Submission: Aligning one’s self with another

     Submission, unfortunately, is an extremely polarizing word in society today. Criticized both within and outside the church, people simply do not want to hear that they are to submit to anyone, much less a woman submitting to her husband! One “Christian leader” even has stated publicly that he just throws the word out of the Bible. Yet, the Bible clearly states that people are to submit to God, fellow Christians, and the rulers God has put in place - and that wives are to submit to their husbands. Submission should be a positive part of every Christian’s life. Abuses of the Biblical ideal of submission are not a reason to discard the principle.
     We are to obey the authorities God has put into place (1 Peter 2:13), those over us (Ephesians 5:33, 1 Peter 2:18), church leadership (Hebrews 13:17), and other Christians (Ephesians 5:21). Christians are called to submission! Often couples don’t realize that submitting one to another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21) applies also to husband and wife. We submit to each other as we would submit to other Christians, honoring and respecting each other, and humbly accepting each other’s admonitions that help us grow and mature in our walk with the Lord.

     In marriage, the wife consents to being led—she is not forced. She respects and honors her husband; she is not his slave. She supports and encourages her husband, rather than mothering him and trying to make him into something she thinks he should be. As the husband leads by submitting to God and loving his wife sacrificially, the wife aligns herself with him; and then, working together, they go in the direction God intends for them. The world needs to see husbands and wives submitted to God and loving each other by giving of themselves for each other; not arguing about who is in charge. Are you living in submission to the Lord your God and loving your spouse as the Lord would want you to love him or her?

For more information, check out: 

    WhatYou Need to Know about the Meaning of Submission in the Bible 

           by Denise Larson Cooper

   SixThings Submission Is Not by John Piper

   WhatIs The Biblical Definition of Submission? What Is Christian Submission? 

          by Jack Wellman

Champion: A person who fights for or defends a cause

        We must contend for marriage! It is the foundation of the family, the church, the community, and the nation. Marriage is the first institution created by God and holds the very fabric of society together. It is a visible representation of the relationship of Christ with the Church and representative of the Gospel. It is up to us, the Church—the Body of Christ—to stand up and defend the institution of marriage. Yes, people will oppose us; the culture does not believe in God’s plan for marriage. We must speak up and say that marriage according to God’s plan is important!

        There are many things we can do to defend marriage, but first, we must live out God’s plan in our own marriage. To quote a character from a popular movie, “Gays aren’t the problem with marriage. You people are!” When “Christians” do not demonstrate God’s plan for marriage, why would the world want what we have? The non-Christian world will do whatever seems right to them; Christians must obey the Word of God. Demonstrating true Biblical marriages will draw people to Biblical ideals. Too many Christians speak out in support of marriage when their own marriages are not testimonies for the God they claim to serve.

        Couples who have a God-fearing, strong marriage can be used by the Lord to help others and give them hope. We must continue to work on our own marriage, but there is a time when God will call upon us to be used in others’ marriages. Our availability is more important than our qualifications. The Lord empowers those He desires to use—you don’t need a counseling degree to share what you know about God’s plan for marriage. Whether it is confronting someone about to leave their marriage or encouraging a couple experiencing problems, you can help other couples. Be a champion for marriage - some one who fights for and defends Marriage as God designed it.