It has been used that men... Pastors, Rabbis, Husbands, Elders, Fathers... are the woman's spiritual covering. A “spiritual covering” is a person who supposedly has more spiritual authority than you.
Often, 1 Peter 5 is used to support the need for believers to submit to their pastors, elders, and husbands as their “spiritual covering.” In the text, Peter is encouraging church leaders to care for their congregation, but there is no indication that leaders have more “spiritual authority” than other Christians.
1 Peter 5:3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.
For us women especially is the command to "submit".
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Those men who want to abuse the women in their life stop at the word husbands, demanding whatever their heart's desire. We, women, need to stay focused and "submit... as unto the Lord"
I know that God certainly calls us as believers to
- respect earthly authorities (Romans 13:1)
- seek out their godly guidance and wisdom (Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 5:11-14)
but ultimately, we are accountable to God alone (Romans 3:19)
but the truth be told we need only God’s approval to move forward in whatever we sense God calling us to do (2 Timothy 2:15).
The bondage of "spiritual authority" is subtle and really only revealed God has called you to do something different. This person with a "spiritual authority" complex will then reveal the true spirit behind the believer's mask and start making declarations, demands, and with all the tools available work towards forcing you to "submit" to their authority. This is not a spiritual healthy thing to do.
It is one thing to submit because you are in agreement, it is quite another to submit because you feel forced or are forced to.
Often, 1 Peter 5 is used to support the need for believers to submit to their pastors, elders, and husbands as their “spiritual covering.” In the text, Peter is encouraging church leaders to care for their congregation, but there is no indication that leaders have more “spiritual authority” than other Christians.
1 Peter 5:3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.
For us women especially is the command to "submit".
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Those men who want to abuse the women in their life stop at the word husbands, demanding whatever their heart's desire. We, women, need to stay focused and "submit... as unto the Lord"
I know that God certainly calls us as believers to
- respect earthly authorities (Romans 13:1)
- seek out their godly guidance and wisdom (Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 5:11-14)
but ultimately, we are accountable to God alone (Romans 3:19)
but the truth be told we need only God’s approval to move forward in whatever we sense God calling us to do (2 Timothy 2:15).
The bondage of "spiritual authority" is subtle and really only revealed God has called you to do something different. This person with a "spiritual authority" complex will then reveal the true spirit behind the believer's mask and start making declarations, demands, and with all the tools available work towards forcing you to "submit" to their authority. This is not a spiritual healthy thing to do.
It is one thing to submit because you are in agreement, it is quite another to submit because you feel forced or are forced to.