What Submission is NOT

In the message I preached on Mother’s Day (Wives and the “S” Word) I presented a list of what submission is NOT. I had a number of comments on that list and expression of appreciation for making some important distinctions. I thought that it was important enough and might benefit a lot of us to review it here. Keep in mind that these thought are drawn out of 1 Peter 3:1-6 and are not meant to be the end all on the topic of submission in marriage.

¯  Peter is not saying that all women must submit to all men. This is all about the marriage relationship and to make more of it than that is abusive.

¯  Peter is not saying that a woman can’t have thoughts independent of her husband’s. That’s ludicrous! In fact when we get to considering the way God has created us as complimentary we discover that the independent thinking of the wife is critical for the success of the husband and the marriage.

¯  Peter is not saying that the woman should not influence her husband. God himself took note that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. He needed someone to help influence and help him.

¯  Peter is not saying that the husband is the ultimate authority in his wife’s life. Obviously Christ is the ultimate authority. And then Christ puts other “deputy” authorizes over the husband to rule over any abuse he might exercise over his wife. If the husband is abusing his authority or his wife or family, she is to appeal to those authorities placed over him … beginning with the church and then potentially the government.