What do you all think the wife's role is?

Brittney Moody said:

I am just curious as to what everyone thinks the wife's role in the home should be. I mean this in the sense of what a woman should be to her husband and then to her children.

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Wife to me, mother to my children.

Sorry, I'm not sure what exactly you mean by "role." Are you asking what her responsibilities are as wife and mother?

God bless

Brittney Moody said:

it seems these days women run the home

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Yes, that's the way it is in many homes.

ya know this whole feminist movement

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Curse of the Fall.

The Bible says that women are to be submissive and obedient to thier husbands just as a slave is to his master.

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I'm not sure where those words are used but, yes, wives are to submit to their husbands. This does not given the husband a license to rule over their wives in an ungodly way though because men are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. That is, always putting her needs before his own.

God bless

Sorry if I was unclear- it seems these days women run the home- ya know this whole feminist movement- but really it's just Jezebel. The Bible says that women are to be submissive and obedient to thier husbands just as a slave is to his master. Some people have a really hard time accepting this. I just wanted to hear what other people thought- not that it would change my belief- because- well- I base my beliefs on what the Bible says. But just curious!

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Where exactly are you getting the verse that claims women are to be obdedient and just as a slave to his master?? I am not sure I know that one.......

What does the Bible say about submission??

I believe that in God's ideal marriage, BOTH are christians & had joined in marriage with much forethought & conviction.
The husband is the head of the home. He understands it is a grave responsibility & seeks God as his guide. He leads in a Godly manner; scriptually, respectfully, lovingly (as Christ loved the church & gave His life for it), wisely & humbly. He strives to protect his family, provide for them & to lead & guide their spirituality.
The wife, is not under HIM but, rather, under his AUTHORITY - BIG difference (God does not value man more than woman). When circumstances permit, she is a keeper at home.She strives to make the home a happy, loving, clean haven. She respects the authority given to her husband by God because she trusts the God who is over all & in turn, teaches the children in her actions. She finds no shame in being & doing that which God has entrusted to her. Nor does she accept society's idea of her role. She strives to build her husband up; encouraging, trusting & honoring him.

I'm not much on long posts so, these are just a few thoughts.

Posted by scaddigs - Today at 10:36 AM
I believe that in God's ideal marriage, BOTH are christians & had joined in marriage with much forethought & conviction.
The husband is the head of the home. He understands it is a grave responsibility & seeks God as his guide. He leads in a Godly manner; scriptually, respectfully, lovingly (as Christ loved the church & gave His life for it), wisely & humbly. He strives to protect his family, provide for them & to lead & guide their spirituality.
The wife, is not under HIM but, rather, under his AUTHORITY - BIG difference (God does not value man more than woman). When circumstances permit, she is a keeper at home.She strives to make the home a happy, loving, clean haven. She respects the authority given to her husband by God because she trusts the God who is over all & in turn, teaches the children in her actions. She finds no shame in being & doing that which God has entrusted to her. Nor does she accept society's idea of her role. She strives to build her husband up; encouraging, trusting & honoring him.

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Actually, I thought God was in authority in our homes. The "headship" is about being the "life source". when we are married, we become "one" a unique relationship that is unlike any other earthly partnership, and akin to the Trinity. Within the Trinity, there is equality, mutuality, and oneness in God. I think you are describing instead of Godly role, the cultural and traditional role that had been in place since the fall. We are no longer male or female, but one in Christ. How would a husband go about being a "leader" spiritually if both he and wife are gifted spiritually and told to use our gifts to the fullest. Leadership is a gift as well as others.....Paul wasnt speaking about someone being in charge as much as he was upturning the cultural context of women in subordination and husbands as rulers and owners of their mates. He was instead, bringing the original intent God had for marriage back to the partnership it was designed to be.

Actually, I thought God was in authority in our homes.
Absolutely....my post did not state contrary.


I think you are describing instead of Godly role, the cultural and traditional role that had been in place since the fall.

As a result of the fall, the woman was placed by God, in subjection to her husband (under his authority) thus, a Godly role.

I think a wife's role is to encourage, support, pray for, love, and stand by her husband.

I do not think that a woman should be the puppet of her husband, i believe that she should be her own person. I think that husband and wife should have equal responsibility in running a home and raising a child. That does not mean that the wife should not respect and honor her husband, but rather not bow to his every whim, because then she would be allowing him to rule her.

Actually, I thought God was in authority in our homes.
Absolutely....my post did not state contrary.


I think you are describing instead of Godly role, the cultural and traditional role that had been in place since the fall.

As a result of the fall, the woman was placed by God, in subjection to her husband (under his authority) thus, a Godly role.

