Politics Daily stating that Jimmy Carter is leaving the religious organization with which he has been involved for sixty years because women will not be ordained for ministry. Note his reason: “At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities” (Jimmy Carter, quoted in Politics Daily).
Frankly, I find this statement to be violently repugnant. Why? Because the Lord God Almighty inspired Paul to write a completely contrary statement than Carter’s to the church in Corinth, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church” I Corinthians 14:33-35. He also inspired Peter to write: “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives” I Peter 3:1.
How then does a man deem the submission of Christian women in the services of the Lord and in the home to be equal with “slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation” and rape? Are we to assume that Jehovah God was not intelligent enough to design the role of His creatures correctly and therefore we should improve on His Word because of changes in society? Assuredly NOT. Could God not foresee that some men would overstep their roles as husbands and demand more of their wives than He intended? Of course He could forsee this, but God’s laws have never been based on what man thinks is best. God’s laws are based on what GOD knows is best. If man is foolish enough to think he knows better than God, he has the choice to follow his own laws but there will be eternal consequences for such a decision.
Never in God’s Word can we read of any allowance for the changing of God’s commandments to fit the times. In some cases, commandments were changed when the new law went into effect because Christ fulfilled the old law and replaced its sacrificial requirements (i.e., the need for animal sacrifices, the forbidding of anyone but the Levitical priests to enter the Holy Place); however, these laws were not changed simply because society had changed and the Word was outdated. God does not change and neither do His laws. “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind" I Samuel 15:29. And in like manner, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.
God had a plan before the earth was created and part of this plan was that woman would serve as a helper for man (Genesis 2:18). This in no way implied that woman is less important than man nor did God intend for women to be abused. If we are truly seeking God’s Word and striving to live according to it, love will be the result and not violence. God’s laws call for every one of us to be humble and to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Christ did not just forbid murder; he forbade the hatred that precedes a murderous act. Certainly the call for brotherly love and kindness is on the farthest plane from those who hate women and want them to live in fear and ridicule because of their gender.
God’s plan also required the submission of Jesus Christ to God the Father and the willingness to come to the earth in the form of a lowly servant. If you wonder what the attitude of a submissive servant should be, read the words concerning Christ in Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” I do not find a passage indicating that Jesus approved sexual deviancy, mutilation and violence to the Son of God because He followed God’s plan placing Him in the role of a servant. How repulsive a thought indeed!
Are we above Christ that we are unwilling to submit ourselves to God’s will? For Christ in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 noted, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Are we unwilling to be the Christian women that God intended us to be from the creation because we believe submission to be a belittling and outdated concept?
We are called as Christian women to submit to our husbands, the elders and deacons of the church, governing authorities and above all, God Himself. This in no way indicates that mankind is to look upon women as less than important to God. We are children of God, created in God’s image just as man was! This gives us great importance in God’s kingdom. In fact, there are many acts of service in the church that may be more suited for women, generally speaking. The older widows of the church where Timothy preached were known for their acts of service: “…and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds” I Timothy 5:9-10. Women often serve as children’s Bible school teachers, bake dinners for the sick, serve with their husbands as missionaries and send cards of encouragement to those who are in need. These duties as well as many others are no less important than standing up in the assembly of the Lord and leading a prayer or serving communion. Remember that no member of the body is more important than another as each has different necessary functions (Romans 12:4).
Additionally, for someone to insinuate that husbands, by serving the Lord as the head of our Christian households, are likened to sexual sadists who torture women is the most ridiculous and abominable belief I have ever heard. To condemn Christians who seek to follow God’s Word as it is written is not only unwise, it is absolutely deplorable. Our nation is quickly eroding into a cesspool where not only are Christians ridiculed, but we are slandered into appearing as if we are the ones who are full of hatred. I recall a couple of occasions in Scripture where this happened before. Christ was slandered by false witnesses to appear as an enemy of the Jews, plotting to tear down the temple, because He was trying to save lost souls by teaching the Scriptures. Stephen, full of love and seeking to save the souls of those around him, was stoned to death, all the while being accused of blasphemy. As I recall, he was also attempting to teach the people the truth as revealed by God.
It amazes me that people have taken this one commandment in God’s Word and have twisted it into something evil, as if God could ever be the author of confusion or evil. Why is the requirement for the submission of women torn out of the pages of the Bible and held up by nonbelievers as if it were the only requirement for submission? The Word of God has been so maligned that few seem to note other commandments for or examples of submission:
All Christians: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17
Angels, authorities and powers: “It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
Citizens: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Romans 13:1
Employees, servants and citizens: “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority” I Peter 2:13
Jesus: “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Hebrews 5:7
Young men: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” I Peter 5:5. Interestingly, I have never heard anyone complain that their teenage boys should not be in submission to them because times have changed.
Yes, these Scriptures above as well as others instruct us to be submissive to others, but the only ones that seemed to be pulled out of context and bashed over the head of Christians as outdated are the following:
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission” I Timothy 2:11
“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands” I Peter 3:5.
“Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.” I Corinthians 14:34.
Let us note in each of these cases that these statements are made in God’s Word and are therefore not subject to private interpretation. There is an old saying, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” May I suggest a change: “God said it. That settles it.” My belief does not change His truth one tiny bit.
Which brings me back to those who believe that God’s Word should be updated for today’s society. Note the next statement quoted by Carter, “The truth is that male religious leaders have had -- and still have -- an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world.”
I submit to you that NO ONE has the option to change God’s law. One might interpret holy teachings differently, but only one way – the Lord’s actual teaching – is correct. We would do well to remember that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25. Our feelings of what is right or wrong do not negate God’s laws.
In conclusion, following God’s commandments does not justify the “persecution and abuse of women”. Choosing NOT to follow God’s commandments and falsely teaching that this is the right thing to do is what leads to the persecution and abuse of all mankind. Man seems to think that he is wiser than God and therefore can rewrite God’s laws to fit his own desires. And that, my dear sisters, is what is truly repugnant.
