Ephesians 5:21 ~ "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Now, I have two points to debunk this Scripture being used for such a doctrine as spouses submitting one to another; husbands submitting to wives.
First, considering the context of Ephesians 5... Paul is addressing the Church of Ephesus to all believers from verses one to twenty without a doubt, to which he could still be addressing all believers to submit themselves one to another in verse twenty-one.
Second, even if it is speaking in the context of twenty-one onward into the addressing of marital conduct, there is still no foundation for mutual submission in this verse because Paul never writes in any of the other epistles for a husband to submit to a wife and within the context of verse twenty-one alone we know that a woman that fears God will submit to her husband in everything as Ephesians 5:24 goes on to command.
If a woman is in the fear of the Lord she will be a helpmeet (Genesis 2:18) that her husband can trust in (Proverbs 31:11), encouraging him and not tearing him down (Proverbs 14:1) , meek, quiet spirit, submitted (1 Peter 3:4) and taking care of her husband and his home (Titus 2:5).
If a man is in the fear of the Lord he will be a great leader, a humble leader of his home, being a righteous provider and protecter (1 Timothy 5:8) physically, spiritually and emotionally and by emotionally I mean washing you in the word (Ephesians 5:26) especially when you are in the wrong and in your emotional flesh, you will have a REAL MAN that is a great headship who warns and corrects with LOVE. (Ephesians 5:25). Christ loved His Church by correcting His Church.
Even if your husband is not doing his role, that does not nullify you from doing your role as you have the power to win your husband to the faith by living out Biblical submission, by your character. (1 Corinthians 7:16). Many women ignore the heavier issues... Like 1 Peter 3:1-2 as well as 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
The whole concept of CRUCIFIED SUBMISSION... That really gets to the deeper heart of submission because many churches (the ones that don't cut out wive's submission all together) give the illusion that they do teach/practice wive's submission. Do not be fooled!!!
Feminism has entered the church by teaching women mutual submission. The church is conforming to what is politically correct in the culture instead of conforming to God in what He has ordained as order. This "submission" is only a mere superficial submission where the woman's heart is not yet crucified and the men of the church are wrapped around the women of the churches fingers'.
1 Kings 21:5-15 ~ "5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. 15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead."
The men think they are in charge, just like how Ahab thought he was in charge, but he was puppeteered by Jezebel to submit to her. Just like how Adam submitted to Eve... Mutual submission is accepted and taught in the church that it is "Fair", "Equality", "Couple's compromising". Feminism. Feminism is rebellion, Jezebel was in this same spirit of rebellion we see today with Feminism, especially in our own churches. I will quote from, Created to be his help meet by Debi Pearl pg. 110-111...
"God had instructed Adam, and Adam had instructed Eve. Adam clearly understood that Satan's promise of spiritual enlightenment was a diabolical lie against God. The natural armor God had given Adam granted him enough understanding to doubt the devil and resist his lies. But Adam's armor had one small weak spot. He was not ruled by HIS FEELINGS except where it concerned his woman. Adam's soul was exposed and vulnerable to the woman he loved.
He wanted her happy even if it meant disobeying God or going against his natural understanding of truth. He was willing to set aside reason for his woman. Eve's influence over Adam changed the course of history. We need to be aware of the power we have to seduce our husbands into following us into disregarding the clear, objective words of God.
He wanted her happy even if it meant disobeying God or going against his natural understanding of truth. He was willing to set aside reason for his woman. Eve's influence over Adam changed the course of history. We need to be aware of the power we have to seduce our husbands into following us into disregarding the clear, objective words of God.
Adam, the first man, Samson, the strongest man, Solomon, the wisest man, and even David, the man listed as being after God's own heart, were all brought down by the woman they loved."
Why did the fall happen? Because Adam submitted to his wife. Case closed.
Eve sought to be a god. Independent of her husband and her Creator. This is the foundation for all rebellion, seeking to validate our own self, our own ego. Wive's submission to their husbands is not the curse. The curse is the rebellion within us (feminism/control/matriarchy) that is the curse that needs to be put in subjection!
Everything was good and in order before the fall, no sin, Eve in subjection to her husband Adam, as God designed it to be from the beginning, but she was tempted by the devil as she being the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7) and she gave the forbidden fruit to Adam and he submitted to his wife.
The Lord commanding you to submit to your husband is part of God's perfect plan and order from the beginning. If you see submission as the curse, than your heart has not yet been crucified to how beautiful submission is. Mutual submission is based fully in emotionalism and not in The Holy Scriptures.
1 Timothy 2:14 ~ "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
Be blessed and stay sanctified,
