May 25 2009
Second Class Citizens?
Are women ‘second class citizens’? Is this what Paul is saying when he uses words like ‘submit’ and ‘respect’? Is this what God intended by giving women equal access to His throne but not equal authority with all men?
A recent USA Today religion opinion article claims, “. . .in far too many religious contexts in this county, women remain second-class citizens.” Is this really true? I fear the answer is a resounding, ‘yes,’ in the minds of many American women.
Most American women, even many Christian women, have bought into our culture’s view of their place - their position. Current statistics show more women attend college than men. The wage gap, especially among younger women in the work force, has nearly disappeared. No door remains which is ‘closed’ to women. However, trying to achieve what our society terms ‘equal status,’ women have given up their ‘special status,’
What has this fight for ‘equal rights’ given women? They have moved from operating under the loving authority of their husband, to trying to function under the often dictatorial authority of an employer, a supervisor, or, worse yet, a group of people. Furthermore, while they remain under God’s authority, they are, essentially, blocking His blessings by their actions.
The two words which give Christian women the greatest trouble are: submit and respect. A closer look at Scripture shows a wife’s submission to her husband is only one of the forms of submission called for in the Bible. In each of the situations below, the Greek word used for ‘submit’ is the same!
The highest level of submission to which we are called (and any woman seeking ‘equal rights’ by the world’s definition is failing this) is to, as James tell us, “. . .submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (4:7) Barnes comments on this verse by saying, “The duty here enjoined is that of entire acquiescence in the arrangements of God, whether in his providence or grace. All these are for our good, and submission to them is required by the spirit of true humility.” Thus we are commanded to submit to God.
Speaking to the ‘brethren’ (Christians) in Corinth, Paul says, “. . .you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.” (1 Cor 16:16). The author of Hebrews also says, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. . .” (13:17) Thus we are commanded to submit to our Spiritual leaders. (While ‘submit’ is usually defined as obedience or subordination, in this usage the word suggests a kind and courteous demeanor.)
In another passage Paul, again speaking to Christians, says, “. . .submitting to one another in the fear of God.” (Eph 5:21). This appears to be extremely broad, and John Calvin supports this understanding. He says, “God has bound us so strongly to each other, that no man ought to endeavor to avoid subjection; and where love reigns, mutual services will be rendered. I do not except even kings and governors, whose very authority is held for the service of the community. It is highly proper that all should be exhorted to be subject to each other in their turn.” Thus we are commanded to submit to one another.
Both Paul and Peter speak of our submission to ruling authorities. Paul tells Titus to, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,” (3:1). Peter, in his first epistle, tells us to, “. . .submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God. . .” (1 Peter 2:13-15). He gives two powerful reasons for our obedience:
1) God’s glory (vs 12)
2) God’s will (vs 15)
Thus we are commanded to submit to the ruling authorities.
Peter further urges younger people to, “. . .submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" (1 Peter 5:5) Thus younger people are to submit to their elders.
Twice Paul gives clear directives on the authority issue as it relates directly to family relationships. He tells children, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Eph 6:1) And again, Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. (Col 3:20). The word translated, ‘obey’, in these verses is from the same root word as our word submit. In other words, children are commanded to submit to their parents’ authority.
Twice, also, the apostle Paul speaks to the relationship between bondservants and masters. In Eph 6:5 he says, “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.” And again in Col 3:22 he says, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men–pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.” The words ‘obey’ and ‘obedience’ are, not surprisingly, from the same root word as our word submit. Thus servants (or employees -since employees ‘serve’ someone else’s interests) are commanded to submit to their master’s (or employer’s) authority.
These verses makes it clear: young or old, bond or free, rich or poor, great or small - we are all under authority. So, back to our original issue. Wives, too, are called to submit. They are to submit to their husbands. Like the command to bondservants and to children, this directive is given twice by Paul. In Eph 5:22 we read, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Again in Col 3:18 we are told, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Thus wives, too, are clearly commanded to submit to someone’s authority - that of their own husbands.
Obviously the issue is not ‘submission’, per se. It is submission to a specific person. We have swallowed an idea of anonymity. Yet, Scripture makes it clear NONE of us are free from authority. Our own experience makes this obvious. So, what have we done? We have only switched our authority figure. In so doing, we have rebelled against God!
At the heart of the issue is our PRIDE. Pride always seeks to be anonymous. Pride always seeks the final word. Pride always rebels against authority. Paul put it this way, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Rom 6:16)
To put it in Bob Dylan’s ‘common’ vernacular, “You’re gonna have to serve somebody . .it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” As wives, we do not have an option. We are to submit to our husbands. If they love us as we would like, this makes our submission easier. However, even if they do not, we are still called to submit to their authority.
While we do not have an option, we do have a promise. 1 Peter 5:6 tells us, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” God WILL bless our humble submission to the authorities He has placed over us.
God grant us the grace to submit to Him by submitting to our husbands.
