Half the Truth
Half the Truth
Women’s Page
Half the Truth
We were in a discussion about the position of the woman in the family and her relationship with her husband. He said:
The Scripture says: “Wives, submit to your own husbands… Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Eph. 5:22, 24).
I said: We do not deny this, but it is only half the truth. The other half is that the Apostle says in the same Epistle: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25, 28).
A man who loves his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her will certainly find that his wife submits to him as the Church submits to Christ.
Her submission will then be a submission of love, not a submission to domination or control. She submits to the one who loves her, not to the one who controls her.
Domination may give birth to stubbornness, and it may make a woman feel that the man does not love her but rather enslaves her. Therefore, she will not accept this from him. Love is then lost, and discord arises.
He also said: It is written that Sarah called Abraham “my lord” (Gen. 18:12).
I said to him: This is true, but it is only half the truth. The other half is that the Lord said to our father Abraham on certain occasions: “Listen to Sarah in all that she says to you” (Gen. 21:12).
My companion said: It is also written that the husband is the head of the wife (Eph. 5:23).
I said: This is true. But it is only half the truth. The other half is the Scripture’s saying: “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:11).
My brethren, respect your wives, and your wives will respect you.
And know that there is a difference between submission and respect. A man may be able to force a woman to submit to him. Yet at the same time she may not respect him inwardly, because his manner of dealing with her diminishes her esteem for his spirituality. And perhaps, because of his harshness, she may lose her love for him.
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