Marc wrote:Why isn't the quality of being a submissive wife really emphasized? It would really cut down on divorces and marital problems.
Just my 2 cents, but the American culture and mindset is one of independence. Compare it to countries who don't want democracy, even if its handed to them. Americans will give their lives for their freedoms, but other countries are more willing to live with terrorism, injustice, and oppression, just because it easier than dealing with the immediate costs of revolution. Sometimes things have to get worse in the short term to be made better for the long term. That is part of the reason why people were willing to give their lives in the American Revolution, and it is why people have been willing to continue to offer their lives to maintain that freedom.
Unfortunately, the emphasis on religious freedom and liberty from despots has turned into border-line rebellion, even against legitmate authorities. Too often, I hear people say, "This is America! I got my rights! Nobody can tell me what to do!". Or, "You have to look out for #1!" "You have to make yourself happy first!" Our history and culture has provided a fertile breeding ground for rebellion, arrogance, and selfishness. Naturally, feminism has blossomed in such an environment.
Too many modern preachers, teachers, and Christians have become influenced by the world (despite
Romans 12:1-2). They have bowed to the political gods and refused to quote the Scriptures that speak of distinct roles between men and women, including submission to husbands and the absensce of public leadership (
Ephesians 5:22-23; I Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 2:1-5). Many have gone so far as to deny the inspiration of Scripture, demeaning it as temporal opinions and traditions of men, relevant only to the first century, at best.
Why has this happened? The same reason that Old Testament Israel wanted a king, to be like the nations around them (
I Samuel 8:4-22). There are some among us, who are not of us (
I John 2:18-19). In other words, many Christians are longing to be like the world, because deep down, they ultimately love it more than God (
I John 2:1-17).
This is the root, I believe. Unfortunately, many young people have been led astray, not really understanding the Scriptures or the heart of the arguments. For example, little less than 10 years ago, an informal survey was taken at a "Christian College", as part of a "Marriage and Family" class. Over half of the "Christian students" believed that marriage was to be a 50-50 relationship. The wife had just as much right to have a career as the husband. Now, who tought them that? They did not invent that. They heard that somewhere...
God's way always works out best ("for our good always",
Deuteronomy 6:24). You are right. If more people taught the Scriptures on this point, we would see much less divorce and more happy, secure marriages. But, then again, that's thing about faith. The wisdom behind God's laws is not always evident up front. Sometimes you only learn the wisdom after the fact. Therefore, we must walk by faith, lest we learn the wisdom of His judgments too late.
Just my 2 cents ... Anybody else?