THIS ISSUE OF SUBMISSION (1) | Sisters’ Corner

Several times, Christian wives and would-be wives are instructed to be submissive (be in subjection) to their own husbands. As a result, many unmarried ladies, go as far as putting themselves at the receiving end, and relinquishing power/control unnecessarily when working with their male counterparts – all in a bid to “learn” or to “practice” submission. Many “brothers” in the church or fellowship even go to the extent of demanding submission (subjection, servitude) from sisters with no legal or moral backing whatsoever. They make the women receive “crumbs” from the pie when it should have been shared equally.

In this series we seek to conclusively address this issue in the hope that by the further illumination by the Holy Spirit, the dignity, esteem and rightful place of women will be re-established, at least in the life of the reader and whomsoever s/he decides to share this message with. We are well aware that this piece goes against common conceptions, so we urge you to be “Berean” with it. That is, read thoroughly all the series, then go and search scriptures to confirm or refute our position.

The Genesis

A casual look at the Bible will most likely give you the impression that the Bible (especially Mosaic) laws are more in favour of men than of women, that the Bible puts the woman “under” the man. Beginning from the Old Testament: we see that in any headcount, the number of women is usually not given; a woman has to pass through some barbaric ordeal to prove her innocence if her husband accuses her of infidelity, yet she cannot accuse her husband of such (see Num.5:12-31); a man (father/husband) can nullify a vow a woman (daughter/wife) made to God (see Num.30:4-8); a man can divorce his wife at will (see Deut.24:1-3).

A woman is declared unclean for several days for seeing her monthly period (Lev.15:19) or for being delivered of a baby – with the number of days doubling if the baby were a girl (Lev.12:2-5); a lady who has been deflowered before she got married might lose her life (be stoned to death) if the husband wills (see Deut.22:13-21) etc. etc. Even New Testament scriptures (e.g. Ephesians 5:22-23, 33; Colossians 3:18 and 1Peter 3:1.) seem to support (at least in principle) this women degradation and subordination.

Sadly, societies have adopted this point of view so much that even the female-folk are trained to think the man should be better than them. That is why, for instance, in a group activity or a contest, if a man becomes the best, it is normal; but if a woman becomes the best, it is given special publicity. Too sad!

BUT IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS NOT SO!

Mk 10:2-8 (ESV):
“[The] Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."
And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. “ “

Jesus, reacting to an issue raised by the Pharisees concerning men divorcing their wives at will – which is just one of the several products of women subordination – said something worth paying attention to. He said, “But from the beginning it was not so.” (Matt.19:8) We will at this point get to this “beginning” that Jesus referred to and see how it was then.

Gen 2:18, 20, 22 & 24 (MKJV):
“And Jehovah God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a HELPER suitable for him.’ … And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field. But there was not found a suitable helper for Adam. … And Jehovah God made the rib (which He had taken from the man) into a woman. And He brought her to the man. … Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh.”

We notice immediately that what Jehovah God prepared for man (male) was a helper suitable for him. Question: Who is, or what does it mean to be, a helper?

Before we answer that question, we will need to distinguish a helper from a servant or subordinate. Making that distinction should not be difficult at all to anyone. We all have at one point or the other in our lives needed someone to help us meet a need or further a cause we champion. Usually, we find someone able to meet that need of ours (an help meet for you at that time) and we solicit for his/her assistance. It is not that we employed him for a pay to work for us; neither is it that we took him as a servant or apprentice.

Whereas the employee or servant or apprentice is obliged to contribute to the fulfillment of your need or the furtherance of your effort or cause, the helper is not. S/he simply considers your request and his/her willingness, availability and ability to meet it, and then come to your aid – o his/her own free will. As a result, you do not treat a helper like a hired laborer.

Now, this is how God intends man (husband) and woman (wife) to live as they fulfill the purpose for which they were made. God’s original plan is mutual submission and cooperation. The idea of husband heading the wife came in as a result of the Fall of Man. God indeed said to the woman, “your desire shall be toward your husband, and he shall rule over you. (Gen.3:16b)” but Jesus points out that “from the beginning, it was not so.”

The whole essence of the Coming of Jesus and the Salvation Plan is to restore us back to God (to take us back to the beginning!) and from there, launch us into glory.

To be continued...

(Read the next part here)