Hi all there,

I am Sam, a 28 years old woman. I am courious about why women do join the Christian church.

Why did you join?

What does it bring to you?

What do you think about the text ‘Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.’ (Ephesians 5:22)?


And how do you fit this in your life?


I really try to find answers on this questions. I hope you will answer them.


Thank you very much en lots of greetings,
Sam

Hi Sam, I know you want answers from women, but I think my answer will surprise you, and possibly many Christian men and women. Men, forgive me, but I'm going to tell them. You see, in the original language, Ephesians 5:22 doesn't literally say for the wives to do anything the husbands aren't supposed to do...just the opposite. The original language is one continuous sentence from 5:21 all the way beyond 5:25. You have to understand, there were no topic headings, chapters or verses in the original Greek...even the punctuation was different, not that Paul bothered with punctuation much. So, what does it say?

"Submit to one another...wives, to your husbands..." 5:21-22 In the same sentence on mutual submission, Paul writes, "Submit to one another...Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." 5:21-25 According to Paul's teaching, here, women are allowed to choose to submit to their husbands just like Jesus allows us to choose in our every decision to submit to Him. We Men, in addition to mutually submitting to our wives, have the added responsibility to sacrifice ourselves, our needs and wants out of love for our wives...just like Christ did for the church.

In fact, Sam, this may go a long way toward explaining why women would want to be Christian and want a Christian husband. If her husband is following Christ's example, her needs and wants are his top priority...why would she want to be a mere equal as in the secular world?

I'll leave the rest for others to answer.

Hi Sam,

I'll try to comment on your questions from my personal perspective. My being a Christian doesn't have anything to do with my husband; I did that for myself. I have been married to the same man for 34 years, and while I can honestly say I've had times where I didn't feel this way, I now thank God everyday for this man He gave to me.

As far as the passage from Ephesians regarding husbands and wives, I think it has to do with love and respect for one another. It's not about the husband's domination over his wife. Marriage is a partnership. A wife should respect her husband, but as you can see from these other passages in Esphesians, the husband has responsibilites too.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

This whole scripture is based on mutual love and respect between a man and a woman; if that love and respect are not there, then the relationship is going to be harder than it has to be. Without a doubt, it's much easier going if both the man and woman are on the same page before entering into a marriage. And, it's definitely easier if you both allow God to share in your joy and happiness.

God Bless

Hi Glen, hi BlessedBee,

Thank you both very much for your answers! It helps me much further in my thoughts.

Much greetings!
Sam

You're welcome!