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If God is in authority, then you both should be praying for His wisdom and direction and follow His guidance. If you are making decisions based on His will, then you will come to agreement because it wont be about you or your spouse, but instead God.

As a result of the fall, we entered into sinful state. This wasnt the design or plan of God. This certainly wasnt a godly role. Instead, it became a distortion of God's design for marriage. Christ redeemed us from our sinful state and therefore we would once again be able to be full partners in through Christ.......just like slavery wasnt God's intent.

My understanding is that the question refers to now so, my answer remains the same.
God bless, Lynn

suzie said:

As a result of the fall, we entered into sinful state. This wasnt the design or plan of God.

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If only this were the debate forum.

Anyway,

scaddigs said:

I believe that in God's ideal marriage, BOTH are christians & had joined in marriage with much forethought & conviction.
The husband is the head of the home. He understands it is a grave responsibility & seeks God as his guide. He leads in a Godly manner; scriptually, respectfully, lovingly (as Christ loved the church & gave His life for it), wisely & humbly. He strives to protect his family, provide for them & to lead & guide their spirituality.
The wife, is not under HIM but, rather, under his AUTHORITY - BIG difference (God does not value man more than woman). When circumstances permit, she is a keeper at home.She strives to make the home a happy, loving, clean haven. She respects the authority given to her husband by God because she trusts the God who is over all & in turn, teaches the children in her actions. She finds no shame in being & doing that which God has entrusted to her. Nor does she accept society's idea of her role. She strives to build her husband up; encouraging, trusting & honoring him.

I'm not much on long posts so, these are just a few thoughts.

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This is a wonderful, and biblical explanation of marriage. I don't think it can be said any better than this.

Well done.

God bless

Reformationist said:

This is a wonderful, and biblical explanation of marriage. I don't think it can be said any better than this.

Well done.

God bless

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Thanks!

reform-

God created us equal. No getting around it. --Both created in the same image of God. What does that mean? Our whole self reflects the very character of God.

Sin entered into this --paradise was exchanged for the realities of what existed in ancient times. Until Christ came to redeem what was begun before sin entered. We are still coming to understand what this means.

What is described above is how you would percieve the concept of what you think marriage ought to be, however, the roles that you have assigned were not ever given to men and women by God, but are very much painted by culture and tradition.
You are certainly limiting God and humans.

suzie said:

reform-

God created us equal. No getting around it. --Both created in the same image of God. What does that mean? Our whole self reflects the very character of God.

Sin entered into this --paradise was exchanged for the realities of what existed in ancient times. Until Christ came to redeem what was begun before sin entered. We are still coming to understand what this means.

What is described above is how you would percieve the concept of what you think marriage ought to be, however, the roles that you have assigned were not ever given to men and women by God, but are very much painted by culture and tradition.
You are certainly limiting God and humans.

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Okay. Well thanks for sharing.

As I said, thanks for the very biblical explanation of marriage scaddigs.

God bless

And what biblical link would that be reform?? A fill in the gap one?

suzie said:

And what biblical link would that be reform?? A fill in the gap one?

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Not at all, nor do I think sarcasm is called for. I think Scripture is quite clear that man is authoritatively the head of the household and that he is commanded to teach his family to be wise in the Word. I think that neither man nor woman hold a more special place in the divine Plan of God. Scripture is clear that they are equally co-heirs of God's blessing and God does not put one in higher esteem than the other.

In light of that, we cannot discount that men and women are given different roles in the Bible and in the family. Men are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and women are supposed to submit to the God ordained authoritative rule of their husbands. Are husbands supposed to lord over their wives in ungodliness? Of course not. Is the wife the slave of the husband? Of course not. That does not discount the fact that husbands and fathers have been given the responsibility of being the godly head of the household and they will be held accountable for how they lead their family.

A wife should encourage and edify her husband and help him to fulfill the role that God has placed him in. Does that mean that a woman cannot know the Word better than her husband? Of course not. It is not, however, her job to be the head of the household.

You seem very intent on assuming that I believe that a man has the right to treat his wife as a slave. On the contrary, every single thing a husband/father does should be for the purpose of sanctifying their family and helping them come to a godly knowledge and reverence of their Creator.

If you feel that that is offensive because you don't want to submit to your husband or you think you're better at being a godly person than your husband so be it but I will tell you that a part of your job as a wife is to help your husband grow into the man that God wants him to be, which by the way, is the leader of your family.

It sounds, more than anything, like you have a problem with the way God set up the family. It seems as if you think we should disregard the Lord's intent and take it upon ourselves to determine who is more qualified to lead the family.

God says it's the man. You seem to think it's the person who you deem most qualified.

I'm going to take my role seriously and do my best to be a godly example to my family because that is what God commands of me. That means that I'm going to try to make everything I do benefit my family's understanding of our Lord.

God bless

I think Scripture is quite clear that man is authoritatively the head of the household and that he is commanded to teach his family to be wise in the Word. I think that neither man nor woman hold a more special place in the divine Plan of God. Scripture is clear that they are equally co-heirs of God's blessing and God does not put one in higher esteem than the other.

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Reform-

You need to read these passages in context. God never ordained authority of husbands over wives.

I am not making any intent in regard to husbands or wives. You seem intent that there is some linear authority in place, where there is none.
I believe in submission within a marriage, in church, between any Christian community. The submission is to be mutual however. Christ is authority.

I believe that there are even those who make the claim about "wifely submission" and yet hold to instead egaltarian marriage, and those who truly believe they are living godly lives by these roles you have painted for husband and wives. However, to place one human in authority over another then limits God's true plan and purpose for both. You are creating roles for people and in doing so, creating limits.

During the time Paul was addressing these marriages, submission and subjection were deeply in place. Wives didnt need to be told to submit to their husbands. Most marriages commanded it, and some demanded total obedience from wives to husbands in their wedding contract.

This message was for the husbands. The heart of the message is in v21.
As I have stated before, the sentance in Ephesians 5 begins actually in v15 and extends to v23. Therefore we must look at it in the context of this and as well in the context of the entire passage. We are to work together to promote unity and harmony as Christians. No one is to be in charge of the other, but instead to be mutual partners who both serve each other in the Lord and make Him authority.

suzie said:

You need to read these passages in context.

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Wow. Context. Why didn't I think of that?

Look suzie, I understand that you disagree with me. That's fine. Feel free to continue doing so but don't assume that I didn't come to my beliefs by reading in context. I've seen your views on this and other things and one thing I wouldn't accuse you of doing is reading the Gospel in context.

God never ordained authority of husbands over wives.

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Of course not. Why would anyone think such a thing?

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

I can see why the issue of whether or not God ordained authority of husbands over wives is confusing to you. It's only explicitly stated here.

The submission is to be mutual however. Christ is authority.

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No one has contested this suzie. You act as if I'm saying that wives aren't supposed to submit to Christ. I'm not. They are. It doesn't diminish the fact that God set up the family with man having leadership.

I believe that there are even those who make the claim about "wifely submission" and yet hold to instead egaltarian marriage, and those who truly believe they are living godly lives by these roles you have painted for husband and wives.

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There is a sense of egalitarianism in a family. We are not told that the wife only is supposed to submit. Husbands too are supposed to submit to their wives by loving them as they love themselves, that is, doing everything to benefit their wives just as it is our nature to do everything to our own benefit.

However, to place one human in authority over another then limits God's true plan and purpose for both.

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Ooooh. I see. If the man's in charge of the family then he limits the sovereignty of God to bring to pass His true plan and purpose. Yeah. Sure. Look suzie, God's plan and purpose for every created being is always fulfilled. He never falls short. Nothing I, or you, or anyone can do can limit God's true plan and purpose.

You are creating roles for people and in doing so, creating limits.

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Did I create the institution of marriage. Did I say that man is the head over his wife? Did I say that man was not created for woman but woman for man? No. There are roles but I didn't create them. God did.

As I have stated before, the sentance in Ephesians 5 begins actually in v15 and extends to v23.

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Huh? What are you talking about. This section on the relationship of the immediate family, i.e., husbands and wives, parents and children starts at verse 22 and goes to verse 33. To be more accurate, the overall message of authority in relationships goes from verses 5:22-6:9.

We are to work together to promote unity and harmony as Christians. No one is to be in charge of the other, but instead to be mutual partners who both serve each other in the Lord and make Him authority.

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How you could read this and not get that there is established authority on levels lower than submission to Christ is beyond me. Yes, everyone is supposed to submit to Christ. That is not being disputed but to imply that submission to the authority of Christ is the only authority we are commanded to submit to goes against many, many teachings of God's Word.

Look, it's cool. You don't feel that your husband should have any authority over you. I'm not the one who brought you together and reigns supreme over your lives. You don't have to answer to me or agree with me.

I just thank God that my wife doesn't have a problem with the authority that God has given me as head of my household. I try not to lord over her but I know that at times I do. I certainly don't have a right to nor do I think I hold a higher place in God's divine plan. But, as I said, I thank God that my wife encourages, edifies, and helps me be the man that God has placed over her in authority. She is truly a godly woman.

God bless